| 12 months ago :: Apr 20, 2009 - 1:38PM #1 | |
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While I realize that the term"Barn Find" is used way too often these days, there is just something about that name that gets my blood boiling and always seems to spark my interest. The idea of fiding some long-lost treasure parked in the back corner of an old barn, covered in dust and debris, parked there years ago and all but forgotten, has long been a dream of mine. While I am still waiting for my "Barn Find" to happen, I'd love to hear your story. Whether it is a car you found, or just a story that you've heard told around the garage, I'd appreciate it if you'd share it with the Old Cars Weekly Community.
So, what's your story? |
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| 11 months ago :: May 14, 2009 - 8:20PM #2 | |
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Back in the 50's I remember going to my Grandparents with my Dad to pick up a Model A Ford doolebug that had been used on their farm. We brought it home, and I learned to drive standard crashbox at age 7. Still have her(real rough shape), and the 53 Chevy 210 that we towed her home with. In the 60's I remember going with my father on 3 different occations when he purchased a 1936 Plymouth 4 door w 32,000 original miles, a 1935 Chrysler 4 door straight 8, and a 1940 Plymouth 4 door sedan. Each of these vehicles came out of the original owner's barns and all were in very good solid original shape. As far as the Road Runner I think he should put the original tranny and engine back in after making the required repairs, and leave it as an original survivor. They're only original once. Just my 2 cents. Mike |
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| 10 months ago :: May 25, 2009 - 8:29AM #3 | |
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Favorite barn find story.....I was working for a Gulf service station owner in the UP of Michigan in 1958, and he was getting the old car bug. He was asking all who he met if they knew of any old cars in garages or barns. He found a few but the treasure was a 1920 something French car called a DeVoe. It was in a garage covered with a tarp. We pulled it out and towed it to a fix it shop in the nearby town (about 6 miles from his place). He had the engine compartment steam cleaned, changed plugs, changed oil, added some gas and it fired up. He drove it home to his service place and told me it was my job to give it a polish job. Well I was 15 at the time so I was thrilled to be able to help out. The paint job looked very good so I thought it would be very easy to get it to shine. Well it was not as easy as all that because we realized that someone had put a coat of shellac or varnish on the whole body. That was a real challenge to get it off. I don't recall what we used but after about 3 weeks of work it was clean. The body had no rust on it. My boss also found a 1917 Oldsmobile touring car in a garage and that also was a 'drive it home' find. He had an offer from a GM exec who saw it outside the station; said he could arrange to give him a new Olds for this one. He turned him down. He also found an early Ford Victoria convertable which somebody had partially restored....beautiful old buggy.
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| 9 months ago :: Jun 26, 2009 - 5:09AM #4 | |
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My friend invited me to have a vacation in one of the provinces in Japan and as a traveller I was marveled at the unique scenery that was different from my country. We went to one of the hot springs that was surrounded by farms and in the middle of the farm I saw a vintage car, wondering why the car is in the ride fields. My friend and I went to the rice field and saw the car that is similar to the 1930's Ford car, but later found out that it was a 1930's Nissan. The car design was similar to those of the usual vintage Ford that I've seen in car conventions and shows, and it was great to see one vintage car, but now in ruins. The vintage nissan car parts were still intact, but now rusty, mainly because it was left out of the scorching heat. As much as I want to take it home, but the owner has no plans whatsoever in restoring it or take it to the junk shop... oh well that's my sad barn story. *sigh* |
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