Forgotten in the Woods

Photos by Chris De La Marsche.

Our friend, Chris De La Marsche, was recently on a trip to Sweden and couldn’t resist a visit to the Båstnäs Car Cemetery. This is a private collection on private land, but the owners are ok with people having a wander, kind of …

“This car cemetery is private property. You may still look, take pictures but DO NOT take away parts. Do not destroy or in any other way disrupt this place. 

If you open a car door, please shut it again so the next visitor can get the same experience as you did!! For info: after about 30 burglaries this year I’m fed up with it! I’ve made traps in the buildings so if you get hurt or die, I DON’T CARE! Remember in this place no one can hear you scream …” –Actual note from the owner pinned to a building near the cars!

The Car Cemetery was initially started as a scrapyard in the 1950s by two brothers who ran their parts business from a building next to where these pictures were taken. The cars in the collection range from the 40s, 50s and 60s, with various makes and models that the brothers would break and sell the parts from. 

The business closed its doors in the early 90s and then the Swedish forest started to claim the cars. One of the brothers remains. As you can see from his note, he doesn’t mind visitors, but asks that his property is respected. I could waffle on all day about the contents of this place, but I’ll let the pictures do the talking.