Abandoned Ford Dealership In Germany Still Has Brand New Escorts And Sierras

[GON]

Interesting read about a Ford dealership in Germany that shut down due to the death of its owner in the Mid 1980s, and still has new cars from that era on the showroom floor.
https://www.motor1.com/news/691993/abandoned-ford-dealer-germany-tour/

 

[Hohn]

utterly surreal

 

[GR_CoB]

A Ford Sierra has been a dream car of mine... Either a RWD hatchback, or an AWD wagon. Love these cars... Sad to see them just sit there.

On my recent scooter adventure I actually rode by an abandoned dealership with classic cars still inside and outside, covered in dust. I didn't have time to stop by, but may have to revisit one day.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

utterly surreal

Like Pripiyat!

 

[97prizm]

Interesting read about a Ford dealership in Germany that shut down due to the death of its owner in the Mid 1980s, and still has new cars from that era on the showroom floor.
https://www.motor1.com/news/691993/abandoned-ford-dealer-germany-tour/

Something like this came up last year when a Chevy dealership in Nebraska had been closed for 17 years. They have several 1960's impalas with 4 miles on the Odometer.

 

[CKN]

Perfect for this forum. "New Beaters"........

 

[dishdude]

Sad to see them just sit there.

If they hadn't just sat there they'd be a soup can by now.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Something like this came up last year when a Chevy dealership in Nebraska had been closed for 17 years. They have several 1960's impalas with 4 miles on the Odometer.

Any Vettes or Chevelles? Maybe a 4 mile Z28?

 

[97prizm]

Any Vettes or Chevelles? Maybe a 4 mile Z28?

I think a few Corvettes with the original window sticker. I'm not sure how this happened. Wouldn't the vehicles have been bought back a long time ago? Most dealerships lease their inventory until its sold.

 

[Leo99]

A Ford Sierra has been a dream car of mine... Either a RWD hatchback, or an AWD wagon. Love these cars... Sad to see them just sit there.

On my recent scooter adventure I actually rode by an abandoned dealership with classic cars still inside and outside, covered in dust. I didn't have time to stop by, but may have to revisit one day.

I had an XR4Ti for a short while. Was not a good car. Really bad. Fun to drive but a pile of junk. Poorly built and poorly engineered.

 

[FADEC]

Interesting read about a Ford dealership in Germany that shut down due to the death of its owner in the Mid 1980s, and still has new cars from that era on the showroom floor.
https://www.motor1.com/news/691993/abandoned-ford-dealer-germany-tour/

They look pretty good. Even the tires are aired up.

 

[GR_CoB]

On my recent scooter adventure I actually rode by an abandoned dealership with classic cars still inside and outside, covered in dust. I didn't have time to stop by, but may have to revisit one day.

Correction: looks like what I drove by was not an abandoned dealership. I thought it was, judging by dust on cars, but I was just riding by, so a quick glance is all I got. Apparently that place is Sonny Beachum Car Museum.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qKr8njTTJRnVFQjM8

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

I had an XR4Ti for a short while. Was not a good car. Really bad. Fun to drive but a pile of junk. Poorly built and poorly engineered.

Some things never change...

 

[GMFan]

They look pretty good. Even the tires are aired up.

That was my first thought. Someone must have kept up on the tire inflation.

 

[Pablo]

I always have my doubts....................

 

[Kira]

The story is a little too condensed.
Who paid the taxes?
Where'd the author get his information (owner's widow in a care home, etc.)?

 

[CharlieJ]

Someone stops by every once in a while and airs up the tires. If that was truly abandoned in the 1980s, those tires would be completely flat. Not abandoned, but someone is keeping it as a time capsule. Maybe a family member of the owner?

 

[edyvw]

Well, that green color on Sierra explains why wasn’t sold.
But, it was junk car. Those were times when Opel and Ford competed in junkiness, and Ford won.

 

[2005jettatdi]

I think a few Corvettes with the original window sticker. I'm not sure how this happened. Wouldn't the vehicles have been bought back a long time ago? Most dealerships lease their inventory until its sold.

I never heard of dealerships leasing their inventory. In general, dealerships finance their inventory through the manufacturer. This financing is called flooring. Most flooring is through the manufacturer. Used car flooring is usually through a bank. The dealership pays monthly interest on that borrowed money. When a car sells, the dealership must immediately pay the loan on that particular car. Some dealerships have very good financial strength and can buy their inventory outright as it is delivered from the manufacturer. They make more profit on each sale.

Inventory turnover is very important to a dealership. A car sitting on the lot for six months can end up being no longer profitable for the dealer. This means you might get an even better deal just to get the car off the lot and use that space for a vehicle that will move faster.

 

[02SE]

I am struck by the thought that if that were in a large city in the USA, it would've been covered in graffiti and vandalized years ago.