Junkyard

I love photography that captures a story and what a story this book tells. It’s amazing (and sad) to see so many classics not only all in one place but literally rusting away and getting damaged even further by their haphazard placement. It’s almost as if the collection of them was all that really mattered with no thought of restoration and resale. It is a treasure trove of hidden relics.

The pictures are fascinating, haunting and informative. I enjoyed the tidbits of information about where the cars came from or what makes them classics. This book is literally a photo gallery of rusting icons in a graveyard of cars.. So if that doesn’t interest you this my not be the book for you.

There is not a lot of information about the cars or even detailed information on why the junkyard owner becomes such a recluse. For me that was why it’s fascinating but for some you my find it lacking in details. Just try to remember the story is in the pictures as that old saying goes “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words” and for me is is.

I received this book from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for an honest review.
#Junkyard
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This is a unique book. It profiles a incredible junkyard in California. The junkyard contains a huge number of very rare cars in various states of decay, mainly European models, such as Porsches. Excellent pictures and good explanatory text accompanying the pictures.

"Junkyard" shows you a world that was kept from almost everyone: Rudi Klein was a collector of old, ruined, and damaged European cars. He kept all of those in a "little" and private junkyard at the outskirts of L.A.. He started in 1967 and kept going until his death. However, he was always very selective about who got to see his treasures: high fences guard the property and hardly anyone is admitted. If you wanted a piece, his price would be high but in the end, you'd crumble and pay.

However, in 2001 Löwisch and photographer Rebmann managed to broker a deal and gain access to the junkyard. Armed with a camera and trying to keep their endless questions to themselves, they were given an exclusive tour. The result is the photos captures in this book.

"Junkyard" consist of 158 pages of photographs. All taken with an analog camera, which makes the quality of the photos even more impressive. Rebmann trying to capture the atmosphere of the junkyard, full of broken bits and pieces, and cars that used to decorate the streets. Furthermore, he pays attention to detail instead of focusing on "just" a car. Thus, you are met with photos that focus on a wheel, or broken set of lights. A personal favourite had been the set of photos of nature taking back a car, and grass growing all over it.

Rebmann managed the capture an atmosphere of mixed emotions: awe at the sheer size of the junkyard. A bittersweet feeling of nostalgia after all these are all broken wrecks waiting to be stripped or crushed, as well as fascination because this is a rare sight to behold.

Löwisch adds to the feeling of the book with information and background story. The translation from German into English works as well and no information or feeling seems to be lost. As such you learn that Klein has not hoarded these cars but he made quite a lot of money with them. And you'll know that if you visited the Audi Museum in Ingolstadt before, that you walked right past a car that belongs to Klein. Furthermore, you also discover that this is a book of the past: the junkyard does not exist anymore.

Overall, "Junkyard" is a perfect coffee table book for car lovers which depicts something unique.

What a cool book. I used to run the office in a junkyard and really never thought about the cars in the lot. I mean I knew the history of some, the recent auto wrecks, I talked to some of the families who came to retrieve their belongings, and the police who were investigating, but I never paid attention to the cars themselves. This book has some awesome pictures, even if you are not a car enthusiast you will enjoy the art of this book.

Review to come May 13th on blog/goodreads.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

I just couldn't resist this one when I spotted it at Netgalley. I love shows about people restoring old cars to glory and often they visit those amazing junkyards. I don't know who Rudi Klein is though, but I was still excited to see what this guy had on his junkyard.

And the answer is, a lot. Dang this guy has some gorgeous cars that are just lying there, I actually feel sorry for the cars and I just hope that one day someone will restore them to new glory. I loved seeing the stacks of cars, the small details of each car, some were for better wear than others. Some looked like they had a family of mice living inside, others like nature just took over. Some looked like they just needed a bit more love and they would be able to stand in museums. I definitely would have loved to see this junkyard in the flesh, but I guess with how difficult it was for the book's crew to get access that is just a dream and will stay a dream. At least I got these photographs.

I did think it was a shame that there were also black/white photographs. While I do love black/white, I just felt it didn't really fit in with this book.

As expected, I wasn't that much interested in the text. That is nothing new, with photography books I just come for the photographs. Nice that there is text, but give me the photographs. :P

All in all, a book that I definitely liked and that had me want to stretch out and get closer to those cars. I am glad I had the chance to read it.