Barn Finds

Author: Michelle Rand

  • Needs Finishing: 1950 Lancia Aurelia B50 Cabriolet

    Needs Finishing: 1950 Lancia Aurelia B50 Cabriolet

    Today we pay another visit to Vittorio Jano, a standout in the Italian engineering milieu for decades beginning in the 1930s: he designed the Aurelia for Lancia – one of the company’s most successful models. Constructed in six series starting in 1950, the Aurelia was powered by one of the first V6 engines installed in a production car. Initially, the only Aurelias were the B10 – a four-door sedan – and a wonderful cabriolet, the B50. In 1951, the B20 GT coupe arrived. Responsibility for the Aurelia’s styling is a matter of debate: Boano, Ghia, Michelotti, and of course, Pinin Farina are all implicated at certain points in the development process; it seems certain that Pinin Farina was the manufacturer once the design was set. Production numbers were dominated by the sedan; fewer than 300 copies of the B50 cabriolet that we see here were made. This car is a masterpiece of Italian engineering, needing only a well-heeled buyer to finish what is evidently a high-quality start to a complete restoration. The price is $150k, the listing is here on facebook Marketplace, and the car is located in Bulger, Pennsylvania. Thanks to Zappenduster for spotting this swanky project car for us!

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  • Two Owners Since New! 1969 Sunbeam Alpine GT

    Two Owners Since New! 1969 Sunbeam Alpine GT

    When is a Sunbeam Alpine not a Sunbeam Alpine? That would be starting in 1969, when the nameplate shifted onto the sedate Arrow sedan platform and gained a roof. Configured as a fastback and ambitiously called a “GT”, the new Sunbeam was foisted upon the US because Rootes was unable to meet our emissions and safety regulations by altering its roadster. In Europe, the Alpine GT ran headlong into the Ford Capri, launched in the same year, and we all know how that turned out. In the US, the new Alpine with its wheezing four-cylinder cost $2570, when a Mustang V8 could be had for $2700. Comparisons with the competition did not flatter the Sunbeam; consequently, survivors are few and far between. This 1969 version, advertised here on craigslist, can be yours for $8000 or best offer; the car is located in Boring, Oregon (not quite as funny as Drain, Oregon). Thanks to Curvette for finding this rare Brit for us.

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  • Barn Find Fiberglass: 1954 Victress S1A Roadster

    Barn Find Fiberglass: 1954 Victress S1A Roadster

    You’re looking at the second model produced by a tiny custom builder called Victress Manufacturing. When Victress was founded in 1952, it joined an ecosystem of at least a dozen such manufacturers, all specialty shops making slinky sports cars, mostly sold as kits but sometimes as complete vehicles. A new material – fiberglass – was responsible for all this activity. The SIA we see above followed the SI, sitting on a shorter wheelbase but otherwise almost identical to its sibling. This barn find is a 1954 Victress SIA roadster, complete with a factory-provided, optional hardtop; find it here on eBay with an asking price of $48,000. Retrieve it with a trailer from Downers Grove, Illinois, though you’ll need to cope with a couple of tires that won’t hold air before loading it.

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  • Garage-Kept 1932 Plymouth PB Two Door Sedan

    Garage-Kept 1932 Plymouth PB Two Door Sedan

    Plymouth broke out of the gate quickly in 1928 – a new brand on the rise. It offered advanced features, including hydraulic brakes and rubber engine mounts (cutely called “floating power”) at a reasonable price. The brand’s popularity launched it into third place in the US market by the early 1930s. The PA was introduced in 1931, a more powerful and cosmetically upgraded version of the Model U. Just months later, the PB arrived. Situated on a longer wheelbase, its restyled sheet metal deepened the fenders and shifted the headlights off the old bar-style mount. Yet another few ponies were on tap. Here on eBay is a 1932 Plymouth PB sedan, bid to $6300, reserve not met. It’s a project, so you’ll need to bring a trailer to Hampshire, Illinois to pick her up.

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  • Starter Classic: 1968 Saab 96 V4

    Starter Classic: 1968 Saab 96 V4

    Saab’s 96 arrived in 1960 as a two-stroke passenger car with a bullnose grille not much different than its older sibling, the 93. But in 1965, the 96 began a metamorphosis, with its engine bay lengthened and its radiator moved to behind the grille. In 1967, the company shifted from the old two-stroke to Ford’s Taunus V4, quelling critics in the US who no longer appreciated the previous noisy, smoky power plant. Here on eBay is a 1968 Saab 96 V4, wearing the patina of its years but priced commensurately at $7000 or best offer. Upgraded with “soccer ball” wheels from a Sonnet, running well, and with a mostly-restored interior, this funky Saab could make a great starter classic. It’s located in Newton, North Carolina, and it comes from an owner who’s had it for eight years.

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  • Runs Great, Ready to Work: 1945 Oliver Cletrac AD

    Runs Great, Ready to Work: 1945 Oliver Cletrac AD

    T.J., big thanks for this catnip of a tip, so we can feature the 1945 Oliver Cletrac AD crawler for sale here on facebook Marketplace. The Cleveland Tractor Company merged with Oliver in 1944, folding its variety of tracked crawlers into Oliver’s growing product line. Models ranged from narrow row-crop machines to tall, orchard-specific crawlers. Most Cletracs can also haul a plow or carry a dozer. A video included in the listing shows this compact tractor running well and ready to work. The seller is asking $5600, and this machine is located in Placerville, California. Delivery is available, so you could have it in time to pick pears!

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  • Collector-Quality: 1988 Pontiac Fiero

    Collector-Quality: 1988 Pontiac Fiero

    How many car models were smothered by manufacturers as soon as their initial flaws were cured by corporate, never to be seen again? In Britain, the Triumph TR8, with its capable small block V8 and improved … everything, is the poster child for this phenomenon. Over at GM, the Fiero wins the prize. Introduced in 1984 after a very long incubation period punctuated by infighting among divisions and personnel, the Fiero disappointed nearly everyone. Hulki Aldikacti – project manager – was thwarted in his efforts to produce an actual sports car, because… Corvette. A skimpy budget kept the Fiero dipping into the parts bin, preventing technological advancement. Automotive journalists damned the car with faint praise. Buyers were underwhelmed, then alarmed as the cars began combusting due to engine fires. The Fiero’s promising exterior was not supported by its mechanical aptitude. Yet. By 1988, the car could be optioned with a six-cylinder, the suspension had been revised, new larger vented brakes were fitted, and even the old four-cylinder gained a few extra ponies and a larger oil pan. Then the nameplate was killed, just like that. Of course, those engine fires didn’t help matters: the ’84s were recalled in 1987, and by 1990, every Fiero ever made had been recalled at least once. Here on craigslist we have one of the best Fieros you can buy, priced at $8450. This car is located in Malibu, California, and we owe thanks to Jack M for the tip!

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  • Needs TLC: 1959 Borgward Isabella Coupe

    Needs TLC: 1959 Borgward Isabella Coupe

    We’re looking at a Borgward Isabella coupe, a rare variant of the Isabella line. Prior to coming up with this attractive design, Borgward’s offerings were a scattered bunch, reflecting the company’s aggregation of multiple makes over the years, including Hansa, Lloyd, and Goliath. But the Isabella came out of the gates selling well, with over 11,000 copies finding homes in the launch year. In 1955, both an estate and a cabriolet joined the sedan in the line-up; the coupe arrived in 1957. All told, over 200,000 Isabellas of various ilks were sold, with most of the production remaining in Europe. Only about 10,000 of these were coupes. This example is located in Plantsville, Connecticut, and its price of $9900 reflects its needs, which include a title. Find it here on facebook Marketplace. T.J. sent us this tip – thanks!

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  • One Family Owned: 1978 Datsun 280Z

    One Family Owned: 1978 Datsun 280Z

    Was the 280Z the last great Z car? Or was it great at all? In the beginning, Datsun tried very hard to read the room when it introduced the 240Z, engaging in a long development period geared toward meticulous attention to customer satisfaction. After that, it’s as if corporate attention wandered, and the car didn’t so much evolve – rather, it paddled in place. The 260 was encumbered by a horsepower deduction; adding insult to injury, the car was 200 lbs heavier. Tellingly, the 260 was made for only one year. The 280 represented a course correction: the engine gained displacement, fuel injection, and – consequently – horsepower. The stats were enough to satisfy buyers looking for a sporty experience at a reasonable price, but this was no 240. For one thing, it was portly by now, at just shy of 2800 lbs. The 280 did outsell the 240 by about 50,000 units, but we can attribute at least a portion of that good fortune to increasing awareness of Datsun in the US marketplace. The good news in all of this is pricing: if you pine for an early-ish Z car, the 280 is much less expensive than a comparable 240. Project 240s are going to breach five figures. But here on eBay is a one-family-owned 280Z with an asking price of $9000 or best offer. The car is located in Gloucester, Virginia.

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  • No Reserve: 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D California Edition

    No Reserve: 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D California Edition

    The Mercedes 300D is a good reminder that mileage figures are relative. An unrepaired Jaguar XKE with over 100k on the clock is rare. A 300D that’s traveled the same distance is barely broken in, and other than routine maintenance, may not have ever seen the inside of a shop. Here on eBay is a 1985 Mercedes 300D turbodiesel, bid to $1725 in a no-reserve auction. This is a California car with extra emissions equipment; it is currently garaged in La Jolla. We’ll get the bad news out of the way up front: the seller has listed the car because its transmission will not shift past second gear, and he is not able to repair it. Other than this rather major demerit, the roster of work completed recently is reassuring! Let’s see if this is a good value at the current bid – or not.

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  • Low Miles! 1997 Bentley Brooklands L

    Low Miles! 1997 Bentley Brooklands L

    The Brooklands name was so good that Bentley used it twice. Today’s example is from the first tranche of Brooklands, launched in 1992 to succeed the Mulsanne S and Eight models. The new approach – rolling two models into one – simplified the company’s line-up while still giving buyers the option of a “basic” Bentley. The new model arrived with all the technology and comforts of the era but a normally aspirated engine, in contrast to Bentley’s speedier turbocharged offerings. Near the end of Brooklands production, the luxury market shifted again: Bentley accommodated new demands for performance with turbochargers throughout its model selection. Find this 1997 long-wheelbase Brooklands for sale here on craigslist with an asking price of $9500 – a drastic discount from the $150k sticker price. This handcrafted sedan is located in Bellmore, New York, and we owe thanks to Mitchell G for finding it for us.

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  • Low Miles, Two Owners! 1989 Porsche 944 S2 Coupe

    Low Miles, Two Owners! 1989 Porsche 944 S2 Coupe

    Unlike the 924, which began as a VW project and utilized a humble Audi engine, the 944’s roots were exotic. The car was designed around a race motor derived from the aluminum V8 Porsche designed for its 928. The new engine was essentially half that V8, augmented with harmonic balancers licensed from Mitsubishi, turbocharged, fuel injected, and sporting 16 valves. Its first use was in an altered 924 that Porsche entered in the 1981 Le Mans endurance race. The car was entered as a “924 GTP”. The engine bore the inscription “944 Le Mans”. Later, the car was known as the 944 GTR Le Mans. Early 944s dished up diluted performance relative to the Le Mans car, but by the time this example arrived, displacement was up to 3.0 liters (technically it was a 2.7 but a revised crank increased the stroke) and output breached 200 hp. Meanwhile, the body was more aggressively styled than the 924, with an extra sloped panel in the nose, prominent fender flares, and a larger spoiler. This low-mileage 1989 944 S2 is available here on craigslist for $17,800; it’s located in Westport, Connecticut. Mitchell G spotted this tidy Porsche for us – thanks!

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  • Project Drophead: 1958 Singer Gazelle Series III

    Project Drophead: 1958 Singer Gazelle Series III

    In honor of the upcoming All British Field Meet at Portland International Raceway, I felt compelled to cover this unusual model from a rare marque. Not only is this Singer Gazelle a convertible, its top operates like a three-position drophead: either up, down, or folded back above the front passengers only. Listed here on eBay with bidding at $2400 in a no-reserve auction, this Singer is mostly disassembled and will need a complete restoration. Let’s make a roster of the work relative to this car’s value…

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  • Still Working the Ranch: 1947 International KB5 Dump Truck

    Still Working the Ranch: 1947 International KB5 Dump Truck

    Just nine months from now, the American Truck Historical Society national convention will commence in Springfield, Missouri. We already profiled a Dodge D500 needing a bit of work but certainly acceptable as-is for ATHS. If you really want to stand out, though, here’s another shot at a truck that could take you all the way to Best in Class with minimal effort on your part: a 1947 International KB5 dump truck, restored about ten years ago. Find it here on facebook Marketplace, listed for $9000. This big guy is located in Missoula, Montana, and it’s been cared for and used by a knowledgeable owner. Thanks to T.J. for the tip, so we could profile this gorgeous truck.

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  • Made in Austria, Sold by Sears: 1964 Steyr-Daimler-Puch Allstate Compact DS60

    Made in Austria, Sold by Sears: 1964 Steyr-Daimler-Puch Allstate Compact DS60

    Anyone miss the Sears catalogue, purveyor of everything from mail-order homes to balls of yarn? The Sears Wish Book connected rural America to a gallery of consumer items. For me, growing up in a small city, the catalog inspired fantasies of my future life as an adult. Though I don’t remember scooters in particular, Sears sold two-wheelers from Cushman, Puch, and Piaggio. Here on eBay is a promising example of a rare Puch Allstate scooter, with an asking price of $1400. It’s complete and cosmetically decent but doesn’t run, and there is no title. This little guy is located with a dealer in Fredericksburg, Texas.

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  • Finned Brit: 1963 Sunbeam Alpine Series II

    Finned Brit: 1963 Sunbeam Alpine Series II

    In 1959, while everyone else was making rudimentary sports cars with side curtains and doors that opened with pull cords, Rootes Group produced this gem. With roll-up windows, fins, a roomy cabin, and real door handles, the Alpine was aimed at the American market. The car was styled by Kenneth Howes – from Loewy Studios and Studebaker – and Jeff Crompton. It wasn’t so much an update to its predecessor – the Alpine Mk II – as it was a new approach to sporty driving, along the lines of Ford’s Thunderbird: luxurious enough, with two usable seats and just enough power to get by. The Alpine nearly always sells for less than comparable models from Triumph and MG, thanks to that lack of focus on performance. This example is listed here on eBay for $9000, and it comes with a fat file of receipts – many of these dated from when the car was new. The buyer can drive it away from North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

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Barn Finds