Frozen in Time: Brand New 1970s Toyotas Abandoned on Dealer Lot in Cyprus

The Green Line is a 180 kilometer-long (112 miles) stretch of land that divides the island of Cyprus and its capital city of Nicosia. It was created as a demilitarized zone or a buffer, if you prefer, between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot controlled areas of Cyprus after Turkey invaded the Mediterranean island back in 1974. Here, lies an unoccupied piece of land that seems to have been frozen in time.

Now, we know some of you may be wondering what any of this has to do with an automotive website like Carscoop, so let’s cut to the chase and get to the story.

The answer is a stunning gallery from Bo de Visser, a photographer and journalist from The Netherlands, who was able to visit the Green Line in Cyprus and discover an abandoned Toyota dealer lot with an amazing collection of new cars from the 1970s.

The vehicles, as well as the dealership, were apparently abandoned in a hast during the invasion creating a one-of-a-kind time capsule of an assortment of 1970s Toyota models including Corollas and Celicas. The photo gallery along with a description from Bo’s brother, Bart, whom we came in contact with, is available for your viewing pleasure after the jump.

Here's what Bart de Visser told us:

After the invasion by Turkey in 1974 a large part of Northern Cyprus became a cease-fire line, protected by UN and both Cyprus and Turkye.

And while other towns managed to carry on, cities like Famagusta and Nicosia are partly abandoned since then. Rumors were told about car-dealers as Ford and Toyota, where new cars just standing the way they have been parked 33 years ago.

A dream of every car -enthusiast and photographers of abandoned places.

After a long time of negotiating the photographer and journalist Bo de Visser from The Netherlands managed to get inside and made a photo-documentary.

Besides the 'forgotten cars' he discovered a city with a sad history, empty streets with decayed houses.

The many bulletholes in the walls are silent witnesses and keep remembering us why this city was abandoned.

Old advertising signs of forgotten brands, and of course, the Toyota dealer.

'New' cars, with only 37 driven miles.

Many thanks to Bart de Visser!

Source: Urban Travel via VWvortex

[Photos published with permission]

PHOTO GALLERY

It Came from eBay Hell: Toyota Celica-Based Ferrari F430 Replica

There are probably more Pontiac Fiero-based imitations in the world than real Ferraris. Today, though, we have something a little different. No, it is not a Pontiac Fiero-based Lamborghini Miura (we have already had one of them), it is a Toyota Celica that has been transformed into a passable F430 replica.

Did I say passable? Well, only just. From the front, it looks okay, with the hood, headlights and A-pillar being sufficiently F430-like. As you move back, however, it all starts to unwind. The awkward side window treatment, slab-sided rear flanks and the shape of the rear windscreen just seem wrong. Though you can’t expect much from trying to transform a front-engined, front wheel drive Japanese coupe in a mid engine, rear wheel drive Italian exotic.

Things only get worse inside; the interior is essentially stock seventh-gen Celica with stick on parts that are supposed to give the impression of a Ferrari interior. Suffice to say, it does not work. The seller is asking US$45,000 for a car that nominally pulls around $7,500 on the used market, a frankly ridiculous price. You can check out our gallery (if you dare) and leave your bit in the comments section below.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: eBay

PHOTO GALLERY

Toyota Suplica Caught in Transition in Texas

Marton from San Antonio, Texas sent us these pics he took at a local auto parts shop thanks to his handy-dandy iPhone. What he and a friend initially thought was some poor Supra turned out to be, in his words, a Suplica; "but good god its ghetto." That one gets a digital high-five.

Marton, if it's ever seen again in a better state of kit, get some more shots and we'll see if the Suplica's gotten any prettier. More photos after the jump.

By Phil Alex

Thanks for the pics Marton!

New Wallpaper Gallery of Toyota FT-86 RWD Sports Coupe [plus Video]

The trickle of photos on the Toyota FT-86 Concept continues as the Japanese firm's European Design and Development (ED2) center in Nice, France, which is responsible for the coupe's styling, released a fresh batch of pictures and a short video of the rear-wheel drive sports car.

In a couple of shots, Toyota remembers its sporty past depicting the FT-86 alongside the Corolla AE86, Celica and Supra coupes. The updated gallery also includes some of the original sketches from the ED2 center.

During the company's press conference at the Geneva Show earlier this month, Andrea Formica, Senior Vice-President of Toyota Motor Europe, noted that the FT-86 would reach showrooms in early 2012.

While Toyota is holding back on most of the details on the production model, it is believed that at launch, the FT-86 (or whatever name the company chooses for the car) will be offered with a Subaru-derived 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine.

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