Båstnäs Car Cemetery, located near the border between Norway and Sweden, has a fascinating background story that stretches back to the mid-20th century. It was established by two brothers, Rune and Tore Ivansson, who demonstrated entrepreneurship and business acumen in a time of economic challenges.

In the 1950s and 60s, Norway was marked by strict restrictions on car purchases. This was a time when owning a car was a privilege, and obtaining car parts could be a challenge. Car parts were rare, often expensive, and in many cases, almost impossible to find. In this situation, the Ivansson brothers saw a golden opportunity. They identified a niche in the market and established a business that sold these sought-after car parts.

But why exactly at the border? The Ivansson brothers’ decision to place their business on the border between Norway and Sweden was carefully considered. From this strategic position, they could easily purchase cars from all over Sweden, obtain the necessary parts, and then sell them to the Norwegian market, which was hungry for these resources. This positioning also allowed them to take advantage of a Norwegian customer base willing to cross the border to get quality parts for their vehicles.

Through their initiative and business strategy, the Ivansson brothers became synonymous with car scrapping and parts sales in the region, and their Car Cemetery in Båstnäs became a known landmark and testament to a special time in Norwegian-Swedish history.

The Car Cemetery Today 🚍🚘🚗

The car cemetery as it stands today is a fascinating sight. Relentless will to continue its growth, pushing forward and winding its roots around the abandoned vehicles. These cars, mainly European models that saw their heyday back in the mid-20th century, stand as silent reminders of an era gone by.

They are now enveloped by a blanket of green moss, delicate lichen, and young trees growing through rusty hulls. Nature seems to gently embrace these abandoned metal structures, allowing the cars over time to merge with the surrounding forest and become an integrated part of the landscape tapestry.

For those who take the time to wander through this car cemetery, it’s often a deeply emotional experience. There’s something inexplicable about seeing these abandoned machines in such stillness. The atmosphere is charged with a sense of awe, a sacral calm mingling with creeping unease about the mute witnesses to past grandeur.

On days where the sky is heavy with gray clouds, and a cool breeze sweeps through the trees, this mood intensifies. In this almost deafening silence, disturbed only by natural sounds like a bird chirping or the sharp creaking of a rusty car door slowly yielding to the wind, one can truly feel the weight of time and history.

Environmental Concerns

In this age where environmental protection is a burning issue, the Båstnäs car cemetery stands as a complex puzzle. On the one hand, this place has its cultural heritage, a historic aura that captures epochs and memories from the past.

But on the other hand, there is an ongoing environmental debate about the lasting effect of leaving hundreds of weathered and rusty cars unnoticed in the embrace of the forest. These cars, slowly becoming one with nature, release chemicals that can be harmful to the surrounding environment.

However, any cleanup of the area could bring its own set of challenges. Cleaning up might mean cutting down trees and disturbing the forest’s natural balance, which could further compromise the ecosystem’s integrity.

In Conclusion

The car cemetery in Båstnäs, with its astounding collection of old cars that seem to tell stories from another time, serves as a reminder of the consequences of human action – both intended and unintended.

While visitors are enchanted by the almost poetic interplay between machine and nature, they should also turn their gaze towards the bigger context: How can we, as a society, avoid repeating such unintended environmental consequences and seek a more sustainable path forward?

This car cemetery should not only be seen as a historical monument but also as a reflection of our responsibility towards our planet.

Sources

– Terje Bjørnstad, «Bastnäs Bilskroten», terjebjornstad.com

– Uddautflykter, «Ivanssons Bilskrot i Båstnäs», uddautflykter.se

– Swedish Nomad, «Båstnäs Bilkirkegård», swedishnomad.com

– Auto Motor Sport, «Sveriges vackraste bilkyrkogård», mestmotor.se

– Äventyrligare, «Ivanssons Bilskrot i Båstnäs», aventyrligare.se

– Dagsavisen, «Siste stopp Båstnäs», dagsavisen.no

📸: #thorejohansenhuskerdu
📸: #HildePaulsenHuskerdu

Keyword
Båstnäs,
Båstnäs Bilkirkegård,
Bastnäs Bilskroten,
Bilkyrkogården i Båstnäs,
Brødrene Ivanssons,
Rune og Tore Ivansson,
Ivan’s junkyard car cemetery, Bastnäs Ivanssons Bilskrot Bilkyrkogård, Båstnäs

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