They open an old scrap metal container hidden for 27 years and stumble upon a treasure trove of 1970s cars

Stefan, a Dutch content creator and classic‑car enthusiast, stumbled onto something he never expected. He received a tip about a rusted shipping container abandoned on a farm in the Netherlands, and his curiosity pushed him to check it out.

Classic 144 model unearthed

When the team finally pried it open, everyone froze: inside sat a Volvo 144 Deluxe, a model considered a true automotive relic.

The car had been sitting untouched for nearly three decades, and once it was hauled into the shop, the team quickly realized just how much work lay ahead. As Stefan documented on his YouTube channel, the windshield was cracked, the brakes were shot, and the body showed significant rust.

But there was good news too. The engine hadn’t seized, and both the brakes and transmission, while worn, weren’t completely locked up. That was enough to convince Stefan and his partner to take on the restoration.

Based on their initial inspection, the engine could run again with only minor repairs. “I think we’ve got a real shot at bringing it back,” Stefan says excitedly in his video.

A rare find with only a few examples left worldwide

The biggest challenge wasn’t mechanical — it was paperwork. The keys and registration certificate were missing. Still, after cleaning off layers of rust and old paint, Stefan managed to uncover the car’s serial number.

That led to a surprising discovery: the Volvo originally came from Austria and was built in 1974, the same year the first Volvo 144 models hit the market. With that information in hand, the next step is getting it legally registered in the Netherlands.

Before that can happen, though, Stefan needs to make the car roadworthy again. The Deluxe version he found is especially rare, equipped with better features and produced in far smaller numbers than the standard Volvo 144 — making it a dream find for collectors.

Bringing a car back to life after nearly 30 years of inactivity is no small task. As Stefan explains on his channel, the restoration will require a new battery, a full brake overhaul, and plenty of time, money, and patience. But for a discovery this rare, he’s more than willing to put in the work.

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