Off topic, but.... Yes, they were doing it before the days of VAT as well!
And of course there is the famous Ferrari story of Enzo having all the type 156 F1 cars broken up and their remains incorporated in the groundworks of a new building. Hence only ones about now are replicas......
I do enjoy the occasional story of a prototype somehow ‘escaping’ and becoming of historical interest, though! The latest, which I think is up for auction very soon, is the 4WD Ferguson Formula Scimitar GTE......