Barn Finds

Author: Jamie Palmer

  • Look Closer: 1960 Jaguar MK 10

    Look Closer: 1960 Jaguar MK 10

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    My first inclination when I saw the pictures of this Jaguar Mk. 10 was to run away, very quickly and very far. I’ll bet yours was too, even if you like large, leaky, overweight British cars like I do. But then I started looking closer at the pictures. I’ve used this one to illustrate the posting because it highlights the worst part of the car; the left front fender. Yes, that’s rust where prior bodywork has gone bad. And there’s a little of it on the door as well. But what appears to be rust on the rest of the car (see other pictures below) is mostly actually dirt and pine needles. While that front fender will certainly require attention, look at the rocker panels. No rust showing. Interior pics show where rodents have taken over the back seat, but the fronts look serviceable, and someone cared enough at one point to cover the undoubtedly cracked wooden dash top with a custom cover. At a current price here on eBay of only $795, and the sellers entertaining offers below that, you can probably part it out and scrap the remains of the 4,200 pound hulk to get your money back if first impressions are wrong. The car is located in Pleasanton, California if you are interested. Take a closer look at the pictures and let me know what you think. Thanks to Jim S for sending us this find that made me look a little closer!

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  • MaxiVan: 1977 Dodge Custom Van

    MaxiVan: 1977 Dodge Custom Van

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    Those of us of a certain age (50-60 now?) remember when having a custom van was the thing every young adult wanted. Wild color schemes, elaborate velour interiors, shag carpeting and wide wheels and tires were on everyone’s list. There seemed to be a competition as to who could come up with the wildest design schemes. If you’re not of this era, you probably look on these as a curiosity now, and I have to admit I find myself wondering why one of my favorite die cast cars was a chrome-plated custom van with flames! This Dodge van appears to have survived in largely original condition–you don’t see many like this anymore! It’s located in Saint Joseph, Missouri and is up for sale here on eBay. The van runs well, with a little bit of rust (the area on the roof surprises me a little) and is showing 49k miles–neither the seller nor I are willing to hazard a guess as to whether it’s 49 or 149 thousand. As was typical, while the exterior of the van was treated as a blank canvas, the real star was the interior! (more…)

  • One Owner For 37 Years: 1978 Mustang King Cobra

    One Owner For 37 Years: 1978 Mustang King Cobra

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    Mustang II’s always seem to bring out two very different opinions: one side feels the cars are a product of their time and recognizes that they have some good points, others feel that they are an embarrassing reminder of Mustang glory gone bad. I can see both side’s points; but I remember really liking these at the time, and took my first driver’s license test in a 1978 Mustang II, so I guess I come down on the side of liking them for what they are. This original-owner car has been sparingly used, with the seller detailing the only modifications as an aluminum radiator (visible in photos) and dual exhaust over the 81,500 miles. I’m not sure whether the giant cobra graphic visible in this photo was a factory option or whether it’s been removed from this car. If you are interested, the car is located in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia and is advertised here on eBay. The asking price seems a little high to me, but maybe you disagree?

  • Shed Find: 1961 King Midget

    Shed Find: 1961 King Midget

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    When a car is this small, you don’t need a barn for storage–a shed will do! This tiny King Midget shows less than 5,000 miles from new, and for once I’m pretty sure the odometer hasn’t flipped! Unfortunately, time hasn’t been kind to the little car and the floors are completely gone. Most of the rest of the body looks solid enough to work with, and as long as you weren’t a stickler for originality, it wouldn’t take much to fabricate flat floor panels. The original engine is included, but the seller details plans to use a larger, more powerful engine and an ATV transaxle to make the car a little faster. Robert R was kind enough to send us this find, which is located in Canton, New York and is for sale here on eBay. The buy-it-now price is $1,500, but lower offers are being considered. (more…)

  • Tiny Off-Roader: 1972 Suzuki LJ20V

    Tiny Off-Roader: 1972 Suzuki LJ20V

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    I believe this is the predecessor of the Suzuki Samurai of Consumer Reports fame. I remember seeing these on TV in Africa, I think, and always thought they looked quite capable for their size. The owner of 40+ years is ready to sell as the vehicle isn’t getting used much anymore. It’s located in Jackson, Mississippi and is offered for sale here on eBay with a buy-it-now of $2,975. The owner has slowed the rust down by treatment; that explains the somewhat mottled appearance. They state that it runs great and the only mechanical issue is that the brakes have to be bled frequently, and that the second muffler is missing. After looking up some detailed information on the model itself, it’s actually a two-stroke two-cylinder engine of only 359cc! Top speed new was 50 mph, so it’s pretty apparent that this is really an off-highway vehicle. That same informational site above has downloadable parts and service manuals, if you’re interested in learning more. As a very unusual alternative to a traditional off-roader, what do you think?

  • Only Driven 7 Years: 1962 Alfa Romeo Giuletta Spider

    Only Driven 7 Years: 1962 Alfa Romeo Giuletta Spider

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    Based on the license plates and the photo evidence in the ad, this Alfa was taken off the road in 1969 for some sort of engine issue, pulled apart and then left, probably outside. The sun did it’s damage on the soft components, demolishing the top (maybe it was left down?) and trashing the interior, but the lack of major rust on this car makes it very appealing. Thanks to Robert R. for this great find! The car is currently located in Cameron, Wisconsin and is listed for sale here on craigslist for $22,000. I did a little researching on the value of the car and while this isn’t a bargain, it may be a decent price. Of course, the big question mark is the engine. What went wrong, and is what’s left salvageable? The seller did a nice job with pictures, especially for a craigslist ad, despite spelling Romeo wrong, so serial numbers are visible and the underside of the car doesn’t look that bad.

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  • A Saab Story: 1971 Saab 95 Wagon

    A Saab Story: 1971 Saab 95 Wagon

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    This Saab wagon comes with an interesting story from the seller. It’s for sale in San Jose, California and is featured here on eBay where the opening bid is $250 but there’s a reserve. The seller details purchasing the car with the intent to use it as a daily driver, doing some work on it, and only then discovering that their 6′ 4″ frame didn’t really fit. They have replaced it with another car and are now selling the Saab to make room for the new vehicle. The very limited surface rust seen on the under car shots bears witness to the nice climate this car must have lived in. The seller has rebuilt the downdraft carburetor, tuned the car, and done some interior refurbishment. (more…)

  • On The Trailer: 1951 Kaiser Dragon

    On The Trailer: 1951 Kaiser Dragon

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    Yes, it’s my favorite pet peeve again, a flipper who doesn’t even take the car off the trailer to take pictures. I’m guessing since the ad states that this unusual Kaiser “runs well…drives and stops” but the taped message on the inside of the windshield says “NO BRAKES” that these pictures were taken on the day they brought it home. On the bright side, the ad states that some work has been done since then. Thanks to Robert R for this find, which is located in Beloit, Wisconsin and is listed for sale here on craigslist. The ad states that less than 500 were made; I couldn’t find a source to confirm this, but at least some of the distinctive original “dragon skin” vinyl upholstery has survived, which I’d love to see up close. There’s plenty of rust in the rocker panels to keep a restorer busy, but the car does look complete, and with the gas tank and brakes already done and it running and driving well, $3,250 may be reasonable.  (more…)

  • A Pair Of 1950 Buicks for Under $2,000

    A Pair Of 1950 Buicks for Under $2,000

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    What an iconic picture of this Buick under a tree, complete with a bullet-riddled Ford pickup in the background! That’s a lot of chrome, too. The seller has listed these two field finds for one price here on eBay for a buy-it-now price of $1,999. The 4-door sedan features unusual “jetback” styling as a fastback four door, and the two-door is also a fastback. Both have considerable amounts of surface rust but still have a lot of metal present, which isn’t that unusual considering their Norton, Kansas location. The seller claims to have purchased them over 25 years ago, and it’s obvious they’ve been in this field for quite a while. It’s a shame they haven’t been under cover, but the sheet metal could certainly be worse. (more…)

  • Rebuild Gone Wrong: 1969 Toyota Land Cruiser

    Rebuild Gone Wrong: 1969 Toyota Land Cruiser

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    This 1969 Toyota Land Cruiser carries a painful story. The seller had the engine rebuilt at a cost of over $3,000, but on initial startup there was some type of issue and the engine seized after only three minutes of running. Another engine has been located that spins freely, but the seller has lost the appetite to continue with the project. The second engine is included in the listing here on eBay, where the opening bid is $7,500. It’s unusual to see one of these with as little rust as this one has and still having a stock appearance. It would be interesting to see how well you could bring the current paint back, especially if it’s the original paint. Are you interested in making a trip to St. Louis, Missouri to pick this one up?

  • 1963 Dodge Dart Barn Find For $300

    1963 Dodge Dart Barn Find For $300

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    This seemingly solid Dodge Dart has been in storage for over 15 years, and hasn’t been started for at least that long. Located in Medina, Ohio, and up for sale here on eBay, the Dart has the famous slant 6 engine and looks relatively complete despite the long storage. All the glass and trim seem to be intact and some of the tires are even still holding air. I’m guessing that’s original paint, or if not at least the original color scheme. Ford Pinto wheel covers don’t help the appearance, but I’m thinking some “steelies” and center caps would add just the right amount of sportiness. And how can you go wrong for only $300? This seems like a very low-cost way to get into a hobby car, and if you find there is something terminally wrong, you could always part it out. Your thoughts?

  • Two To Make One: A Pair Of 1975 MGBs

    Two To Make One: A Pair Of 1975 MGBs

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    Located in Baraboo, Wisconsin, this pair of iconic British roadsters are just waiting for someone to combine them into a single car, or maybe for a parent-child ambitious project to refurbish a pair of them. Thanks to Robert R, who was wondering if MG’s generally congregate in pairs, for sending this in! Both cars are described as needing things in the ad here on craigslist, with one being a Texas car that has a good body but needs floors, and the other car already having its floors replaced but needing other help. Titles are clear on both cars and there are some extra parts included as well, such as an engine, transmission and some body components. Evidently another car has been broken up for spares at some point. Would you take them both on, combine to make one, or run away? Let us know in the comments below!

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  • Motoring Monday: Three 1930’s Austins

    Motoring Monday: Three 1930’s Austins

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    The Austin 7 was Britain’s equivalent of the Model T; the first common truly affordable “people’s car” that was within the reach of most families (used, if not new). Although not even close to the Model T’s proliferation with less than 300,000 made, the little Austin endeared itself to many Brits, and was produced under license both as the first BMW, the Dixi, and also in the United States as the American Bantam. An enthusiast in Barre, Vermont has decided to sell their collection of three of these little cars to pay for their daughter’s college tuition. The auction listing can be found here on eBay, where the opening bid is $11,500 for all three vehicles. All of the cars have been stored for quite some time with the intention of eventually being restored. There is at least one other car that I think is a 7 as well in the picture above that isn’t for sale yet, but who knows what will come in the future. (more…)

  • Ambitious Project: 1980 Maserati Merak SS

    Ambitious Project: 1980 Maserati Merak SS

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    How does an exotic car like this get into this state? This Maserati is even missing it’s trademark flying buttresses, making the rear of the car look a little like a flatbed truck! Located in Trenton, New Jersey, the auction here on eBay has bidding up to $4,000 but there’s no telling what the reserve is. The Merak is the baby brother of the Bora, Maserati’s mid-engined “supercar” of the 1970’s. At that point in time, Citroen owned Maserati and they were looking for a place to put more hydropneumatics and engines; thus the V8 Bora begat the V6 Merak, which not only was more affordable but stayed on the market long after the Bora was discontinued. We know very little about this particular car from the auction as the seller merely states the obvious that it needs a full restoration. They do claim to have most of the original parts. Personally, I would require further quantification of the word “most” before I were willing to bid. I do want to note the condition of the seats, which have been removed and stored; they look absolutely perfect. It will be interesting to see where this auction goes!

  • Clown Car To Barn Car: 1949 Austin Devon

    Clown Car To Barn Car: 1949 Austin Devon

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    This 1949 Austin Devon has a history of circus use (!) before being stored in a barn for over 20 years. Now it’s been pulled out of the barn and is up for sale in Appleton, Wisconsin for $1,400. Thanks to Robert R for submitting this find!  It’s advertised here on craigslist. While more than 450,000 Devons were built, they are unusual to see today, especially in the United States. We don’t know anything more about this particular car, and even the advertiser is selling it for their landlord. There’s no title, although there are ways to legally acquire one depending on your location; check details before you purchase! There are parts available from specialists, even over here, so don’t be afraid of taking this one on if it captures your fancy. Does it?

  • Is It Too Rusty? 1966 Pontiac Catalina

    Is It Too Rusty? 1966 Pontiac Catalina

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    I’ve been trying to decide if this 1966 Catalina would be worth putting back on the road, or if it’s future life is only as a parts car. Thanks to Troy U. for this find! It’s located in Sussex, New Jersey and is for sale here on eBay. To begin with, it has no title, although there are ways to get one, but that’s an additional expense over and above refurbishment costs. Additionally, there is a lot of rust. Quarter panels, floors and other areas have all been visited by the rust bug, and it’s a very healthy bug! However, there is that neat 389 cubic inch V-8, even if it only has a two-barrel carburetor. And I love those stacked vertical lights in the front. It doesn’t look like it’s had any major crash damage, either. So what do you think–is it worth at least making it run and go, or are this car’s days as a driver finished? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Barn Finds