The classic car market is packed with wonderfully restored vehicles. However, for each rig that got a makeover, hundreds (or maybe even thousands) are currently rotting away in junkyards and barns. Yup, it’s time for yet another abandoned property exploration video, this time around involving legendary British classics.
Located somewhere in the UK (the exact location isn’t provided to keep looters away), this property includes several buildings and a massive field. Both are populated by old-timers that have been abandoned for decades. It’s unclear what happened here, but the place looks deserted, and the vehicles are in an advanced state of decay. I’d say they’ve been sitting for at least 20 years.
The footage begins with a pair of 1970s sports cars sitting on a trailer in what appears to be a big yard. One is a Datsun 280Z, the third iteration of the iconic Z car. It was produced from 1974 to 1978, and it’s a relatively rare sight in the UK. Surprisingly, the car is not yet a rust bucket.
The second car parked here is an MG MGB. Arguably MG’s most iconic vehicle, the MGB was produced for a whopping 18 years between 1962 and 1980. The British firm introduced various updates over the years, while the engine lineup included a four-cylinder, an inline-six, and even a V8. This one appears to be a pre-1973 GT coupe with steel bumpers.
If the vehicles seem familiar, it’s because I wrote a blurb on them in April 2024. They were documented on a different YouTube channel. However, unlike the previous video, this one shows more of the property, and our host stumbled across other British classics.
Next up is a white MG Midget. This smaller sports car was produced pretty much alongside the MGB. Launched in 1961, it remained in showrooms through 1979. Although it shares styling cues with the MGB, the Midget was smaller and lighter, tipping the scales at only 735 kg (1,620 pounds). It was only offered with inline-four powerplants. The early Midget was essentially a badge-engineered version of the Austin-Healey Sprite.
MG built four different iterations. Based on the lack of external door handles, the white roadster is a MkI version. Produced between 1961 and 1964, it was available with either a 948cc or 1.1-liter inline-four rated at 46 and 56 horsepower, respectively. MG sold over 25,000 units.
The property includes a second Midget painted red. This one’s an MkIII version, produced between 1966 and 1974. The black side sills and the grille suggest it’s a facelifted version, so it rolled off the assembly line in the 1970s. The round rear wheel arches narrow the period to 1972-1974. Both cars show severe rust damage.
The fourth MG on the property appears on camera at the 6:30-minute mark. It’s obviously an MGB GT coupe. Unfortunately, it’s also damaged and nearly covered in vegetation. It’s most likely a mid-to-late-1970s version.
Finally, our host finds an old Audi in one of the bigger buildings. It’s a B2-generation Audi 80, which the German company produced between 1978 and 1986. I spotted a “Quattro” badge on the deck lid, so this four-door sedan was made after the 1982 model year. It’s not rare by production numbers, but it’s an Audi you don’t really see on the road nowadays.
Sadly, it doesn’t look like these classics are going anywhere anytime soon. It’s a shame, but that’s how the cookie crumbles more often than not. If you could save one of these rigs, which one you’d pick and why?
