Abandoned cars are always intriguing. On one hand, it hurts to see a desirable car languishing in neglect, but alternatively, it’s cool to see the way nature reclaims steel and aluminum. Usually, cars are abandoned due to a lack of funds for repairs, refusing to sell due to emotional connection or even the unexpected death of the owner. But this is the first example that we’ve encountered where cars of this calibre were abandoned on purpose.
The park contains a sadly neglected Tatra. These cars were powered by rear-mounted, air-cooled, hemi-headed V8s.
Supplied, ExtraordinaryCarCollections.com
There’s an eerie elegance to these cars spotted on Messy Nessy. The Jaguar XK120, especially, looks like it was parked after a race and just forgotten. These cars are owned by Michael Fröhlich, a former fashion designer and race driver and artist who now sells and restores classic cars. These cars essentially occupy his backyard near Mettmann, Germany, and he refers to the space as an “Auto Sculpture Park.”
“Nature is stronger than technology,” says Fröhlich, “and that I will show here.” Each car in the Sculpture Park is from 1950 to match the age of Fröhlich. “They’re like my brothers” he says. Well personally, I have two brothers and while we don’t always get along, I’m not sure if I’d leave either of them abandoned in the woods.
Notable residents of the Auto Sculpture Park include a Rolls Royce, Jaguar XK120, early BMW, Willys jeep, Tatra, a Buick sedan and a racy Porsche 356. Despite being left for dead artfully placed at around the same time, the cars are in dissimilar states of decay. The classics, some of which were running when deposited, have been crashed into trees, buried in mud, propped on cliff faces and otherwise damaged on purpose.
It’s certainly a controversial “piece.” While the cars are undeniably beautiful in their decrepit state, many would argue that they would be equally beautiful as a restored car driving down the German motorway. What do you think? Tell us in the comments below.
Photos are from Extraordinary Car Collections and Fotogalerie-Thomas.
