Dubai’s Exotic Junkyards

Exotic Yards

Dubai is a bit of a playground for exotic car enthusiasts. The streets are filled with cars most people only see in movies or auto shows, but not all of them meet a glamorous fate. In fact, quite a few supercars get wrecked and wind up in local junkyards. Automotive photographer Larry Chen recently visited such places in Dubai, and what he found was a collection of some seriously damaged, yet iconic vehicles.

Lotus Eletre’s Sad Day

Among the treasures (or travesties, depending on how you look at it) that Chen encountered was a nearly new Lotus Eletre. This model is the brand’s first all-electric SUV, boasting around 600 horsepower and known for its sleek design. Despite its fresh appearance, this particular Eletre seemed to have suffered from significant internal issues, possibly due to flooding. The failed air suspension had it slumped quite low, and the popped-out door handles suggested deeper problems—a far cry from its usual $100,000+ price tag.

What Else Lurks?

The junkyard showcased a colorful assortment of once-pristine cars from Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren, and many others. Chen, immersing himself in this maze of metal, noted the storage of parts like carbon ceramic brakes, which could cost up to $50,000 if bought new. So, for someone with patience and mechanical know-how, it could be a goldmine of high-end car gear.

How They Drive

Imagine firing up one of these beasts before they met their untimely end. The Lotus Eletre, for instance, offers an electric driving experience that smoothly balances agility with the serene silence of an EV. It’s meant to give platforms like the Porsche Cayenne a run for their money with its effortless power delivery and tech-laden interiors. If these cars didn’t find themselves in junkyards, they’d be out on the road turning heads just as much with performance as with their looks.

American Muscle in Dubai

Interestingly, Dubai’s junkyards aren’t just home to European supercars. There’s also a healthy dose of American muscle, with parts available for brands like Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge. It seems there’s a market for just about everything over there.

Chen left the yards with a head spinning from the sheer variety of vehicles and their parts, which is not something often replicated in American scrap heaps. For those piecing together high-performance vehicles, or perhaps just dreaming up new projects, these yards might feel something like an automotive heaven—or hell—depending on one’s point of view.