theres an exact topic for this in the correct section: Members motors. In fact its right here. With 131 posts.
There were more, but the post were out of date and some peoples pics didnt work anymore, so i think one of the moderators deleted some posts.
I don't think so i think your first guess was nearer the mark, old post loads of old photobucket accounts, people deleting it from there, I would never touch a such a topic when there are some lovely cars in there! unless there was just crap being posted.