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What’s in John’s Barn?

John Hs Barn

Reader John H likes to keep his cars as clean and safe as possible. Usually we would want the cars to be uncovered so we could bask in their full magnificence, but having them covered in plastic makes the game of guessing what they are that much more challenging. If you have a stash of interesting cars parked in your barn, garage, or shed please share! Thanks for opening your barn to us John!

Comments

  1. Avatar GaryMc

    Jags?

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  2. Avatar grantp

    Looks like a Chris Craft, and an XJ-S coupe. I have been wrong MANY times before….

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  3. Avatar Mdh157

    I agree with Jags, at least for the 2 cars in the foreground.

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  4. Avatar Richard F

    They look like Jaguar XJS to me.

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  5. Avatar john f

    My vote are Jags also. love those old boats to

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  6. Avatar Vince Habel

    I would never cover them with plastic.

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  7. Avatar Gary St.Amour

    Yeah, the plastic is no good for long term as it will lock in moisture. And won’t add any protection is something should fall against it either!

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    • Avatar John

      Thank you for your comment but I should explaim the plastic covers are meant for automotive use they are not waterproof so do not seal in moisture also the barn is well insulated so not subject to sudden temperature changes which cause condensation, but you are right about protection should anything fall against them I will bear that in mind

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  8. Avatar John R

    I sure hope my namesake has a humidity-free enclosure for those plastic-covered garage queens… or has them wrapped 360 degrees. I s’pose there’s a few placing in the country where humidity doesn’t rise inside when it rains outside. Wouldn’t take long for undetected moisture under that plastic to cause the paint to begin “lifting” from the bodies. Potentially catistorphic.

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  9. Avatar Maurice Mentens

    Looks like John is into Jaguars with his XJS coupe and XJS-Cabriolet/Targa. I’m sure his gas (petrol) bill is giant!

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    • Avatar John

      Your right V12’s that’s why they are stored & not in current use, but they are started & warmed up on a regular basis.

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  10. Avatar Clay Bryant

    Old used carpeting does wonders between cement floors and cars but air flow is the key to keeping things dry.I hafta’ admit though,plastic gives a patina all it’s own.

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  11. Avatar jim s

    are they 6 cyl or V12 , is that 5 cars plus a boat and what is that on the right had side along the wall? very nice garage. thanks for sharing.

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    • Avatar John

      Thanks for your comment Jim,there are two V12 factory cabriolets (fore runner to the full convertible) & a 6cyl coupe, & at the end is a Merc 350SL in bits

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  12. Avatar Ric Parrish

    Never cover a car with plastic, it doesn’t breath, moisture comes up from below, is held on the car indefinitely. A car covered with plastic will rust everywhere! When I went to Vietnam I covered my frame-off TR3 with plastic. When I got home it was a rusted mass.

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    • Avatar Pleiku Pete

      Ric, when I got home from RVN, I was the rusted mess!

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  13. Avatar Ian Andersen

    Look at the ‘Barn’ It is not like any shed I know. Looks more like the inside of a boat or barge.
    My guess is there will be moisture everywhere not just under the plastic.

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    • Avatar John

      Thanks for the comment, it is actually an old chicken shed made of ceder & very well insulated, it is very dry & the cars are uncovered & run up on a regular basis

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      • Avatar Jamie

        Lol, these people know everything huh? Nice collection. Your chicken shed is better than most garages I think……and I have used plastics on cars around my shop for years…with no problems. Keeps the dust off of them, and allows me to see what I know is under them. I think people are thinking that you toss them on, and lock the place up like a time capsule. Which I guess then is justified for concerns. With a dry floor, dry environment, and minimal light and temperature variances……..there are no concerns.

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  14. Avatar seth

    Judging by the lack of dust on the plastic either the plastic was just put there or this is a very dust free climate. I agree about covering with plastic traps moisture.

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  15. Avatar ORacer

    I like this feature…What’s in reader’s barns.

    Agree with the masses, plastic over cars is a mistake, great for dust but terrible for moisture.

    My shop space is not too dusty with low humidity, even though I have covers I tend to leave them uncovered. My prize car though I cover with two flannel bed sheets…wife never knew I took them out of the linen closet, in winter she will.

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  16. Avatar julian

    I went to view a Fiat Dino Coupe. Beautiful condition but it had been “professionally” stored in plastic and was now covered in micro blisters. The storer paid the bill for a respray. Didn’t buy because of other problems.

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  17. Avatar Franck

    Looks like a Healey boat to me? Any sugestions?

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    • Avatar John

      thanks for the comment, it is actually an Albatross built like an aircraft of riveted alloy powered by Ford, these Boats had no clutch or gearbox , so turn the key & off you go!

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  18. Avatar gunningbar

    Up here in the N EAST I see so many cars outside under blue tarps…gotta be a mess under there.

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  19. Avatar Rick Yocum

    Agree with previous comments regarding covering cars with plastic. The eventual answer to “What’s in John’s Barn?” will be “nothing but rust.” Friend of mine asked to me go with him to pick up a Chrysler Town and Country he had had “stored” for three years. I walked into the cement block storage facility, saw the dusty plastic covering the T&C and asked. “Has it been stored that way for three years?” “Yep,” he smiled. I said, “If I was you I’d just turn around and walk away. You’re not going to like what you see under there.” He didn’t believe me until he pulled off the plastic and saw a rust-covered car with rotted wood dropping off its sides.

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  20. Avatar Tritone

    Sorry to go against the tide here, but; here in the “rainy” Northwest I store all my cars under plastic drop cloths in the concrete-floor barn. No rust on anything in nearly 10 years. (including my Chrysler T&C….;-) But, it’s dry in my barn. If/when it leaks, I fix the leak.
    Ditto the mega-million $$$ cars at the local restoration shops.
    So, it ain’t just ‘plastic’. There are obviously other issues going on if cars are rusting under plastic.
    YMMV

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  21. Avatar z1rider

    Clearly many like to post before reading comments. John explained the plastic covers are not waterproof. Just to keep the dust off.

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  22. Avatar e55

    John: Just want to be sure that you realize that plastic is not good for the longevity of your cars. Did you get that? Are you certain you understand? Would you like some stories about what happens to cars that readers have seen but do not own? Just checking…

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    • Avatar John

      Thank you for your concern & advice , I am fully aware what would happen if a car was wrapped in waterproof plastic I assure you I would never do that, the sheet I use is not waterproof, & is just laid lightly over the car, this material can only be bought from a auto bodyshop supplier, & I have used this over some ten years on my cars with no problems, the cars are kept in a dry environment, I would add that I am now retired having worked most of my life restoring classic cars professionally having trained with a coachbuilder & have owned a large variety of classic cars so I do have some experience,

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  23. Avatar Jesse Staff

    Thanks for sharing this with us John! Looks like everyone was concern about the plastic, so thanks for clearing that up. If you make any changes to the collection please keep us updated.

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  24. Avatar John R

    I’m surprised at the “push-back” on this plastic covers subject. it is a very real phenomenon. It does take many months to be seen, occurring invisibly during early distructive stages when the paint is coming loose from the metal under it.
    .
    Cement floors are equally deceptive. If not sealed and periodically resealed, moisture WILL even pass up through crack-free concrete. If the building has large swings in temperature summer vs. winter, beware. I have personally experienced a newly restored car developing surface undercarriage rust on a few parts from humidity seeping through a poorly sealed floor even without plastic over the top. To avoid any chance of it happening again, I now lay a sheet of plastic UNDER all cars stored over 60 days, and a breathable covering over the top. I also use window shades to keep out ultraviolet rays and curios eyes (equal risk!).
    This is a matter of basic science. It will eventually bite people who ignore it,

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