Update: Here are the two concepts plus one more at the bottom of the stack, and the next stop is the shredder…
A passerby in Nashville, Tennessee, spotted these Nissan model cars. In the rescue yard. in the open. Because you know why. They are heading to the crusher. Nissan doesn’t want them and doesn’t want the potential liability to sell them. So they will soon be just a memory, and no one can save them. We still, as car lovers, hate to see this happen.
Concept cars live a risky life
Concept cars live a fragile life. It’s a short-term job, and it becomes a financial responsibility when you’re not. They are a dilemma. It cannot be licensed, so it cannot be sold. But the automaker is no longer of use. Some are donated to museums. Many end up with a date with the breaker.
The gray concept is the 2007 Bevel, and the green is the Quest concept. Both of them were prominent Nissan concept cars of their day. Since Nissan’s headquarters is located nearby in Franklin, Tennessee, it makes logistical sense that cars that are no longer usable will end up here. Photos taken by Michael Cooper have found their way to Facebook.
‘They are not for sale’
The Drive recently did some digging, and got the answers we’d expect to hear, but we’d rather not. As expected, a salvage yard spokesperson said it is not for sale and will be crushed. A Nissan spokesperson says the two concepts remain in the Heritage group. But it has deteriorated to the point where it cannot be maintained, according to Nissan. So it is compli.
It was part of a “long-term disposal plan,” the spokesperson added. According to Cooper, the Bevel appears to be in good enough condition to wash and drive. Broken window and missing wheels from the Quest are the only issues we see. Otherwise, it looks very unscathed. Inside, they’re both dusty but look like they’re ready for the next show, which would be for the ripper.
Someone has to sneak a concept car out of the junkyard
Can these two sneak out of the yard? It’s happened in the past, but not with this remover. But Nissan is asking for video evidence that the vehicles in question have indeed crashed. It won’t be easy.
So without divine intervention, you can say goodbye to interesting Nissan concept vehicles. In their time, they were important beacons of Nissan’s design inspiration. Bevel was important enough to warrant a facelift of some sort. We have pictures of him in his earlier brown metallic version.
Why didn’t Nissan donate these concept cars?
The big question we ask at Motorbiscuit is why wasn’t it donated to a museum? It appears to be a simpler solution to unlocking a car without a VIN number, no safety features, and questionable drivability. It allows these excellent concepts to exist, hopefully, forever. They can act as brand ambassadors and design cars in general. All of these reasons seem to us to be a win-win situation.
But is there anything else we miss? We’d love to see these concepts donated to countless auto museums in the United States. Was crushing them an easier solution? We will never know. But since they’re still around, wouldn’t it be great if Nissan could do more to maintain it?
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