sydney entertainment: Best Barn Finds: The Long Forgotten Classic Car

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Best Barn Finds: The Long Forgotten Classic Car

**Note: This is a guest post written by one of our readers. For more information on how to submit a guest post, please read our?guest posting guidelines.

The discovery of a long-forgotten classic car is nothing more than an unrealized dream for many motor enthusiasts all over the world. The idea that you could find your perfect car tucked away, undiscovered, in an old abandoned garage may sound far-fetched, but there are a lucky few who have done just that. Here are five of the best barn finds from all over the world.

The Great Portuguese Find

This story has been circulating the internet for a number of years. As the tale went, an old farmhouse lay abandoned after the death of its owner and his wife. For years, many wondered what lay inside until a retired American couple bought the barn, and found out once and for all. Inside lay rows and rows of old, dusty cars just waiting to polished up and taken out on the open road.

That?s how the story went, anyway. The reality, as you may have guessed, isn?t quite so romantic. The cars had actually been carefully amassed by a collector, who, yes, was still alive and very much aware that they were still there. OK, so the reality isn?t quite as exciting as the tale, but at least now we know that these collections do exist and are just waiting to be found.

1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante Coupe

One of the best-known, and most valuable, barn finds, this 1937 Bugatti was one of just 17 ever produced. Having once been driven by British racing driver, Earl Howe, it had sat, unused, in the reclusive Dr. Harold Carr?s garage, since the 1960s. It was valued at $8.8 Million, and sold ? with five bidders in the race ? at Bonhams auction house for $4.53 Million.

The Italian Trio in Texas

In 2011, three of Italian?s finest creations ? a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, a Dino 246GT and a Maserati Bora 4.9 ? were uncovered in Texas. Whilst their past remains somewhat a mystery, rumor has it that they once belonged to a friend of Italian racer turned Ferrari dealer, Luigi Chinetti. Having been left to collect dust for 30 years, these three fine motors were discovered in surprisingly good condition. After springing up on eBay, they later went for auction at Mecum?s in Monterey, California.

The Blue Goose

Thought to have belonged to Hitler?s second in command, Hermann Goering, the Mercedes 540k Special Roadster discovered on a Russian farm, is worth over $18 Million. One of only 26 built for the Nazi?s during the war, Goering had his bomb proof, armored sports car painted in his favorite shade of blue, hence its nickname, The Blue Goose. Its discovery by British car dealer, Nick Szkiler, sparked worldwide interest, as hints of aviation blue still peeked through the rust.

Since mandatory driving lessons and tests were still a very recent development in the 1930s, chances are that G?ring drove this 3 ton monster without any proper training!

Jay Leno?s Duesenberg Model J Town Car

TV personality and car enthusiast Jay Leno, jumped at the chance to own the unrestored Duesenberg that had lain abandoned in a Manhattan garage since the 1950s. Leno handed it over to Duesenberg expert, Randy Ema who restored it to all its former beauty. This classic car is made even more special as it?s the only Model J with a town car body by F.R. Wood & Sons of New York.

So, if we all keep our fingers ? and toes ? crossed, maybe one day we?ll stumble across a vintage find of our own.