Gallery: A vintage car graveyard in western Germany By: Martin Meissner Posted: Last Modified:

METTMANN, Germany (AP) — Michael Froehlich celebrated his 50th birthday in 2000 by buying 50 vintage cars, all manufactured the year he was born. After removing the oil and pollutants, Froehlich parked them in a private forest near his home in western Germany to create a classic car graveyard.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/10/2025 (347 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

METTMANN, Germany (AP) — Michael Froehlich celebrated his 50th birthday in 2000 by buying 50 vintage cars, all manufactured the year he was born. After removing the oil and pollutants, Froehlich parked them in a private forest near his home in western Germany to create a classic car graveyard.

The collection includes a Jaguar XK120, a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost and a Porsche 356, and would be worth millions if the cars were restored. Instead, they remain parked and covered in fall’s crisp leaves, winter’s heavy snow and 25 years of rust.

And so man and machine continue to age together.

Car collector Michael Froehlich poses for a portrait from a vintage Jaguar XK120 car at his private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Car collector Michael Froehlich poses for a portrait from a vintage Jaguar XK120 car at his private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Cars from 1950 rust within a forest at a private car sculpture park in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Cars from 1950 rust within a forest at a private car sculpture park in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
An FSO Warszawa car from Poland is parked with other vintage cars at a private car sculpture park inside a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
An FSO Warszawa car from Poland is parked with other vintage cars at a private car sculpture park inside a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage Cadillac is covered by autumn leaves inside a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage Cadillac is covered by autumn leaves inside a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Vintage vehicles sit inside a private car sculpture park inside a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Vintage vehicles sit inside a private car sculpture park inside a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage Ford car sits at a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage Ford car sits at a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage car is on display at a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage car is on display at a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage Rolls Royce car sits in a private car sculpture park inside a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage Rolls Royce car sits in a private car sculpture park inside a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Car collector Michael Froehlich poses for a portrait from a vintage Jaguar XK120 car at his private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Car collector Michael Froehlich poses for a portrait from a vintage Jaguar XK120 car at his private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Vintage cars are covered by fall leaves inside a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Vintage cars are covered by fall leaves inside a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage Buick car is parked inside a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage Buick car is parked inside a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Dolls of Queen Elizabeth II and her son Charles sit inside a vintage Rolls Royce car at a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Dolls of Queen Elizabeth II and her son Charles sit inside a vintage Rolls Royce car at a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage Citroen car is partially consumed by the forest inside a private car sculpture park in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage Citroen car is partially consumed by the forest inside a private car sculpture park in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A painting decorates an Australian Holden vintage car sitting in a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A painting decorates an Australian Holden vintage car sitting in a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage EMW car is partially buried in autumn leaves inside a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage EMW car is partially buried in autumn leaves inside a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A Porsche 356 vintage car sits at a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A Porsche 356 vintage car sits at a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage car is partially consumed by the forest inside a private car sculpture park in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A vintage car is partially consumed by the forest inside a private car sculpture park in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Vintage cars sit in a forest at a private car sculpture park in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Vintage cars sit in a forest at a private car sculpture park in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Mushrooms grow around vintage cars at a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Mushrooms grow around vintage cars at a private car sculpture park within a forest in Neanderthal Valley in Mettmann, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS FILES Six programs in the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League folded before the start of the 2026-27 season once the Hockey Manitoba U18 AAA ban took effect.

Six high school hockey programs ceased operations following new Hockey Manitoba policy

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Preview

Six high school hockey programs ceased operations following new Hockey Manitoba policy

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Friday, Oct. 2, 2026

She lived the best of both worlds.

For the last three years, the 17-year-old wore a sweater for two different hockey programs — her high school team and AAA club in the Manitoba Female Hockey League — and was preparing to flourish in both colours again this winter.

Recently, however, the blue-liner was disappointed to learn she is no longer eligible to play her Grade 12 season with her school owing to a new policy imposed by Hockey Manitoba that bans players from participating in the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League if they are rostered on a U18 AAA team.

The rule applies to all athletes who play for both Winnipeg-based and rural AAA teams.

Read
Friday, Oct. 2, 2026
Alessandra Tarantino / Invision Files Susan Sarandon

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read Preview

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

MOON ALERT: Caution! Avoid shopping (except food and gas) and important decisions until after 6:30 p.m. today. After that, the moon moves from Cancer into Leo.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Don’t expect much co-operation from partners, spouses and close friends. This is why you might feel cut off from others or a bit lonely. There’s the sense a gulf exists between you and everyone else. But this is temporary. Courage!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Read
2:00 AM CDT

Letters, Oct. 3

7 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

A morning in the life …

My very first lesson does not start when I walk into that lecture hall, oh no — it starts long before. It begins when I walk to my car, check the estimated arrival time to the University of Manitoba and hope that Winnipeg traffic agrees with it.

A drive that appears completely manageable changes almost immediately when I’m greeted by a tsunami of orange pylons and a line of cars that appears to go on forever. Traffic moves by the inch, lanes magically disappear and the detour I took yesterday now has a detour of its own. These factors make me do a calculation that I have become all too familiar with. How late can I arrive and still find parking, run to my class across campus and get to class with enough time left to make it worth it?

I have grown used to people saying, “Why not just leave earlier?” I do. But when I’m already leaving for my 8:30 a.m. class at 7 a.m., there’s only so much I can do. This drive that some would think is relaxing is one that feels like an assignment that I didn’t know I had to complete and is due at 8:30 a.m.

Prime Video / Amazon Content Services Summer H. Howell says she feels she’s been working towards playing the role of Carrie her entire life.

Manitoba’s own Summer Howell takes on biggest role yet as Stephen King’s telekinetic teen Carrie

Randall King 7 minute read Preview

Manitoba’s own Summer Howell takes on biggest role yet as Stephen King’s telekinetic teen Carrie

Randall King 7 minute read Friday, Oct. 2, 2026

From the tender age of eight, actress Summer Howell has made her presence known in a series of horror films shot in her home province of Manitoba.

Her first film was Curse of Chucky (2013), director Don Mancini’s continuation of the venerable killer doll series he started (as a screenwriter) in 1988 with Child’s Play.

“Even then, it was obvious she was very talented, intelligent and delightful,” Mancini said of Howell.

Though she has worked in other genres, Howell gravitated to horror repeatedly, with credits in Shawn Linden’s harrowing Hunter Hunter (2020) and the 2023 possession thriller All Fun and Games. Earlier this year, she shot the horror film Sundown in Winnipeg with director Rebekah McKendry, which premièred last week at Beyond Fest in Los Angeles and is headed for a streaming berth on Shudder.

Read
Friday, Oct. 2, 2026
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Scott and Marla Gillingham have breakfast at home on Saturday morning.

A day on the campaign trail: Winnipeg's mayor, seeking a second term, does double duty

Malak Abas 12 minute read Preview

A day on the campaign trail: Winnipeg's mayor, seeking a second term, does double duty

Malak Abas 12 minute read Friday, Oct. 2, 2026

In the weeks leading up to the civic election, Scott Gillingham has been performing a juggling act: he’s running to be Winnipeg’s 45th mayor, while still serving as its 44th.

“If someone asks me about the campaign, I’m going to answer them. But I think for most people, I’m the mayor of Winnipeg, even if I’m showing up as a candidate,” Gillingham, 58, says. “I try to do all I can to maintain that distinction.”

The Free Press joined Gillingham on a recent rainy September Saturday on the campaign trail, where he served in both roles during an event-laden day. City council’s final meeting before the Oct. 28 election was days earlier.

In Winnipeg, it’s rare for an incumbent to be defeated. But Gillingham knows his win in 2022 wasn’t exactly a landslide — he won with 27.5 per cent of the vote — and he’s been thinking about his second term ever since.

Read
Friday, Oct. 2, 2026
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Local A volunteer-led pop-up library at the Manitoba Youth Centre has been shut down by the province, leaving experts and advocates baffled.

Volunteer pop-up library axed from Manitoba Youth Centre

Matthew Frank 4 minute read Preview

Volunteer pop-up library axed from Manitoba Youth Centre

Matthew Frank 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:25 AM CDT

Manitoba Corrections has cancelled a pop-up library program at the Manitoba Youth Centre, leaving inmates without librarian services and fewer options to borrow certain books.

The Prison Libraries Committee, part of the non-profit Manitoba Library Association, operated and funded the volunteer program since 2024 before it was shut down by the province last month. The group previously partnered with the province to offer the service because the facility has no dedicated library of its own.

“It is concerning that community members who are incarcerated, especially youth, are losing out on meaningful programming, access to information and rehabilitation efforts, which are offered at no cost to (Manitoba) Corrections. We urge Manitoba Justice to promote more library services and programming, not less,” said a Sept. 24 letter from the non-profit addressed to the justice minister.

Ashley Huot, chair of the Prison Libraries Committee, said she was puzzled when she received an email last month from Manitoba Corrections stating that the pop-up library was no longer needed.

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 11:25 AM CDT