When a Barn Finds staff writer opens the “View Tips and Assignments” list, you never know what’s waiting for you. There’s usually one surprise, oddball, or head shaker for sale with a story behind it. I had to claim… more»
• For Sale • 37 Comments
Rare Long Roof: 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 Fiesta Wagon
Talk about making a statement. Even the country club crowd back in 1958 would’ve been impressed with this station wagon: a glistening black (and chrome) 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 Fiesta Wagon. It certainly had presence and didn’t blend into… more»
• For Sale • 30 Comments
Rare 1-Owner, 2-Door, 9-Passenger Wagon: 1957 Plymouth Suburban
The rise of station wagon sales in the 1950’s can be attributed to the postwar baby boom and the growth of what we call suburbia. For model year 1957, Ford was the wagon king selling almost 320,000 units, followed… more»
• For Sale • 16 Comments
Upgraded Engine: 1954 Nash Metropolitan Hardtop
Model year 1954 saw the introduction of the Nash Metropolitan, a true subcompact (its wheelbase was shorter than a VW Beetle) that was ahead of its time in some respects. It was unique as well, being the first car… more»
• For Sale • 19 Comments
One Repaint, 57k Miles: 1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
There are several YouTube videos online with a similar theme: the Karmann Ghia was the biggest automotive lie for nearly 20 years. I take some offense to that because Volkswagen never positioned it as a sports car. In fact,… more»
• For Sale • 23 Comments
Highly Original: 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad Wagon
I know you didn’t ask, but in my opinion, the ’55-’57 Chevy Nomad Wagons are the best-looking station wagons ever produced. With a slanted B-Pillar that makes them appear to be moving forward, a ribbed top, seven vertical chrome… more»
• For Sale • 16 Comments
Survivor Scamp: 1973 Plymouth Scamp 2-Door Coupe
So, what exactly is a scamp? A dictionary (remember those?) defines a scamp as “a playful, mischievous person, especially a child, who causes lighthearted trouble; a term typically used with affectional humor rather than serious condemnation.” Within the hallways… more»
• For Sale • 33 Comments
40k-Mile Time Capsule: 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Automobiles falling into the Time Capsule category are fascinating. The curious cat in me wants to know the how and why and the full story. Sure, some survivors are luxury Lincolns or Caddys purchased by a “mature” driver 50-60… more»
• For Sale • 15 Comments
Highly-Original Survivor: 1973 Toyota Corona Mk II Wagon
Before there was the Camry, the best-selling passenger car in America since 2002, there was the Corona, the car that put Toyota on the map here in the States in the 1970’s. When the Oil Embargo hit in 1973… more»
• For Sale • 20 Comments
34 Years in Storage: 1953 Studebaker Commander Weekend Racer
Ever seen a roll bar in a Studebaker? Can’t say that I have, but this 1953 Studebaker Commander “Weekend Racer” project has one. The other surprise is what’s under the hood: an R2 Avanti Supercharged V8. Although the words… more»
• For Sale • 14 Comments
Terrific in Turquoise: Restored 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner
If you ever wanted a car that captures the colorful spirit of mid-to-late 50’s America, then this is it. A gleaming turquoise and white 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner (that’s quite a moniker). Detroit introduced a number of… more»
• For Sale • 18 Comments
29k Original Miles: 1955 Ford Thunderbird
Ford got a lot of things right with their first-year Thunderbird. But, there’s always room for improvement, and customers had three main complaints: 1) the cozy cabin got a bit warm and needed a better fresh air vent solution,… more»
• For Sale • 9 Comments
25k Mile No-Reserve Rolls: 1976 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
In the mid-1960’s I owned a Rolls-Royce Phantom V. What a car. It was champagne in color with a white inerior. Oh, and one other detail: it was the first Matchbox car that I purchased. Even though I was… more»
• For Sale • 12 Comments
Desert Patina Galore: 1957 Buick Special Estate Wagon
Hardtops – especially four-door hardtops – were a big deal to the Big Three in the 1950’s. And for the 1957 model year, GM combined the pizazz of a pillarless four-door hardtop with the utility of a station wagon… more»
• For Sale • 48 Comments
The First Pony Car: 1964 Plymouth Barracuda
Timing is everything. Technically, the Plymouth Barracuda was the first two-door pony car in America when it went on sale on April 1, 1964. It was Plymouth’s attempt to add some sportiness to its compact Valiant by making it… more»
• For Sale • 13 Comments
Highly Original: 1961 Chrysler New Yorker
1961 may have been the first year of President Kennedy’s “New Frontier,” but at the Chrysler Corporation, 1961 marked the last year of Virgil Exner’s finned “Forward Look” styling. For 1962, the now-outdated fins would be gone and the… more»
