AN URBAN explorer has discovered a treasure trove of abandoned motors including a yellow Reliant van – similar to the one Del Boy owns in the comedy show Only Fools and Horses.
Colin Smith, who gave up his job as a plumber to make exploration YouTube videos for his channel The Bearded Explorer, came across the collection while visiting a yard full of classics.
YouTube/@TheBeardedExplorerA classic bus was spotted in an overgrown part of the yard[/caption]
YouTube/@TheBeardedExplorerMuliple Citroens were found, including several XM models[/caption]
In the clip, he finds several forgotten motors in various states of disrepair – including ones seemingly reclaimed by nature.
The first car he encounters is a discarded Reliant Supervan painted in yellow, much like the one from Only Fools and Horses.
The explorer is clearly taken back by the incredible find, saying: “It’s quite obvious that this has been parked here for a very long time and it’s definitely seen better days.
“But it doesn’t look too bad to be honest.”
As Colin explores more of the yard, he encounters a huge collection of retro Citroens, including several XM models and an Xantia estate.
Colin, who reveals on to viewers that he drives a Xantia himself, was particularly surprised by an XM with 136,000 miles covered in vines and weeds.
Deep in the hedgerow close to another collection of abandoned Citroens is an mysterious bus – which Colin says “looks like it’s from the 50s.”
Further into the yard is a barn construction which houses many more vintage motors and car parts – with some clearly very old.
But perhaps surprisingly, among the debris and other junk was a 1990s Jeep Cherokee along with a slightly older Range Rover, with the Cherokee found in especially good condition and would likely still work with only a little bit of maintenance.
Speaking about the find in a recent interview with the Daily Star, Colin said: “It’s always hard to put a value on a collection like this.
“If they hadn’t been left for so long they would definitely be worth a small fortune for sure.”
Colin revealed that he takes good care not to break any locks or remove any of the items he find in the abandoned sites he visits.
Thankfully, in the UK, being an urban explorer is not illegal in most circumstances, although there are specific rules covering certain types of site – such as railway property and military installations.
And this isn’t the first time Colin’s discovered a collection of amazing motors left abandoned.
Recently, he discovered another classic car graveyard with a Mustang and a Porsche.
This comes as a pair of car cleaning experts revealed how they brought an abandoned supercar back to life after finding it covered in debris in the woods.
Elsewhere, a Jaguar E-Type that was “left in a barn” for nearly 50 years after a crash sold for a bargain price at an auction.
YouTube/@TheBeardedExplorerOne of the strangest finds inside the yard was a Reliant Supervan[/caption]
YouTube/@TheBeardedExplorerA classic Range Rover was found inside a large enclosed area[/caption]
YouTube/@TheBeardedExplorerA slightly newer Jeep was also discovered, and was perhaps the best kept motor in the vicinity[/caption]
YouTube/@TheBeardedExplorerCars were seemingly all around – and many of them were retro Citroens[/caption]