Abandoned Opel Olympia In The Woods, Scotland

Nestled deep in the highland forests of Scotland lies an abandoned Opel Olympia. Trees and undulating ground surround the car; it is considerable distance from the nearest road. A strange scene, but a beautifully photogenic one.

I have long wished to visit this car, and I finally got the opportunity in the spring of 2023. My anticipation was overflowing as I walked through the forest, about to finally meet this rusting damsel I had dreamed of for so long. She did not disappoint. After a seemingly endless walk through the forest, her roof and bonnet appeared before me. Slowly emerging from behind uneven mounds of earth, moss, and grasses. It wasn’t long before her empty but beautiful headlights were looking back at me.

The Opel Olympia is a small family car by German manufacturer Opel. Production was in two phases: from 1935–1940 and once again after World War II in 1947–1953. It was one of the world’s first mass-produced cars.

This lost Olympia is one of the earlier models, probably an OL38, differentiated by a distinct grille. There are faint traces of red paint on the model nameplate, on the side of the car’s forward wing.

Discovering a Lost Relic: An Abandoned 1930s Opel Olympia in the forest of Scotland

The car certainly looks out of place in the rugged landscape, and it is certainly a long way from any roads. Deep in the wilderness, the car’s presence has left many wondering how a surreal scene like this came about. In truth, the car is adjacent to a forest access track. Indeed, during my visit, there was evidence that machines used to manage the forest passed by on this very track recently. Only a few metres from the car. It seems likely that at one time this old track was in better condition and passable for cars (such as the humble Opel Olympia).

Although this goes some way to offering an explanation of “how”, we still need a “when” and a “why”? Another piece of the puzzle: the car is a left-hand drive! This car came over from continental Europe after being manufactured in post-war Germany, which is an interesting facet of the tale. Sadly, it is hard to tell when exactly the car was abandoned here; clearly, it has been here for many decades.

The final part of the story triplet is: why was a 1930s Opel Olympia abandoned in a Scottish forest? The car’s true story may never be known; perhaps that is for the best. Beautiful and mysterious things lose some of their magic when you have all the pieces of the story. The enigma of the Abandoned Opel Olympia In The Woods will hopefully be a source of intrigue and wonder for hikers and photographers for many decades to come.