Here is a new underground quarry, certainly the biggest one that exists in Ile de France since it is about 120 hectares.
Its size is so big that I had to visit it 3 or 4 times, every time I found new car wrecks. 31 wrecks are abandoned in this one, some are unfortunately burned but much less than in other careers, and moreover there are many old cars, all located in the second part.
This quarry is divided into two parts: first it's "Écoles" part because the entrance is located near a street called Rue des Écoles. This area is the one that has the most modern cars, but also burned cars.
The second is called "Bonneville" because a hamlet of this name existed at the time, before massive urbanization. This access was unfortunately condemned at the end of 2018 because houses were built nearby, so that to connect the abandoned wrecks on the Bonneville side, we must enter the Écoles side and walk for about 45 to 50 minutes.
#1 Renault Super 5, difficult to see because it is hidden behind a turned pillar, more like it was burned it does not help.
#2 first 1994 Ford Fiesta Mk3, it was abandoned in 2001 and burned. She was even found by the gendarmerie ... but impossible to remove it, so she will stay here.
#3 1994 Volkswagen Golf Mk3, not far from the Ford Fiesta, abandoned here in 2005. She started to be dismantled, but they could not finish the job ...
#4 Volkswagen Polo 6N, one of the rare non-burned modern cars I know in quarry. To its left is a "bowl" where are stored the dismantled parts of the Golf Mk3, which is 10m behind.
#5 second 1994 Ford Fiesta Mk3, abandoned in 2002, it is located at the end of a main alley, also burned.
#6 third Ford Fiesta Mk3, a 3-doors. It had to interfere with the passage because it is in a fork, we can see that it was pushed ...
#7 1976 Renault 5, re-registered in 1985. One of the most beautiful wrecks here, quite well hidden elsewhere, which is why it is relatively complete. There is no trace of movement after 1989, which is probably her abandon year.
#8 first Renault Galion, re-registered in 1978. In France, this model was very popular with small construction companies and artisans.. Some of them still exist today, it exists in flatbed truck version like this one, but some were built in a van version... it has also been used by La Poste, Police and Gendarmerie. The Goélette is the clone of the Galion, but it stands out with its simple rear wheels, while the Galion has twin rear wheels, visible here !
#9 1981 Austin Metro, re-registered in 1985. Unlike the Austin Maestro, the Austin Metro has been sold with very successful in France, like the Mini. I searched for this wreck for a very long time in this quarry, and found it at the end of my third visit. She has only 69000km which is very little, but I discovered that it was abandoned in ... 1987, there are now 32 years. It is the only one that was badly damaged before it was abandoned, it was not declared stolen, it is probably the owner of the time who had fun with his friends to hit the walls, for finally leave her there.
#10 Renault 4 F6, only the shell remains, there is nothing left.
#11 Simca 1000, behind the Renault 4 F6. Very difficult to see, and invisible from the main road ...
#12 1959 Peugeot 403, it was dark blue in color, much like 403, and was abandoned after a heavy object (probably a rock) fell on the trunk, crushed. I do not explain why the trunk itself, visible in the photo, is intact ... It is not rust or white paint, but dust that is present. Impossible to know when it was abandoned, but it must go back to at least 40 or 50 years ago.
#13 1968 Renault 4, as beautiful as the Renault 5, it suffered an accident in the back and a shock against the pillar at the front right. It still has its headlights and its chrome grille indicates a Mk2, sold between 1968 and 1971. It is therefore one of the first sold of this type. Re-registered in 1974, it was abandoned in 1981.
#14 second Renault Galion, the same model as the other that has the same registration, except that it is a long wheelbase, quite little product.
#15 1969 OM Lupetto, manufacturing Italian trucks and vans, it has been sold fairly successfully here. Re-registered in 1976, it was abandoned in 1980 probably a van whose only frame remains. Note that a wall was built behind when he was already here, which is why the plateau is filled with cement.
#16 1972 Fiat 850, the first of only two old cars burned in this quarry, and that was it a long time ago because it was abandoned in 1983. In the dark, it is also quite difficult to see: I had confused with a pile of scrap without any interest ...
#17 Talbot Samba, the old second that was burned. Compared to the Fiat 850, it seems much more recent but impossible to know when exactly.
#18 2001 Honda CLR125, re registered in 2006. Motorcycles are far more rare in careers than cars and trucks or vans. This is the most recent vehicle here, it was abandoned in 2007 ... a few less pieces and number plate removed, but in his work the owner left visible the certificate of insurance ! It is indeed not declared stolen, which will remain a mystery.
From there, we are in the Bonneville area.
#19 Peugeot J9, he seems to have burned very recently.
#20 first FAR tractor, these small tractors on 3 wheels and it seems to me of UK made (RHD) were very popular on quarries and later, mushroom growers. Indeed, several careers were converted after World War II into bagged mushroom cultures (agarics or called Champignons de Paris in french, I do not know how they are called in English).
#21 second FAR tractor was re-registered in 1967. It is located right next to the previous one, and is a bit better presentable.
#22 1974 Renault 4 F4 probably re-registered in 1976, it has a black dashboard and has a "long chrome radiator grill" so that it can only be 1974, only year where the black dashboard was present and the radiator grill also, like the Renault 4 in #13.
#23 third FAR tractor re-registered in 1968, it is the one that presents the best. The frame of the plateau, which was made of wood, was completely destroyed by the mushrooms and the humidity ... yes, the place is VERY humid.
#24
VéloSoleX 3800 (who is his exact spelling). Solex was a brand that has been very popular in France, especially among teens. 7 million of VéloSoleX models were produced from 1946 to the end in 1988 year of final production end. The 3800 was produced from 1966 to 1983, when it was subsequently sold under the MBK brand. During my 3rd visit in November 2016, I constated this Solex had unfortunately gone. He was probably taked by someone to restore him ...
#25 1974 Renault 12, oh, my beautiful Renault 12 ... you are so beautiful, in this pretty blue dress speckled with rust ! It's my favorite wreck in this quarry, which is really superb. Re-registered in 1980, it was abandoned in 1986 at a time when the Renault 12 was becoming a cheap car very present on the used car market. It should be noted that the quarry has had some problems slump of the ceiling a few years ago which explains the presence of the pillar on her left ... which was built here well after, and without even this beautiful renault 12 is not removed !
#26 1956 Renault Dauphine, a very beautiful renault here too and one of the first produced: there is still a stud on the rear brake drum, given the place where it is placed, it was equipped with "star" rims. So a model before june 1957. Re-registered in 1970, it was abandoned to an unknown year, unfortunately. It is the only one parked on a main track, clearly visible to everyone but withstanding time and vandalism.
#27 1968 Renault 4 F4, a model that has become very rare nowadays and still equipped with the first bonnet appeared on the Renault 4 in their production debut in 1961. At the end of 1968, the Renault 4 F4 will receive the long chrome grille, as on the Renault 4 #13. This is one of the last produced with this bonnet, it is in exceptional condition for its environment especially as it is 5m from the Renault Dauphine ... alas, year of abandonment unknown also.
#28 1957 Renault Juvaquatre. The Juvaquatre is the ancestor of the Renault 4 F4 and initially was produced in van, coupe and sedan but from 1948, only the van will remain in production until 1960. This one seems to have been pushed, it had to be in the main road just behind.
#29 fourth Ford Fiesta Mk3, it was burned far from the other 3, and on the main track which now makes it impossible to connect the two entrances by car.
#30 1958 fourth FAR tractor, very far from the other 3 too. The wooden tray was also destroyed by the ambient humidity.
#31 Innocenti Mini Bertone, I thought of an Innocenti DeTomaso ... this one is the last one I found in this quarry. It is exceptional in more than one way: completely complete, it still has ALL its windows. This is the only quarries wreck I know having all its windows, they have not been broken by vandals ! Probably a theft made at the time. It is located in a cul-de-sac but not visible without having made a few meters, but no one goes there seeing that it goes nowhere, which certainly explains its excellent state of conservation ...
... and see you soon !