What happens to deleted asssets info?

[JUNIPER]

    I've been using GnuCash long enough now that I've accumulated a 
number of assets I've sold or accounts I've closed which are starting to 
clutter up the screen. If I were to, say, delete the car or CD I sold, 
what happens to the underlying transactions? Although I no longer have 
the asset, I might still want to know about the profit/loss, insurance 
paid, etc. I'm afraid to just delete without understanding this.
    Steve J