Inside network of tunnels built to secretly transport cars in WW2 … before becoming homes to world’s rarest prototypes
THIS is the astonishing network of tunnels built to secretly transport cars during World War Two, which later became home to some of the rarest prototypes in the world.
Petrolheads still believe the labyrinth could contain one of the most bizarre vehicles ever produced after it disappeared without a trace around 50 years ago.
The tunnels were constructed underneath the vast, 1.2-acre Longbridge factory in the West Midlands.
Initially the birthplace of the Austin Motor Company, it was most famous as the beating heart of the nationalised car industry under British Leyland.
It is currently leased by Chinese auto giant SAIC as a development facility for MG, but no cars have actually been made there since 2016.
In its heyday, however, it was the breeding ground for iconic models like the Mini, the Land Rover and the Rover 75 (as well as the stage for the industrial disputes that plagued much of the ’70s and 80s).
But it was in 1939 that tunnels were dug to house staff and allow for cars and components to be transported during air raids so production could continue.
This created what motoring expert Tom Cowling called a “shadow factory” in his YouTube video on the history of the plant.
After the war, though, these tunnels were no longer necessary and instead became a storage space for all manner of weird and whacky cars produced at the plant.
This resulted in what Tom referred to as “the most incredible barn find this country has ever seen”.
Back in 2005, in the wake of MG Rover’s collapse, urban explorers flocked to the Longbridge site to take a look around the tunnels.
And one group came across something astonishing.
They found a single Mini Clubman which had been left to rot in the tunnels for around 30 years.
A Mini enthusiast named only as Steve has since claimed to have taken ownership of the car on an online forum, attaching photos and stating that he intends to take on the mammoth task of restoring it.
The pictures show the car in complete disarray, with no wheel, a caved-in roof and a thick layer of rust across the entire frame.
But if it ever does get back on the road, it could be on the greatest comeback stories in motoring.
Sunken treasure
The tunnels have since been filled in as part of renovation work at Longbridge, but there are theories that they could still contain some hidden wonders.
The holy grail of these is the so-called “Aquamini”, a bizarre concept car that was developed in the 1970s before vanishing without a trace.
A unique swimming car, it was created by replacing the wheels of a classic Mini with water wheels and adding extra ballast to allow it to float across water.
It even made a public appearance at the 1977 Hampton Loade to Bewdley raft race, but its fate has been shrouded in mystery since a devastating fire at the factory.
Derek Linney, one of the men who helped build it, is now trying to track the whacky prototype down.
He told Birmingham Live: “It was a massive blaze.
“In fact, there was so much smoke, firefighters could only be down there for minutes at a time.
“We built [the Aquamini] in our own time.
“We used it for two or three years.
“I was there during the best times…I was one of 500 apprentices and the Austin apprenticeship was considered the best apprenticeship in the world.”
Derek is appealing to anyone who might know where the boat-car hybrid ended up and if it’s even still in existence.