Are You Driving a 'Barn Find' That Still Looks 'Barn Found'?

[Real Steel]

Are you driving an original 'Barn Find' that still looks 'Barn Found'?

Dusty, very dusty...down right dirty.  Old paint.  Feed hay and chicken feathers.  LOL.

Not restored.  Not a rod.  Not a rat.  Not a resto-mod.  Not a replica.  Not a custom.  

 

Its hard to find other folks with the same approach.  Am I sooo far out there with this?

If you're into the same thing, please post your photo here so that I don't feel so lonely  

 

Here are my last two vehicles (1925 Dodge Brothers, 1931 Ford):

 

 

[1937hd45]

WOW! You don't see them often, new tires, oil change and check the wiring, and enjoy them. Closest thing have is a 1912 Ford restored in 1950. Bob 

[Bloo]

[ArticiferTom]

That's the way I fly !  !931 Dodge PU .

[J.H.Boland]

Best I can do is my 1940 Packard 110 business coupe.Repainted back in the fifties.Other than refinishing wheels and new running board rubbers,it's an original 45000 mile car.

[Akstraw]

I did wash this one off, and had to replace the brittle leather straps that fell apart.

[Steve_Mack_CT]

Great thread!  Heres mine.  Good bones but last restoration probably 50 years ago.  They did remove the body I think,  despite its failing now the paint job was very thorough.   Replacement interior and a great but tattered white top.  

Cannot decide to restore or leave it.  If anyone is interested in giving an opinion I am considering 3 approaches;

 

1) leave as is, and focus only on mechanical upgrades & maintenance 

 

2) restoration to as found colors etc.

 

3)restoration to 30 Standard roadster specs

 

Engine is a 31, color is not correct for a Standard so it's not a Virgin like some of the others on this thread.  

Edited September 20, 2017 by Steve_Mack_CT (see edit history)

[nzcarnerd]

Lots of that sort of stuff here. This pic is at Fairlie, on Irishman Rally 2017, held in early winter. Of the 140 cars in the event more than 70 were Ford As, and probably about a quarter of those were in 'barn find' or worse condition. Lots of fun though. Our 1929 (Canadian) Plymouth had a cheapie repaint in the 1950s but still has the original paint on the fenders, and its original interior, although the radiator and bumper had been re-chromed before we got it in the '90s.  Now at 80,000 miles it has had its rear end rebuilt - new bearings etc. Pic taken in 2014, but it was on this year's event.

Edited September 20, 2017 by nzcarnerd (see edit history)

[John_S_in_Penna]

15 hours ago, Real Steel said:

...Dusty, very dusty...down right dirty. ...

 

Your cars look good, Mr. Steel.  

Cars in the HPOF class are always interesting to see;

but I'm glad that you and other owners at least wash them

after you bring them out of their hibernation.

 

There's nothing historic about dirt.

 

[Real Steel]

1 hour ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

 

Your cars look good, Mr. Steel.  

Cars in the HPOF class are always interesting to see;

but I'm glad that you and other owners at least wash them

after you bring them out of their hibernation.

 

There's nothing historic about dirt.

 

 

LOL.  I like the freedom of not washing.   It's a perk with these types of cars.

BTW, dirt is made from the oldest stuff on earth, at least 5 billion years old.  Most of it is not historic per se, but it's old...as old as...you know what.

[dei]

These are not mine but see them yearly at the Ypsilanti Orphan Car Show.

The owner found them separately in the condition you see (which unfortunately is not a good shot).

They both are Willys Knight roadsters with original tops and seats.

 

Clearly, shiny paint doesn't always become a hit! 

 

[Paul Dobbin]

1935 Ford V8 Pickup as seen in the back cover of the Early Ford V8 Times  Sept./Oct. 2010

Found in Wisconsin 1990, made driveable and enjoyed for 30 years as found.  Story was the farmer's kids used it in 

Holloween Parade and painted "BOO BROS." on this and a 36 Ford Flatbed, the trucks were the brothers.

I took it to a AACA National Show and was rejected for HPOF because there was no P in it (Preservation).  For me the

fact that it was still a usable vehicle was all the P I needed.  Painted with a broom in 1970 probably saved the body

and Flathead V8's can run forever.

I've hauled engines, bricks, lumber, dirt ,sod & junk, because that's what trucks are for.

 

 

 

Edited August 30, 2020 by Paul Dobbin
Updated years of enjoyment to 30 (A 3 year old post) (see edit history)

[Mark Huston]

Here is my 1929 Studebaker President Brougham.  In addition, my Studebaker with a 1929 Pierce-Arrow, also an original car.

 

[46 woodie]

I am amazed when walking the Preservation Class at Hershey how well some cars have been preserved. I need to find one!

[Chris Bamford]

My '47 Dodge, owned 26 years and daily driver the past few. My wife has a modern but if I'm not out in a Model T or other oldie this is it for me.

 

Repainted 1975 by the second owner (I'm #3) it is utterly original inside. I rebuilt the engine winter of 2011/12 a few months before this first photo was taken along the Alaska Highway. We've driven it to 37 US states, all four coasts of North America, climbed Pike's Peak and got our HPOF designation at Hershey.

 

Second photo was taken on the ice road to Tuktoyaktuk, the furthest north one can drive in mainland Canada.

 

 

 

[John_S_in_Penna]

This 1936 Oldsmobile isn't mine, but I know the owner.

He has owned this car for almost 82 years:  He got it 

new in December of 1935 and still owns and drives it!

It had been been his everyday car until 1956, and from some

point in the 1960's on, it had lain dormant in a garage

until he resurrected it.

 

His ownership has been longer than that of Allen Swift,

the much publicized Massachusetts owner of a Rolls-Royce.

The late Mr. Swift had his car for 77 years.

 

No need to trace the chain of ownership of an 81-year-old barn-find

when YOU are the only owner for those 81 years!

 

 

Edited September 21, 2017 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[Steve_Mack_CT]

It would be interesting to know what maintenance and repair work that 36 Olds has had over the years as it looks amazing! 

[John_S_in_Penna]

The owner of the 1936 Oldsmobile has written 

at some length about his long-time ownership,

and we published his account in our AACA regional

newsletter.  The advantage of long-term ownership:

The knowledge he accumulated is probably invaluable

to anyone restoring one.

[Real Steel]

4 hours ago, Chris Bamford said:

My '47 Dodge, owned 26 years and daily driver the past few. My wife has a modern but if I'm not out in a Model T or other oldie this is it for me.

 

Repainted 1975 by the second owner (I'm #3) it is utterly original inside. I rebuilt the engine winter of 2011/12 a few months before this first photo was taken along the Alaska Highway. We've driven it to 37 US states, all four coasts of North America, climbed Pike's Peak and got our HPOF designation at Hershey.

 

Second photo was taken on the ice road to Tuktoyaktuk, the furthest north one can drive in mainland Canada.

 

 

 

 

"Dusty, very dusty...down right dirty."

 

[Graham Man]

1933 Graham, brush painted in the 80's interior is fair, engine keeps getting better! 

 

My Grandfather sold the Graham in about 1952.  It went to a collator car buyer/seller and sat under a Mulberry bush unsold for 10 years.  Then he moved it to a barn for about 20 years.  He gave it to a friend looking for a restoration project around 1980, they dug it out of the straw pile.  The guy never got the brakes to work and brush painted it yellow.  It was traded around 1990 for another car, and got brush painted black, it had a Subaru gas tank strapped in with a brown leather belt when I got it.

 

[Paul Dobbin]

i love all these pictures of real unrestored pre-WWII cars.cars.   There is a couple in town with a 1930 Model A Ford that they drive daily.  They serve as our car locators because everybody with an old car stops to talk to them.   Then a  couple of us will go out an see if we can gettheir cars running and ask them if they would like to do local tours with us.  We've met some wonderful people.   Everybody has an old car storyto tell and questions to ask.  It's great PR for the hobby.  

When we used our 35 Ford Pickup (Pictured in  a previous post #12) on the Hulk Hogan movie, "Thunder in Paradise", they sprayed on fake dirtwhere it was to shiny for the scene supposedly in Cuba.  I just left it there.  

Edited September 21, 2017 by Paul Dobbin
re spaced (see edit history)

[Plyroadking]

We have the derelict, 57 3/4 ton 4x4 IH we drug out of a pasture a couple years ago, still have brakes to do before it's road ready. 

 

A neighbor gave me the Buick after 20 years of pestering him about it. Brush painted in the 70s, and a 51 super engine was rebuilt and dropped in it then and never started. His grandfather blew the car's 2nd engine in 1954 and it was parked till the 70s then my neighbor started rewiring the car with all #8 green wire and when he got to the dash he had a huge bundle of green wires. He got slightly confused and back in the shed it went till I pulled it out two years ago. Re-rewired it, pulled the engine apart for fresh gaskets and fresh assembly lube and I've been driving it since.

[21raceabout]

1920 Mercer Sporting... 6 owners since new, all within 75 miles of Boston, currently in southern Maine.  Original interior, one re-paint around 1940.  Enjoyed regularly on the back roads.

[SC38dls]

Not sure if this qualifies as the engine, trans, brakes, wiring and interior has been rebuilt. The interior would rip every time I sat in it. 42 years in a barn. This is original paint but buffed out and washed regularly. 38 Studebaker State Commander 

[Dave39MD]

My Grandparents bought this new in April 1939, I picked it up in 1972. It had about 70,000 miles when I picked it up and now has 106,000. Still runs good.

Dave

[playswithbrass]

Not exactly a barn find. Our 1906 Cadillac Model K spent most of its life in museums. Upholstery is newer but probably not painted since late 1920's

[Real Steel]

Thanks to all that posted photos of their driving 'Barn Finds'.  Its great to see so many!

It looks like there aren't many 'Barn Finds' here in southern California...not a big surprise I guess.  It's mostly new cars, restorations, rods, rats, and customs; that's how they roll here.

[Roger Frazee]

1917 Overland.  

Edited September 25, 2017 by Roger Frazee
Added text. (see edit history)

[zipdang]

Having a ball with my little '67 Fiat Giardniera.

[Ovalrace25]

OK, No Still Shots for me-- A video to show it really does run! 

 

[Ovalrace25]

And this one last week.. I hope to get more info about it. Not much solid info yet---  Any help out there?  Builder's plate says Oregon Oldsmobile Company. 

 

[60FlatTop]

I touch mine up with a brush when I get nicks.

 

The left front fender has some spots that look like the battery blew up once and shot acid all over. I picked up a quart of white lacquer to paint it, but after 16 years I'm a little hesitant to risk a two tone white on white car.

Bernie

[mikewest]

Here is my garage find drivers. 1933 Franklin Airman sedan and a 1929 Franklin Airman Sport Runabout,

Edited September 26, 2017 by mikewest (see edit history)

[Ovalrace25]

OK-- Here is another one of my cars. Was up on jack stands when I went to look. Had battery problems, dried out tires and the interior is really SHOT. But after electrical sorting out, tires (a used set from another car)  and brakes, it runs like a --- well -- Like a Cadillac

 

 

[Ovalrace25]

And then there is this 1941 Cadillac. Found in an old garage with the transmission not working. No brakes, tires shot. and one rear spring broken. I had a bunch of spare parts ready to go. A few days later and some old blankets over the seats and I was cruising.

[Ovalrace25]

OK-- You have me going here. This is the 1922 American LaFrance I talked the City Fire Department out of. They even delivered it! YES, I got it running.

 

[Ovalrace25]

And this one: My Trabant P-50. Really ratty, but it won at the Concours d'Lemons a few years ago.

[Ovalrace25]

What next? Got 5 cars in this deal- That 57 Buick cleaned up fantastic! Plan was to keep two cars out of this deal. Got carried away and kept only one... oops But the Plymouth is in the hands of a guy that got it for his wife to drive around town. She LIKES the car.

[Ovalrace25]

OK---- Another one: This 1960 Rambler Town and Country station wagon was a "one owner" that had been in the garage of the little old lady that passed away. Seems that someone that ended up with the house pushed the car outside where it sat neglected for years. Last registered in 1971. I saw it when I was in the neighborhood and was able to bring it home. There are ZERO dents in this thing and the interior is well-----quite saveable.... Engine was stuck, so I rebuilt it. But the original condition is going to be difficult to change.. I want the next owner to see how straight this car is.

[JFranklin]

It still looks as found! This was a fair exhibit at the Lane County Historical Museum, trash as a prop! there were added body parts to replicate a depression junk yard. I did add a rear fender and got it running well. 

Edited September 26, 2017 by JFranklin
added thoughts (see edit history)