Oddballs

Neoclassic Barn Find: 1981 Zimmer Golden Spirit

The Zimmer Golden Spirit is a car that needs little in the way of an introduction, representing one of the peaks in the neoclassical revival era that impacted the collector car and truck world in a big way. From… more»

Charming Bargain: 1964 Ford Falcon Coupe

The ad here on craigslist says “always stored in a garage,” which makes you wonder: How many people have driven past this car, unbeknownst to them, over the years? Mitchell G. is the super sleuth who found us the… more»

Turbo Coupe: 1986 Subaru XT GL-10

Like any toxic relationship, I have a weird obsession with the Subaru XT. As some of you long-timers may recall, I embarked on a project with the six-cylinder version of one of these wedge-coupes way back when, and immediately… more»

Pair of 1940s Soap Box Derby Cars

Who remembers soap box derby racing? I recall seeing it on 1960s TV shows, but that was about it. It started with a group of kids in the 1930s who cobbled together some miniature race cars out of wood… more»

Nascar-Inspired 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix Aerocoupe 2+2

GM had a racing problem in the 1980’s: The sleeker, more aerodynamic Ford Thunderbird was beating the squared-off, not-so-aerodynamic boxy styling of GM’s Grand Prix and Monte Carlo on the Nascar racing circuit. Solution: The Aeroocoupe. A limited-edition attempt… more»

Abandoned Shop Find: Yugo GV

Have you ever had a barn find hit very close to home? This Yugo GV has been parked in a little shop I I used to drive past daily when I lived down the road from it in Warwick,… more»

Pre-War Project: 1939 DKW F8 Cabriolet

DKW was one of the founding members of Auto Union in a transaction precipitated in 1932. Its forté was motorcycles and small cars; the other three brands staked out the medium car segment (Wanderer), the larger family car segment… more»

Rare Opera Coupe: 1982 Cadillac Seville

There are some cars you expect to see as barn finds, or long-stored garage finds. Your Town Cars, front-engined Porsches, old Beetles – the usual fare. What you don’t necessarily expect to see is a chopped Cadillac Seville in… more»

Huge Collection of True Barn Finds: Take a Browse

An actual barn. Full of barn finds. That’s what’s up for auction in this mega-sale. Three sets of lots total to 230+ cars, with the only proviso being that these cars are in the Netherlands. This tip comes to… more»

Backyard Bonanza: California Collection

While there’s a part of me (and perhaps most of us) that loves the idea of a property strewn about with cars and trucks, you won’t find too many communities where your neighbors share your enthusiasm for vintage tin… more»

One of a Kind: 1902 Sterand Loco

The Sterand Loco was an early 20th-Century promotional vehicle built to look like a steam-powered locomotive. But an inline-4 motor was under the “hood” that would run on gasoline, that new-fangled fuel of the 1900s. This oddity is said… more»

1 of 2: 1951 Fromm-Mobile (Go Kart)

Engineer Carl Fromm had the notion of going into the go-kart manufacturing business in 1951 and we’re told he built two prototypes of the Fromm-Mobile. Apparently, the project never got off the ground and go-kart #1 has stayed in… more»

A 1971 Chevy Vega to “Rover” Around In

The Chevy Vega used to remind me of the body style of the Camaro. This one carries out the illusion—if you keep your eyes on the front clip. When you venture a gaze down the side, everything changes, as… more»

1 Of 1 Electric Prototype: 1987 Chevrolet Corvette

The C4 Corvettes generally aren’t the most desirable under normal marketplace circumstances, but if you’re looking for something truly unusual and unique from this era, it may be hard to beat this one for guaranteeing a crowd to gather… more»

Low Mileage 5-Speed: 1986 Ford Tempo

At what point does a once-unloved model become so obscure that you begin to notice any example that still turns up in running, driving condition? For me, the Ford Tempo is one of those cars that used to be… more»

Pocket Rocket Muscle: 1986 Dodge Omni GLH-“S’more”

Think 1980s muscle, and you’ll likely conjure images of the Monte Carlo SS and Buick Grand National. But what if your tastes run more to the MOPAR family? They’ve got you covered, with the Dodge Omni GLH-S, like the… more»

Barn Finds