When talking about derelict classics, we usually think of junkyards and barns. However, many oldtimers spend their retirement on properties hidden from the public eye, which are generally owned by hoarders who don't want to let them go. This abandoned factory is one of those places.
Documented by Colin of "The Bearded Explorer," this old plant is located in a small village in East Germany. The site closed in the 1980s and has been left to decay ever since. Guther, a local classic car enthusiast, has been using it to store some of his personal cars. Come 2024, the yard and some of the buildings are packed with automobiles, mostly of the German variety.
The stash is far from impressive at first glance. Most vehicles are mundane rigs from the 1980s and 1990s, and many are in poor condition. However, the owner also has a few scarcer gems worth mentioning, starting with a Volkswagen Corrado G60.
If you're unfamiliar with the Corrado, it was produced from 1988 to 1995 on the same platform as the second-generation Golf and Jetta. A sport compact alternative to the Golf, the Corrado was a somewhat low-production nameplate. The German firm built only 97,521 units over seven years, half of which were shipped to the United States.
The Corrado was sold with 1.8- and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines in standard form, but Volkswagen also offered a higher output VR6 version. The European variant featured a 2.9-liter engine rated at 187 horsepower, while the US model came with a 2.8-liter powerplant good for 174 horses.
The G60 you see here bridged the gap between the base model and the VR6 thanks to a supercharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder. The powerplant delivered 158 horsepower, 24 more than the regular 1.8 version and the 2.0 model that followed in 1992. The G60 was quite the impressive hatchback at the time, needing less than eight seconds to hit 60 mph (97 kph) toward a top speed of 140 mph (225 kph).
There are no official statistics on how many G60s were built, but the general consensus is that no more than 20% of the Corrado sold at the time had the supercharged four-banger. We're looking at fewer than 18,000 units sold from 1989 through 1993.
The next one is not as sporty, but it's also a two-door Volkswagen you rarely see today. I'm talking about a first-generation Jetta. While the nameplate is known for its four-door notchback design, Volkswagen also produced a two-door version. Volkswagen sold it in the US as a replacement for the aging Beetle.
Speaking of the company's most iconic car, Gunther also owns a Beetle. It's the best-looking vehicle in his collection, primarily because it was restored in the 1970s and kept safe from the elements. Unfortunately, the "bug" hasn't been driven in decades and likely needs a makeover under the hood.
Finally, the abandoned factory is also home to a first-generation BMW 7 Series, also known as the E23. Built from 1977 to 1986, it replaced the E3 New Six and kicked off the 7 Series legacy. The Bimmer, which got an engine swap at some point, hasn't been driven in a long time, but it's still in pretty good shape inside and out.
Granted, some of these cars deserve revivals and more time on public roads, but the owner isn't keen to let them go. Hopefully, they won't rust away in this derelict factory once Gunther is gone. Check them all out in the video below.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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