These guys tried to start wrecked cars that spent a year buried underground

  • Three cars were buried underground in Russia for an experiment
  • A year later they dug them up
  • They want to see which will start

Published on Aug 13, 2024 at 8:20 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

Last updated on Aug 14, 2024 at 5:39 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Tom Wood

Halloween is right around the corner and, getting into the spirit of things, these YouTubers raised three cars from the grave that have been buried underground for a year.

They include an Audi, a Lada, and a Toyota.

Like Frankenstein’s Monster, the Russian content creators wanted to jolt them back to life.

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Starting the once-buried cars

The team that post to the Garage 54 YouTube channel had buried the cars a year before in anticipation of their experiment.

Seems like the wrecked cars weren’t in great shape when they were buried – and, not surprisingly, they’re looking even worse now with parts of the rotten and mangled cars breaking away.

The team is literally shoveling dirt from the cars.

The Audi is ‘toast’, the starter motor is fried as the team broke the carburetor off. RIP.

Simpler carbureted motors in the Lada and Toyota mean that, when cleaned up and drained of water, they have a better chance of firing them up compared to more complex fuel-injected systems.

Garage 54

The Russian Lada, which it’s revealed spent some time in a lake is actually looking like it’s fared the best out of the three.

Yes, its roof might be caved in under the weight of the dirt, but ‘the contents of its engine bay don’t look half bad’.

Amazingly, the Lada started after replacing a gasket and cleaning the fuel system, proving its reliability despite the harsh conditions.

The Toyota also started but required additional fuel.

Proof, if it were needed, of the never-say-die durability of simpler, older cars with basic engines.

These vehicles are certainly reliable under extreme conditions.

Other amazing buried car stories

It might sound like the plot of a Hollywood whodunnit movie, but this buried Ferrari Dino 246 GTS has the most bizarre backstory ever.

On the other hand, a new car was deliberately interred underground in Oklahoma in 1957 to serve as a time capsule.

Sadly, 50 years later, it turned out that the attempt at making history went seriously wrong.

Meanwhile, this 1973 Plymouth Satellite was recently discovered under leaves in a US car graveyard – creepy.

With a dual English and French degree and NCTJ diploma, Amelia began her career doing award-winning writing and editing for titles and brands spanning Women's Health, the Telegraph, Boots, and Vitality. Amelia joined the SB Media family in September of 2023, bringing her expertise in SEO and reader takeaway. As Lead Editor, her superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a shareable story.