Swiss Junkyard Comes Under Fire

Although this is no hot news, it was so interesting that we couldn't leave it be. In Kaufdorf, Switzerland, there is a junkyard housing over 500 classic machines from the 1930s through the 1960s.

The government wants to pave the junkyard, as Jalopnik.com states, so that people can see the cars blend in with nature, but the locals intend to preserve it as it is. The local legend goes like this: There was a local dealer that used to buy cars for their parts and instead of moving them to the junkyard, he stored the beauties in his yard. In the 70s, the dealer retired, passing the business on to his son, but he left the cars untouched.

The Swiss government says that the forest junkyard should be cleared, paved and sealed in order to prevent any fluids from penetrating the ground and threatening the local wildlife. A local freelancer called Heinrich Gartentor states that rare trees and moss species grew and adapted on the car graveyard, and they are to be destroyed if it is to be cleared.

"Nature has fought back and has eroded everything but it is this contrast which is interesting." he states in an interview according to swissinfo.ch.

There is another problem, because if it is to be cleared, the junkyard's automotive marvels will disappear. "The entire history of the automobile is represented here, and you won't find that anywhere else, not even in a museum," Gartentor says.

"For example, many cars here lost their value during the 1970s oil crisis and they met their end here. It would be gross negligence if these historical remnants were to disappear forever," he added.

The owner agrees to pave the area holding the newer models, but does not want to disturb the older models.