Explorer stumbles upon a legendary Subaru dealership in Malta that has been completely frozen in time for 35 years
Published on Nov 15, 2026 at 12:22 PM (UTC-5)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Nov 15, 2026 at 12:22 PM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This explorer visited a Subaru dealership in Malta that had been left frozen in time since it was abandoned 35 years ago.
TV presenter Paul Cowland said that this place had been on his bucket-list for a while now.
He finally got the chance to see it in person and it was everything he’d hoped it be.
Like any good time capsule, this place generated pure nostalgia.
Abandoned car dealerships are fascinating places
There’s just something about abandoned car dealerships that lures in explorers.
And when they’re full of deserted cars, it’s all the more tempting to attempt to get a closer look.
One woman paid a visit to a deserted Saab dealership in Massachusetts, containing a car that left everyone stumped.
Down in Oklahoma, it was an EV dealership that peaked one man’s interest.
And then there was the Japanese dealership filled with the rusty shells of what would have been luxury cars.
There’s a surprising amount of diversity in the abandoned car dealership scene, believe it or not.
What was it about this Subaru dealership in Malta that was so intriguing?
TV presenter Paul Cowland had wanted to visit this place for quite some time.
It turns out that this Subaru dealership on the island of Malta has quite the reputation outside of the country.
An article on Atlas Obscura says that this was the only Subaru dealer on the European isle until a competitor opened up in the late 1990s.
It was shortly after this that the dealership shut up shop.
The cars inside were left perfectly preserved, drawing in fascinated onlookers – like Paul Cowland himself.
“It’s a proper little time warp,” he said, filming the cars inside.
What cars were sat inside this Subaru dealership?
Among the cars inside the dealership was an Impreza, an XT coupé, and a Sambar,
“Some of these cars in here are used, some of them are brand new,” Cowland explained.
“My dream is to go in here one day.
“They’re getting pretty well cared for.”
It is a crying shame to see these beautiful cars gathering dust, rather than out on the roads where they belong.
Perhaps one day, we’ll see them revitalized and driving again.
Most famous abandoned car dealerships
Ford dealership (Ingolstadt, Germany): This showroom has been inactive since the 1980s, and contains six cars: three Sierras, an Escort, a Fiesta, and an Orion.
Porsche dealership (Belgium): A DeLorean sits inside the showroom underneath a tarp.
Alfa Romeo dealership (Belgium): A graveyard of Alfa models from the 1970s up until the early 2000s. Shut down after the owner tragically died.
Sevel/Ganza dealership (Avellaneda, Argentina): Believed to have closed around 1993, and contained unregistered Fiat, Peugeot, and Alfa Romeo cars.
Ferrari/Maserati dealership (China): Contains cars like a Porsche Carrera GT, a Ferrari 575 Superamercia, and a Corvette Z06.
Saab dealership (France): More than 20 Saabs sit inside here. Has repeatedly been targeted by vandals and thieves.
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Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
