Barn Finds

Author: Jeff Bennett

  • Exceedingly Rare: 1938 Ford Phaeton

    Exceedingly Rare: 1938 Ford Phaeton

    Ford’s love affair with the phaeton body style is a mystery unto itself.  For a huge company well entrenched in the mentality that profit was king, why did they offer the slow-selling phaeton body style until 1938?  Why did they modify the more expensive convertible sedan body to do so?  Who was buying these cars in 1938?  If you are looking for one of the rarest prewar Fords, then you might want to have a gander at this 1938 Ford phaeton for sale on eBay in Salem, Iowa.  Bidding on this unusual but quite restorable Ford is sitting at $15,395 with six days to go.

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  • Canary in a Coal Mine: 1941 Plymouth Coupe

    Canary in a Coal Mine: 1941 Plymouth Coupe

    Much digital ink has been spilled in the media to convince everyone that we are entering a recession.  Maybe.  Maybe not.  One of the ways car enthusiasts can tell if money is tight is by looking at the antique and collectible automobile market.  When desirable cars don’t sell at traditionally realistic prices, we know disposable income spending is on the wane.  Take, for example, the market for prewar coupes.  These desirable and drivable vehicles have historically brought good money from collectors eager to put them to use.  Take for example this attractive and positively presentable 1941 Plymouth coupe for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Lebanon, Kentucky.  With 45 arduous weeks on Facebook Marketplace at an asking price of $15,000 (down from $16,500) without a buyer in sight, maybe the time has come for the owner to make a less lucrative deal.  If so, what is an appropriate price for this car in this economy?   Is it a proverbial “canary in a coal mine” when it comes to the prewar automobile market?  Thanks to reader Pnuts for this interesting find!

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  • Garage Bound Since the Sixties: 1934 Ford Coupe

    Garage Bound Since the Sixties: 1934 Ford Coupe

    While many wags have declared that the era of undiscovered automotive treasures is largely over, our faithful readers are proving that is not true.  T.J., one of our most prolific classic car bloodhounds, has tracked down a very desirable Ford that was modified in the fifties but disappeared from view in the sixties.  This 1934 Ford five-window coupe for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is largely as it was left back in the dawn of the space age.  Its gorgeous body and classic lines are untouched, but there are a few subtle changes from stock.  Is this the kind of old-school hot rod that would make you write a check for a whopping $48,500?  What would you do with it if it were yours?

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  • Ready to Resume Ruling the Road: 1973 Cadillac Coupe de Ville

    Ready to Resume Ruling the Road: 1973 Cadillac Coupe de Ville

    American car buyers are a fickle bunch.  Body styles and trim levels that are red hot sellers one decade can become lot languishers the next.  One group of automobiles that has almost completely vanished from our option list today is that of luxury coupes.  While the Feds helped drive a stake in the heart of these majestic beasts, fuel costs and customer tastes had much to do with their sad departure from the scene.  If you want to experience what these dinosaurs of the road were like, this 1973 Cadillac Coupe de Ville for sale on Craigslist in Arlington Heights, Illinois, is a good candidate for your funds.  At a fair for the current Cadillac market price of $14,900, this maroon leviathan is in great shape and has just over 66,000 miles on the odometer.  Are you ready to experience an era of luxury and excess that is a far cry from today’s bland SUV-dominated automotive landscape?  Thanks to Tony Primo for finding this incredible example of American excellence.

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  • Built in 1953 and Parked in 1961: 1932 Ford Five-Window Coupe

    Built in 1953 and Parked in 1961: 1932 Ford Five-Window Coupe

    In the world of historians, an item that is a remnant of a particular place and time is called a primary source.  These primary sources help us to understand the past by having a tangible item to study that existed in the time you are interested in.  In the world of hot rods, there are few surviving primary source examples of how such cars were built by the average enthusiast when the hobby was in its early heyday.  This 1932 Ford five-window coupe for sale on Craigslist in Monterey, California, is a window into a time when builders relied on ingenuity and junkyard parts to create their masterpieces.  Chock full of old-school tricks, this interesting relic has a price that reflects its historical significance.  Do you think a $65,000 asking price is realistic for its condition?  What would you do with it if it were yours?  Thanks to Colin for the SoCal hot rod tip!

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  • Glass Half Empty or Half Full? 1980 Chevrolet Corvette

    Glass Half Empty or Half Full? 1980 Chevrolet Corvette

    It is common to categorize people as having either a “glass half empty” or a “glass half full” mentality.  If you read the comments on some of the cars we feature, it is apparent that some people only see the negatives when dealing with older cars.  Others see opportunities and can chart a path to success in their minds when looking at a featured vehicle.  Which type of person are you?  If you need a test, then this 1980 Chevrolet Corvette for sale on Craigslist in Homestead, Florida is the perfect vehicle to see where you land.  Do you view this imperfect $5,000 Corvette with 41,919 miles as a money pit with few redeeming qualities, or are you thinking about how to bring it back to its past glory or even take it further?  Thanks go to Michael for finding this rolling Rorschach test!

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  • How the Mighty Have Fallen: 1938 Cadillac Convertible Sedan

    How the Mighty Have Fallen: 1938 Cadillac Convertible Sedan

    In the not-so-distant past, a prewar Cadillac convertible sedan was considered a desirable classic with a price tag to match.  Average collectors looked at them like poor kids peering in a candy shop window.  Although they are still one of the best choices among CCCA classics for touring and driving pleasure, values have plummeted to previously unfathomable depths.  Why?  This 1938 Cadillac Series 65 convertible sedan for sale on eBay in West Kingston, Rhode Island, is a good example of the decline in desirability that cars of this caliber are experiencing.  This unrestored but complete and driveable drop-top Caddy has just 24,165 miles on it and has a documented history since new.  Sadly, bidding is languishing at $15,600.  Would you be willing to pay used car money for a great prewar car to add to your collection?

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  • Dealer Installed Options: 1985 Cadillac Seville

    Dealer Installed Options: 1985 Cadillac Seville

    One’s tastes are subject to the impressions they leave on others and are heavily tied to the time they are displayed.  Take for example, this 1985 Cadillac Seville for sale on Craigslist in Freehold, New Jersey.  While a bit offensive to our eyes today, this bustle-backed Caddy is a low-mileage example of the dealer-installed excess we regularly saw in the eighties.  Not only is this car festooned with some of the more questionable styling “enhancements” of the era, but it is also in spectacular shape for its age.  It sports a near-perfect white paint job, a well-preserved white leather interior, and an eye-catching set of white mudflaps.  How much should one pay for this impressive ride?  Does $14,000 sound about right for this Radwood-ready Cadillac?  Thanks to Mitchell G. for this time capsule tip!

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  • Dennis Carpenter Owned: 1951 Mercury Monterey Convertible

    Dennis Carpenter Owned: 1951 Mercury Monterey Convertible

    Cars owned by famous people have appeared on Barn Finds before.  However, fame and notoriety aren’t limited to household names.  Some folks are, or were, celebrities in their little corner of the world.  Dennis Carpenter is a name that every vintage Ford fan has heard before.  Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts is one of the largest producers of vintage Ford parts.  This 1951 Mercury convertible for sale on Craigslist in Hainsport, New Jersey, is advertised as one of the cars from Carpenter’s extensive collection.  This beautiful convertible was refurbished to factory condition except for a few modern concessions to comfort.  This chrome-laden, touring-ready drop-top Merc can be yours for a cool $69,000.  Do you think Carpenter’s stellar reputation in the Ford community translates to an increased value for this amazing car?  Thanks to Mitchell G. for bringing this car to our attention!

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  • 68K Miles and an AM Radio: 1978 Chevrolet El Camino

    68K Miles and an AM Radio: 1978 Chevrolet El Camino

    You know you are getting old when the cars of your youth are becoming the stars of Barn Finds.  This 1978 Chevrolet El Camino in Conquista trim for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Richmond, Indiana, reminds me of a vehicle that loomed large in my past.  About the time when I was unleashed on the road by myself to the detriment of my hometown, my father purchased a 1980 El Camino from a speed shop.  The interestingly optioned El Camino featured is similar to that fun but short-lived example I briefly enjoyed before a van took it out.  With an advertised 68,000 miles, this one is in good shape for its age and has a few quirks on its options list.  Do you think the $8,750 asking price is proving to be a bit optimistic after five weeks on Facebook Marketplace?  What do you think is a fair price for this interesting truck?  Thanks to Ted for pointing out this vintage El Camino!

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  • Impressive Kit Car: 1978 CCC Auburn Speedster

    Impressive Kit Car: 1978 CCC Auburn Speedster

    One of the hottest and most interesting segments of the collectible car hobby is that of kit cars.  From accurate recreations to aesthetically questionable representations of classics of days past, these vehicles have become popular once again for the same reason they sold well in their heyday.  They are for having fun and fun only.  Some are far more refined than others, and this 1978 California Custom Coach Auburn Speedster replica for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Surprise, Arizona is one of the most polished replica automobiles you can own.  Most of these beautiful recreations of the famed Auburn Boattail Speedster were factory-built in the seventies on a new LTD chassis and were priced at around $37,500.  This pristine example is being offered today at a princely $57,000.  With original Auburns selling in the high six figures, is this fiberglass beauty a bargain at that price?  Thanks to TJ for another incredible find!

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  • Old School Trucking: 1930 Mack AC

    Old School Trucking: 1930 Mack AC

    We all know that the automobile replaced the horse as the primary means of transportation in America.  When it came to pulling heavy loads, draft animals such as oxen, mules, and horses also gave way to the truck.  In those early days, nobody made a tougher truck than Mack Trucks.  Built of the finest components, these rugged vehicles handled payloads far above their rating and did so for decades.  Trucks like this 1930 Mack AC for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Sturgis, South Dakota were slow, difficult to drive, and looked like antiques even when they were new.  This example spent much of its life in the service of a gold mine and was modified heavily to keep it on the road for as long as possible.  Now in rough but possibly restorable shape, this chain-driven beast of burden is being offered for $5,000.  Is that a reasonable sum for one of the few survivors of this once plentiful truck?  Thanks to Howard A. for suggesting this early heavy hauler!

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  • Before Production Stopped: 1942 Lincoln Zephyr Club Coupe

    Before Production Stopped: 1942 Lincoln Zephyr Club Coupe

    While war clouds were clearly on the horizon in 1941, Americans were still shocked by the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7 of that year.  The idea that we were isolated from hostilities by two great oceans was shattered. Still, the attack forged a terrible resolve in all Americans to strike a mortal blow to our enemies.  To do so meant sacrifice.  Americans would shift all non-essential production of goods to manufacturing war materials.  This included our beloved automobiles.  Whoever originally took delivery of this 1942 Lincoln Zephyr club coupe for sale on Craigslist in Madison, Georgia managed to secure a beautiful luxury car that would have to last the duration of the war.  Now, 83 years later this well-kept survivor with just 43,461 miles on the odometer is looking for a new caretaker.  With an asking price of $44,500, would you be interested in this twelve-cylinder luxury car?

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  • Road Ready Westfalia: 1970 Volkswagen Type 2 Vanagon

    Road Ready Westfalia: 1970 Volkswagen Type 2 Vanagon

    While Volkswagen currently struggles to find its niche in the American market, at one time the company could do no wrong.  The Volkswagen Beetle was an unlikely candidate to set sales records on this side of the Atlantic, but it did so with regularity.  People flocked to dealerships not only for the Beetle but also for Volkswagen’s other products.  One of the most innovative and useful was the Westfalia camper vans that introduced generations of Americans to the pleasures of camping with your vehicle.  This 1970 Volkswagen Type 2 Vanagon for sale on Craigslist in Marietta, Georgia is a beautifully restored example of Volkswagen’s highly sought-after camper conversions of their Vanagon.  With an asking price of $38,950, this is a driveable classic that you can use for both car shows and camping.  Or, do you think the price would restrict it to a place in your garage as a collectible only?  Thanks to Mitchell G. for this very neat tip!

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  • Vintage Semi Truck and Trailer: 1949 Ford F-7

    Vintage Semi Truck and Trailer: 1949 Ford F-7

    If you do the math, only a small percentage of cars and light trucks survive beyond their first ten years.  even fewer are preserved or restored in some way.  Those numbers plummet when it comes to heavy-duty vehicles.  These vitally important but usually unsung heroes of the road are used up and are either cast off to rust away in a back lot or taken straight to the scrapyard.  Finding someone willing to expend the energy and effort to preserve such vehicles is almost impossible.  Thankfully, someone saw the wisdom to completely restore this 1947 Ford F-7 truck and matching Fruehauf trailer for sale on eBay in Andover, Minnesota.  While it is a bit much for your average garage, this stunning rig has just 21 total bids at this time.  The high bid is an unbelievably low $1,300.  Could you see it in your heart to give this rolling piece of postwar history a home, especially if the price is ridiculously right?  Thanks to Rumpledoorskin for this awesome full-length tip!

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  • Custom Van Culture Artifact: 1977 Dodge B100 Van

    Custom Van Culture Artifact: 1977 Dodge B100 Van

    Of all the wonderfully glorious things that Americans love, perhaps no greater love exists than that of our passionate desire to drive rear-wheel drive vehicles with V-8 engines under the hood.  When emissions and fuel economy standards struck a mortal blow to traditional muscle cars in the early seventies, Americans fought back at the dealerships by purchasing personal luxury coupes and vans that they could customize.  While we have moved on and full-sized truck-based vehicles have taken over that passion, there are still a few remnants of our rebellious seventies custom van craze.  This 1977 Dodge B100 van for sale on eBay in Clovis, California is one of the few remaining examples of this unique form of good old-fashioned American creativity.  Still sporting its carpeted interior, plexiglass custom windows, and airbrushed murals on both sides, this relic of our wilder past is currently languishing at a paltry $1,225 bid with just two days to go.  Is this the kind of offbeat restoration project that interests you?  Do you think vans like this one should be saved for posterity’s sake?

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Barn Finds