Barn Finds

Author: Ben Rybisky

  • Boattail Barn Find: 1971 Buick Riviera 455-4

    Boattail Barn Find: 1971 Buick Riviera 455-4

    The personal luxury coupe genre is something that doesn’t really exist anymore. Sure, you can get a Bentley Continental or a Rolls-Royce Wraith, but what about us plebeians? Buicks are (very) nice, but they don’t cost as much (or more than) your house, so they’re still within reach for normal people like you and me. What’s more, the third generation 1971-1973 Buick Riviera had a unique design calling back to the famous Auburn Boattail Speedster, giving this comfortable, fast, and uniquely American continent-carver a distinctive and appealing shape. You can find this boattail here on eBay, but hurry because the auction ends soon! (more…)

  • Labor of Love Porsche 911-Powered Ford GT40 Replica

    Labor of Love Porsche 911-Powered Ford GT40 Replica

    Everyone knows the story of Ford and Ferrari at Le Mans, and the Ford GT is one of the most popular passenger cars to ever come out of that race. Porsche, as luck would have it, also has an extensive history racing at Le Mans. So, you’re a fan of the 24 Heures du Mans, and you can’t decide which legend you want to take to the grocery store. Why not make your own? This replica of a Ford GT40 has the looks of the GT40’s ancestor, the Lola GT, and a Porsche powertrain. You can find it here on eBay, and it looks exceptionally well-built for a homemade racer.

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  • Surfboard Included! 1978 Ford Pinto Wagon

    Surfboard Included! 1978 Ford Pinto Wagon

    With the rising success and popularity of European and Japanese imports as a result of the 1970s oil crisis, American automakers decided to cash in on this previously untapped market for small, efficient, and economical cars. Ford’s entrant, using a powertrain donated by Ford of Europe, was the Pinto. Offered in a fastback, hatchback, or shooting brake body style, all three had the same reputation of being overly dramatic in a rear-ended fender-bender. This one survived, and survived exceptionally well. The seller says that it was used time and again for movie rentals. You can find this gorgeous beach cruiser here on craigslist, complete with a matching surfboard! Special thanks to Pat L. for letting us know about it!

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  • 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark II With Original Hardtop

    1962 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark II With Original Hardtop

    It’s weird to me that a country so famous for having gloomy, rainy weather would have such a high saturation of incredible roofless cars. England has brought to the world Jaguar, MG, Morgan, Land Rover, Triumph, Sunbeam, Lotus, Aston-Martin, Ariel, TVR, all of which had a convertible model at one point, and some of them were famous for their convertible roadsters. The list goes on, especially once you get into the weird partnerships and histories that happened between different companies giving the world the likes of Austin (from BMC) Healey (from Donald Healey). This 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark II can be found here on eBay in fantastic shape, with a lot of extras included!

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  • 59,000 Original Mile 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

    59,000 Original Mile 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

    Many people have claimed to reinvent the wheel, but has anyone thought about how they would actually do such a thing? Something as simple and ingrained in society as a wheel surely can’t be reinvented, right? What about reinventing a pickup truck? Bed in back, engine in front, body on frame. Except when it isn’t. Enter this 1961 Corvair Rampside. Like its passenger car sibling, the Rampside had a rear-mounted engine making rear bed access difficult, hence the ramp side. You can find this red and white example here on eBay, ready to show the world its bizarre loading technique and un-safety-at-any-speed at any and every car show near you!

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  • Future Rat Rod! 1951 Chevrolet Suburban Project

    Future Rat Rod! 1951 Chevrolet Suburban Project

    Few companies can say that they’ve been producing the same car for nearly a century. Morgan, obviously, still produces the same cars that they have for thousands of years with nary a change in the design. On this side of the pond, we have General Motors’ Suburban models that are the physical embodiment of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy of engineering. Unlike Morgan, various design updates have happened over the course of the Suburban’s production run spanning nine decades, but today’s 2021 Suburban remains true to the original’s intent of being basically a heavy-duty station wagon. You can find this former government work vehicle here on eBay.

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  • 28k Mile 1971 Jaguar E-Type Garage Find!

    28k Mile 1971 Jaguar E-Type Garage Find!

    Once called “the most beautiful car in the world” by none other than Enzo Ferrari, over a production run spanning fourteen years, the Jaguar XKE cultivated a reputation of being the ultimate English sports car. Still today, the XKE holds its status as a classic sports car, and rightfully earned a spot in the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. Originally coming from the factory with Jaguar’s impeccable, tried-and-true inline six-cylinder engine, later generations introduced a V-12, a 2+2 configuration, and an automatic transmission. You can find this 2+2 here on eBay, a true garage find, and at no reserve.

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  • Ready to Race: Patinaed 1959 Volvo PV544

    Ready to Race: Patinaed 1959 Volvo PV544

    As a company, Volvo has one of the most well-deserved reputations in the car industry for being absurdly practical, and some of their more famous advertisements leaned into this. In addition to being able to cart your family around, Volvo also holds the record for highest mileage personal car: Irv Gordon’s legendary P1800, and the patent for various safety features we take for granted today like the three-point safety belt. If you want safe, fast, and reliable, you’re either getting this or a Honda. This 1959 PV544 features the revolutionary (for the time) three-point safety belt, rebuilt mechanicals, and can be found here on eBay.

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  • Lamborghini Diablo Wannabe Barn Find

    Lamborghini Diablo Wannabe Barn Find

    In the world of replica cars, you have some standouts for donors and knock-offs. Popular models are Bugattis built on Volkswagens, Cobras built on Mustangs, and just about everything under the sun built on Fieros. Their plastic body panels, cheap cost of entry, and General Motors mechanicals meant that they’re like playing with your very own LEGO set. Naturally, this resulted in a slew of replicas of Italian supercars, since they often share the same midship layout of the Fiero, but at a significantly higher price point. You can find this not-a-Diablo here on craigslist, with a special thanks to rex m for letting us know about it!

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  • One Of 505! Original Owner 1989 Dodge Shelby Dakota

    One Of 505! Original Owner 1989 Dodge Shelby Dakota

    When you hear the name Carroll Shelby, undoubtedly images of the iconic Cobra and modified Mustangs come to mind. That’s not the only thing Shelby is known for, though. For a brief stint in the 1980s, Shelby got to work putting his spin on Chrysler products, giving us hot hatches like the Omni and Charger Goes-Like-Hell and Goes-Like-Hell-Some-more, and sport compacts like the Shadow. He also showed the world his interpretation of what a pickup truck should be, and gave us a tuned Dakota pickup truck, and beat the iconic GMC Syclone to market by a couple of years. This truck is number 78 out of a total of 1500 produced, and you can find it here on craigslist. Thank you, Matt H. for letting us know about it!

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  • UPDATE! Can You ID This Small 1948 Roadster?

    UPDATE! Can You ID This Small 1948 Roadster?

    UPDATE – When we posted this mystery roadster, we had no idea what the response would be like. Well, it turned out to be one of the most interesting comment threads we’ve had in a while. Some of you posted downright hilarious comments, others pinpointed the exact origin of specific parts, and the new owner Fred T even got on and shared additional photos that the seller sent him! It’s a worthwhile read while we wait for Fred to send us photos of it once it arrives. Our thanks to Fred and all of you that shared your internet sleuthing skills!

    FROM 8/3/2021 – Here on Barn Finds we have our fair share of Corvettes and Mustangs and Chargers. Stuff that everybody knows and loves and has plenty of resources available for sourcing parts and knowledge. Occasionally we get some weird stuff to show you. This is one of those times. This listing for a 1948…something…can be found here on eBay. If you know what it is, let us know! I’m sure the seller and the future owner would appreciate the knowledge, too.

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  • Cheap Fun: 1979 MG Midget

    Cheap Fun: 1979 MG Midget

    England has produced some of the most iconic sports cars in automotive history. Lotus, Morgan, McLaren, Jaguar, Austin-Healey, Triumph, Aston Martin, and–depending on how broad of a brush you want to paint with–the original Mini, when in John Cooper tune. No less of a company is MG, with a wide portfolio of small two-seat rear-drive roadsters. The MG Midget was introduced as an up-market badge-engineered version of the Austin-Healey Sprite and was produced for nearly 20 years. You can find this final year 1979 example here on craigslist for just $2,000.

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  • Low Kilometers! Clean 1990 Yugo Koral 55

    Low Kilometers! Clean 1990 Yugo Koral 55

    Fiat made some amazing cars. So amazing that they sometimes licensed their designs to be produced outside of Italy, resulting in some of the most famous Soviet cars around. The Yugo is one such car. While it got more than its fair share of ridicule, if you’re looking for something unique, but still arguably practical and demonstrably cheap, you can’t do much better than this. Low kilometers, no rust, recent import, and everything works. You can find it here on craigslist with a clean Ohio title. Special thanks to Pat L and Jim C for both letting us know about it!

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  • Tent Find: Cheap 1981 Lancia Zagato Project

    Tent Find: Cheap 1981 Lancia Zagato Project

    Here in the United States, we’re used to a car market determined by the bean counters over at the Big Three. If it doesn’t sell, it isn’t made. This results in a lot of safe business decisions manufacturers make to guarantee their income, and subsequently, a lot of boring cars. Every now and again, a quirky Italian carmaker comes in and tries to make it in the States with one of their models homologated for U.S. regulations, and the results are often bizarre and downright cool. You can find this four-seater, front-wheel drive, Zagato-built, Pininfarina-designed, pseudo-convertible here on craigslist, with an asking price of just $3,600. Special thanks to Otto Matic for letting us know about it!

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  • Garage Find Pony! 1965 Ford Mustang

    Garage Find Pony! 1965 Ford Mustang

    Ford saw that their Falcon sold well, and when they put a sporty body on it, created an entirely new class of car with the Mustang. In 1964…and a half…the “pony car” was born, and we all benefit from its existence. The Mustang birthed competition from General Motors and Chrysler, but the Mustang will always have the title of “first pony car.” Once Carroll Shelby got his hands on it, all bets were off, and to this day Mustang and Shelby are inseparable. This isn’t a Shelby, but it’s got the right looks and oodles of character. You can find it here on eBay.

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  • DIY Dirt Track Racer! Modified 1929 Ford Model A

    DIY Dirt Track Racer! Modified 1929 Ford Model A

    The Model A, like the Model T before it, was offered in a multitude of body styles. This 1929 example was originally a “sport coupe,” but was converted to a roadster design, and was a dirt track racer for a time. The seller mentions they wanted to enter it into The Race of Gentlemen, but missed the deadline. If you wanted to get into racing with a homebuilt racer, now’s your chance! You can find it here on eBay.

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Barn Finds