Blood Money: What Will Happen to Bashar al-Assad’s Car Collection?

Syrian rebels have finally pushed Bashar al-Assad out of power in a surprise move that happened much faster than many expected. In his haste to escape the country, the dictator left behind the trappings of the luxurious life he built on plundered wealth, including a multi-million-dollar car collection. However, with the country in an extreme state of upheaval and no clear societal structure, the future of those cars is very uncertain.

Almost immediately after the news broke that Assad had fled, videos of his expansive car collection began surfacing. Among the vehicles seen were a Ferrari F50, a Lamborghini LM002, a few BMWs, and a ton of other interesting stuff, including an oddball Ford F-350-based motorhome.

We’ve seen massive dictator-held car collections in the Middle East before, and some enterprising automotive enthusiasts have been able to track down rare and desirable models, but a power vacuum and millions of oppressed citizens mean that preserving valuable cars is likely not at the top of anyone’s list.

That said, the rebel-led interim government could auction some of Assad’s possessions to generate revenue for what will almost certainly be an extremely tough period of transition. What do you think will happen to Assad’s collection? Would you import one, given the chance? It could make for a really interesting story, but you probably shouldn’t expect a vehicle history report with your purchase.

[Images: Hanohiki, Harold Escalona via Shutterstock]

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