AN abandoned car dealership has been discovered by an explorer filled with vintage Alfa Romeos, some dating back to the 1970s.
The collection spans various decades and includes models primarily from the 1990s and 2000s, although enthusiasts will be buoyed to know there’s also a mix of older and iconic cars.
An abandoned car dealership has been discovered filled with Alfa Romeos[/caption]
The explorer revealed that the dealership’s owner, an Alfa Romeo enthusiast, tragically died in a car accident near the site[/caption]
Many unique vehicles were discovered, including this Alfa Romeo 33 that was presumably used as a safety car for racing events[/caption]
It wasn’t all Alfa Romeos either, with a Ferrari 360 Modena also discovered gathering dust[/caption]
In a recent video, Colin Smith, a YouTuber and gearhead known as the Bearded Explorer travels to Belgium to uncover a hidden gem; an abandoned location filled with Alfa Romeos.
The story goes that the dealership’s owner, an Alfa Romeo enthusiast, passed away in a car accident near the location which led to the closure of the business.
It also meant the cars were left scattered around the site, largely untouched.
While the owner’s son occasionally checks on them, maintaining a connection to the collection, many have become rusted and worse-for-wear.
It’s not just Alfa’s though, as a Ferrari 360 Modena in poor condition can also be seen there near the beginning of the video.
But the vast majority of cars are Alfa Romeos, including models like the 156, 159, 145 and a rusted Giulia from the 1970s.
One of the standout vehicles is a 166 model featuring a powerful 24-valve 3.0-liter V6 Busso engine – renowned for its performance.
The 155 is another highlight, as it achieved plenty of success despite criticism for its ties to the often-maligned Fiat Tempra.
A well-preserved green 155 and a couple of Alfa Romeo 33 models are also spotted, including a Quadrifoglio Verde with cool, sporty features and a beefy 1.5-liter boxer engine.
Colin seems particularly interested in an Alfa Romeo 156 GTA, a performance model that’s now considered a modern classic.
An equally special GTV6 is also found in good condition, as well as a uniquely modified Alfa Romeo 33 which was possibly used as a safety car in racing events.
This comes as a budding urban explorer discovered an abandoned warehouse stocked to the brim with crates of unopened energy drinks and multiple NASCAR vehicles.
Jonathan, 16, spotted the abandoned property whilst looking for interesting locations to explore in his local area on Google Earth.
The property, believed to have been abandoned back in 2022, was in relatively good shape, and with a huge haul inside.
Jonathan shared footage of the find on TikTok, where it garnered 7.2 million views.
“I found thousands and thousands of energy drinks alongside the race cars meant for the company,” he told NeedToKnow.
“And, for some reason, a vintage show car and two random normal cars. I think it’s one of the coolest places we have explored because of the products in there.”
“There are thousands of dollars left behind in there including the cars. It’s even more insane that the cars are worth tens of thousands [and are] just left to rust and rot away,” he added.
The abandoned factory is located near the border between Tennessee and Virginia in the US.
What to do if a dealership closes
If you recently bought a car or motorcycle from a dealership that suddently closed, you may feel anxious about how that affects you.
When you finance a new car or motorcycle or need warranty repairs done at an authorized dealership, a sudden closure can make some people think they’re out of options or worry their car will be repossessed.
If you’re in a situation that sounds like that, here are a few things you can do after receiving an official notice:
- Notify the bank hosting your loan of the closure to make them aware. If the financing is done through the dealership itself, it’s important to contact the dealership or your salesperson to ask how to keep up your payments. Many dealerships will send the lien (the title and registration that will only be released to the buyer after the debt is paid) to a financial institution to keep.
- If the dealership cannot be contacted through traditional means, most states allow drivers to apply for the title and registration through the DMV.
- If you leased a car from a dealership that went out of business, instructions should be sent as to which dealership to bring your vehicle to when the lease expires. If not, contact the dealership.
- A factory warranty through the manufacturer will be honored at any other authorized dealership. However, an extended warranty through the dealership may not be honored at other repair shops, so it’s important to seek that information from the dealership as soon as possible.
Source: Consumer Law Group
