Mentioned it as a laugh a couple of days ago and I can't help continuing to think it would be a good idea and "could" work.

The idea would be:-

a ) we'd be rescuing many classic motors, loads of them skodas

b ) it would be a voluntary basis only, driven by passion for rescuing classics from ruin

I would obviously need to contact the place, but if the logistics could be ironed out the theory is simple. We, in exchange for perhaps some cups of tea and the promise not to sue them if we hurt ourselves, go into the "skoda graveyard" in Bridgwater armed with various tools/blades/shears/saws/armoured gloves, etc and try to salvage some of these cars from their thorny bushy graves.

Now, I don't know the owners of the "collection" - they could be a bunch of total prats who kindly tell us to go forth and multiply, but would anyone be interested in this if the owners were willing to let us help? I for one would be, just to see the kind of rare machinery that could be buried in there. Would be a little like Time Team only without having to dig trenches. No doubt there could be a little pause for a little drive around the Somerset hills, and a hearty pub lunch too.

I must get hold of Tigger (Will) as I believe he has been in contact before. Also something I thought the Skoda Owners Club GB might be interested in due to the generally "classical" nature of the cars on there, and their owners.

Discuss!

sounds a very good idea

what place is this exactly? *confused*

The Skoda graveyard in Bridgwater, Somerset - a place that the wurzel meet has been to a couple of times but only to view.

Essentially a scrapyard for classics, but instead of them just sitting there, the undergrowth, mainly bramble from memory, has basically invaded all the cars, both inside and out.....

Sounds like a good idea, but distance needed to travel may rule me out

as above great idea Jason and would happily lend a hand in my former life, all the best with it

Mark

Yeah, sounds good

when you've saved these "scrap" cars, where exactly will you be storing them ?

when you've saved these "scrap" cars, where exactly will you be storing them ?

They stay where they are, and you leave proud in the knowledge you've helped get rid of all the undergrowth.

:yes: I agree entirely with this idea...count me in! I already devote a lot of time keeping old Skodas on the road so reading this topic has made me very happy!

:yes: I agree entirely with this idea...count me in! I already devote a lot of time keeping old Skodas on the road so reading this topic has made me very happy!

Can you put something on skoda owners club GB to see if there is any interest. If enough arises, I will try to make contact with the place.

The Skoda graveyard in Bridgwater, Somerset - a place that the wurzel meet has been to a couple of times but only to view.

Essentially a scrapyard for classics, but instead of them just sitting there, the undergrowth, mainly bramble from memory, has basically invaded all the cars, both inside and out.....

Out of interest - where abouts in Bridgewater is it - probably a bit too far for me to come - but I was down there in August - to colect an eight year old pup from a Cairn Rescue centre .Would have loved to have seen some of the oldies .

They stay where they are, and you leave proud in the knowledge you've helped get rid of all the undergrowth.

If that's the case, count me in

It's a place on the Bristol Road out the north end of Bridgwater. I can't really say any more than that.

Hoping to follow up on this later in the month and try and get something planned for the summer, when it will be much nicer to work outside....

It's a place on the Bristol Road out the north end of Bridgwater. I can't really say any more than that.

Hoping to follow up on this later in the month and try and get something planned for the summer, when it will be much nicer to work outside....

If i were you i would tread very carefully! i know the owner of the whole yard. And despite the cars being effectively scrap his still got a fondness to them.

I think the last thing that you should be suggesting is to go in mob handed and suggest this and that. Ive already approached him regarding the purchase of some of the cars in question and his simply not budging. The Fact is his more likely to scrap them for metal value than to allow someone to put them back on the road.

Sorry for the negativity but more halm could come to the cars than good if you dont do it right. By all means contact me at [email protected]

Edited 3 January, 201016 yr by skudman

Does seem a shame to see them all like that though.... :(

I really couldnt agree more.

Paul [skudman] and I have spoken about this thread after I posted on his forum about it. It would appear that the cars at Bridgewater aren't easily saveable due to the owner of the yard and cars being "characterful". [trying to be polite!! ]

However...that doesn't mean that we can't still save old Skodas! Paul and I are already saving as many as we can among a few others, but to be honest there aren't enough of us. I fully appreciate that rear engined Skodas are not everyones cup of tea and were [and still are to some] the butt of a million jokes. However, when you get to know them properly they are in fact very well engineered and perhaps more importantly now they are classics...A LOT OF FUN! They are also pretty rare so it's a crying shame to see them continue to dissapear.

So..how about those of us that are interested join forces and help save some of Skodas heritage? I don't see why Briskoda, S.O.C.G.B, Skoda-Forum, S.C.S. ect. can't combine efforts to save some old Skodas. It would [iMO] be fun, we make new friends, get some cool projects posted on the forums, and some in print courtesy of SOCGB magazine.

Parts isn't a huge issue as I have quite a lot of used parts, I'll let Paul tell you what he has, and of couse Jorilly is a well known source of Skoda parts.

What do you think?

Interested in principle, although I suppose in the Bridgwater case it was more like a clean-up of a museum. The bloke who owns it could probably make a little informal tourist attraction if only all the attractions were not buried under brambles..... :no:

If i were you i would tread very carefully! i know the owner of the whole yard. And despite the cars being effectively scrap his still got a fondness to them.

As I just posted on skoda-forum... I believe the owner you mentioned; Rob Williams, died back in November so perhaps there's a better chance of buying a car or two now.

Sad to hear that, but also curious to know exactly what was planned for the cars in his "estate" ???

I wouldn't mind being part of an SOS = Save Our Skodas elite forces

Bodgers unite!!!

Bodgers unite!!!

As long as they are bodged properly of course! :p

just been googling out of curiousity..

http://www.bouncing-czechs.com/imagery/Skodapdfs/bs-skodaturbo.pdf

is this the same person as above? if so there maybe some turbo'd RWDers under those brambles!

Edited 13 January, 201016 yr by arbs

Sounds like the same to me. Not sure about there being a 0-60 in 9 seconds turbo monster in there though.