On a farm outside the small town of Glen Campbell, Pennsylvania lies a 40×70-foot pole barn with a partially collapsed roof. For years, Matt Barczak heard stories about a 1957 Chevrolet Corvette that was hidden inside. He assumed that it was probably a 1975, not a 1957, and it wasn’t until recently he was able to take a look for himself. He told Jerry Heasley from Hot Rod Magazine: “My dad is 67 and part of that age group of guys that knew in the mid-1970s that a 1957 Corvette was out here in a barn.”
As you can tell, the car is in pieces. According to the owner’s brother, the car was originally red but was painted black. The car was torn apart and repainted to the original red and white, then never re-assembled. Apparently owned since 1959, the last inspection sticker on the windshield is dated 1975. You can see in this photo, there is an engine on a stand next to the car. Matt believes this is the original 283 cubic inch V8 with a 270 horsepower dual-quad set up.
You can see all sorts of parts and pieces scattered throughout the barn. I’m not sure if all the pieces have been found, but Matt says: “It was all scattered, the motor on an engine stand, the frame with five original wheels, the three-speed transmission laying on the ground, parts spread out everywhere, some of them on the shelf, some tossed into the car, some on the ground.” Hopefully, this car gets a second lease on life and is able to be put back together. What do you think the chances are? If you want to read more, check out the original article here on Hot Rod Magazine.
If this was within a day’s drive I’d pursue it. My favorite would still be a ‘58–‘62 but the earlier versions are welcome too.
Driving real fast will get u there in 24 hours lol. Then you can take your time bringing her home. 👍
If you are to buy this car you might be in there for days trying to find all the parts, and good luck with the bolts. I’m not a fan of basket case projects, for me I’d have to get it really cheep to even be interested. At least it’s been in doors all these years. These are very cool cars it’s a shame that this car was left in this state.
For those of you who lament the lack of true “barn finds” on this site, well it seems we have one here for sure. And it aint no Aztek, either.
And it sure as heck ain’t a Buick GN
I wish I could give you 10 or 20 thumbs up for that comment! You beat me to it. Hats off to ya.
Never heard of Glen Campbell, PA, and I grew up in the state. No connection to the musician of the same name other than the fact he once made a visit there. Hopefully this car can be put back together, I’m glad I’m not the one trying.
Glen Campbell is a borough in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 306 at the 2000 census. The borough was named in 1889 for Cornelius Campbell, the first superintendent of the Glenwood Coal Company (glen is the Scottish word for valley), which mined in that area.
Thanks for the history lesson.
Steve R
More like a geography lesson.
I wonder what the town’s relationship with the late artist was, if any.
If I was a sportscaster my work name would be Max Meadows.
I’m not far from Glenn Campbell
In age or miles?
Or burial plot? None of the options are good on that comment.
The singer or the town? BTW… the town is spelled with one N.
it’s 30 minutes NE of Indiana, PA.home of Jimmy Stewart.
No relationship with the singer, since it’s been around since 1889.
I live two hours NW, in Hermitage, Pa.
I live near his brother zing od prussia
I rebuilt a somewhat similar ’57 over winter 2018. Mine was also a genuine “basket case”. It had been one of several that had been owned by a racer, and was part of a barn full of wrecked Corvettes and parts.
It was a stripped, roller with a somewhat battered body shell, hardtop, and multiple cartons of Corvette parts…….about 2/3 were C1. The deal also included a nice rebuilt ’61 283, and 4-spd. The frame was quite good as the car had been off the road since the late 60s. About 80% of the parts were there and useable/repairable. It had a proper VIN and ownership.
I bought new: wiring harness, braking system, fuel system, shocks,clutch, bushings tires, carpet,etc.
I repaired the body, bringing it back to “driver” condition, the way it was in the 60s. It has faded red paint, with black coves, hood, and dash. It has original, worn chrome and rally wheels from a ’67.
I was able to sell/trade the leftover/C2 parts that came with it for most of what I needed.
I used leather seats from a ’61 (the ’61 seats give more room for larger driver like me), and a smaller repro steering wheel(again for more room).
I kept it mostly “period correct” for a 60’s racer.
It has radio-delete, heater-delete, and “off-road” exhaust. I used a GM one-wire alternator fitted with a tach-drive (common on tractors) instead of the large, heavy generator and separate voltage regulator.
The drivetrain parts are all common Chevy/GM that were used on various cars and trucks over several years. The trim parts are another story. The ’55,’56,and ’57 cars used much of the same chrome and trim, Some new reproduction chrome is available (grilles). Other items like the clock are unique to the ’55-’57 Corvette , are slightly different each year, and not reproduced. Clocks for a ’57 are rare, can be $1,000+ for a nice, dated example.
It was a fun, relatively easy winter project.
If I had tried to make it an as-new NCRS, it was have ended up costing way too much. It was a “Nothing Matching” car anyway.
We had a great time with it a cruise nights all last summer.
The car for sale here is potentially a solid project. As always, with a basket case, make sure you know exactly what (correct) parts are included. If you don’t know C1s well, bring someone who does. If you are patient, and ask around, you can often find the parts you need for a good price.
Great post, Cam W.
Anyone considering grabbing this car should inquire whether Cam might be able to act as a consultant.
Love BF, and the knowledge base here.
Did anybody actually read the article? The car has already been sold…to Matt Barczak.
Since when are we required to read the articles? I go directly to the comments. Way more fun that way!
Basket case but looks like a good game of search for that part to restore 😏👀😂
I agree that it’s sad to see these cars stuck away in a shed like this. I would be interested in a project like this if the price is right, and there’s enough of it left to put back together. There are a lot of us who would love to have a car like this but all too often our means are so limited that it will remain a dream forever…
Just being nosy, wonder what he paid for it. Good luck could be a nice project if he didn’t have to give his first born for it!!!
Cheers
GPC
I think it’s a pretty easy project.
1. Buy the car.
2. Rent the building it’s sitting in.
3. Bring your motorhome to the site so that you’ll have a space to stay.
4. Hire Noland Adams to help you scour the building for the right parts.
5. Set up a keg and a microwave in the corner.
6. Free up your calendar for the next 6 months.
7. Have a ball!
Sounds like a plan Andy, thats what I’d do. Except no #4 and I’d bring my bar-b-que grille & a small refrigerator for the Vodka
Pretty sure Noland Adams is no longer available for comment unless we have a Corvette Ouija Board
Generally, this is a GREAT idea, and I have a self-contained motorhome too!
Nate,
Guilty as charged. I sometimes follow the Ike Onick philosophy.
“Often Wrong, Never In Doubt”
– Ike Onick
If married sign divorce papers.
Looks like a tweeker’s garage where everything is taken apart.
Theses cars are pretty basic bring a trailer,a couple of friends shop manual
I’m surprised that the tweekers never found this old girl, years ago they found my stash of old cars, they removed a dozen radiators and maybe scrapped them for $5 bucks each, they work for less than the minimum wage!
Actually I’m kind of interested in the 35 Chevy humpback.
Lance, I’m with you. I like the 35.
When I was scouring junkyards and restoring Corvairs (not Corvette) decades ago, there was a little pamphlet sold by Clarks Corvair Parts called “the Corvair Junkyard Primer” which could tell you what you were looking at and which models each major (and some minor components) went with. Without a doubt, there are exponentially more fans of the Corvette — so isn’t there any such book to use when you have to forage through a huge building like this with known parts original to the car you bought?