Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[34HF90]

There is something that has been nagging at my subconcious for a while. It relates to an article in one of the Sunday supplements that I saw some years ago. (yes, it is that vague!)

It was a feature on a vehicle graveyard in Devon. All the cars there dated from the 50's and 60's and looked like they had been parked on the grass and just left- maybe 100 or more of them.. They all surrounded an old abandoned mansion that (as I recall reading) the farmer who now owned the land had been keeping pigs in the ground floor.

Now, I didn't dream this, although the article may have been back in the early '80's.

Does anyone have any recollection of this place? The location was of course 'kept secret'. Somewhere in Devon was the only clue....

[gresham flyer]

This property was featured in Classic Car Weekly only last year.
The owner had been told by the local council to clear his land of these vehicles.The feature also asked classic car enthusiasts to contact the owner with the view of purchasing some of the vehicles.Obviously 100 vehicles slowly degenerating into the ground causes a lot of issues in these sensitive times when we are trying to save our planet.
Also the property had fallen into disrepair .

Gresham

[34HF90]

That's fantastic-thanks very much! I read about so long ago now that I was beginning to wonder if I'd imagined it!
The photos I saw depicted rows of vehicles- cars mainly that had just been parked, as if they had been visiting a fete, and then just abandoned. I remember thinking at the time what a crying shame it was that they were all going to waste, but the impression given was that the owner 'didn't want to sell' as is so often the case and would far rather they sunk slowly into the ground.
I daresay their condition is far worse now and I wonder if any of them are saveable.

Thanks again!

[Greg]

I remember this too...I'm sure the article was, like you say, in one of the supplements with a paper. I'm sure I still have it somewhere as it was very interesting ....the cover had a b&w picture of a pile of scrapped cars, taken when the MOT came into force.....I'll have to dig it out now

[34HF90]

It was indeed fascinating. It just seemed so incongruous; all those cars neatly parked with the grass growing up around them in front of a decaying mansion (of an Italian style of architecture as I vaguely remember!).

I don't remember the story of how it came to be, but any information or photos about this one would be welcome. The Internet isn't turning up much about it, but I'm impressed by the fact that at least a couple of people here know what I am going on about!

[Roger-hatchy]

Some more unloved
Listed as a horders house

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?s=82395875ca6a5d5fc60fd13577fb9ab3&t=62478

Found on here

Not for the sqeamish

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/tags.php?tag=graveyard&page=2

[Brian M]

The place is Collumpton Motor Dismantlers, just off the M5 in Devon. It is (was??) in the grounds of a very dilapidated stately home.




I visited the place 20 years ago with my son when we were looking for parts for his Standard Pennant.

You just parked and walked in, past rows of newer scrap cars and then came to the classic field. There were 2-300 classics, many parked in rows but as you got further into the woodland there were pre-war wrecks being absorbed into the undergrowth.

We found several Standards and removed windows, door handles, and some other bits we needed and then went back to the house to pay for them. The guy in charge invited us inside to see the other stocks of parts. There were rooms full of classic car parts, one full of doors, the next full of glass, another with seats, all piled to the ceilings.

What concerned me most were the rooms full of engines and gearboxes where the floors were deflected by over a foot in the middle.

The whole building looked to be in danger of falling down any minute so I was pleased to hear that it survived.
_________________
Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

[34HF90]

Thank you chaps - just goes to show that you need the right search terms

The actual house is Blackborough House, which provides a better search term it would seem- and it appears it's quite well known.
Some of the photos that you come across featuring this place are pretty heartbreaking.

Here's another thread:

http://www.autoshite.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?t=2710

My own thoughts are that this will be one of the last places like this. With all our environmental pressures and end-of-life regulations, not to mention the the non-repairable nature of modern cars, there will be no more collections like this in the future.
What can one do? simply record it for posterity I suppose.

[Roger-hatchy]

Not sure how old the data i but still shown on the car breakers list as Blackborough Motor Salvage.

[34HF90]

The house appears to be 'for sale' but the presence of the cars is doubtless slowing that one down
Its been mentioned that the local council are getting uppity about it, but if there isn't anyone waving money about to buy the house or clear the site then one would think it'll drag on for a while longer yet

If the guy is still trading then good on him!