"Barn Finds"

[Ian@Hagerty]

As the Subject says, Barn finds. Do you believe these truly exist anymore? As with most of you, I watch various cars on the Internet and it amazes me that people seem lulled into a fantasy world where the cars will be the purchase of the century . Most of these old machines were left in storage because they suffered a mechanical failure and were not worth repairing at the time yet most of us seems fascinated by a dusty car.

It baffles me that people quite often pay more for a “barn find” rather than rough and ready example. After saying all the above If I do see a car sitting in a garage/storage looking rather unloved, I tend to enter into a rose tinted glasses relationship with a welding challenge!

[lee bishop]

Frosty lives in a barn.......

[acheyford]

As the Subject says, Barn finds. Do you believe these truly exist anymore? As with most of you, I watch various cars on the Internet and it amazes me that people seem lulled into a fantasy world where the cars will be the purchase of the century . Most of these old machines were left in storage because they suffered a mechanical failure and were not worth repairing at the time yet most of us seems fascinated by a dusty car.

It baffles me that people quite often pay more for a “barn find” rather than rough and ready example. After saying all the above If I do see a car sitting in a garage/storage looking rather unloved, I tend to enter into a rose tinted glasses relationship with a welding challenge!

I never believed that these cars truley existed either until 7 months ago I spied an advert on gum-tree mk1 mini forsale must go!!!! £1 .Looked @ add for ten minutes or so then decided to ring for crack of it.Turned out to be a builder who demolished a shed earlier that day & found a 1967 mini inside under the rubble he didnt know much about car other than lady that owned house said her husband loved it & spent all his spare time in shed until he died in 1981 the car is totally orginal never touched & was is shed sense then as she didnt drive & had no family anyway I looked @ the car realised it was a (early mk2 cooper) in a sorry state but seen worse & bought it there & then. brought it home & my late father took 1 took @ it & said (fools & moneys thing) but few weeks later i recieved a large letter in post from lady who owned it with all documents for car even orignal bill of sale etc.So they do exist just take me few years to get it back on road again but it will be worth it.


And before anyone asks No i will not tell u what i paid & No its not forsale

[Frosticles]

Frosty lives in a barn.......

Quite fancy a barn conversion.

[Mugshot]

I have a 1972 Mk1 1100 L which has been in the family since 1977. It belonged to my father and it's in a shed on a farm that I inherited a few years ago. It was taken off the road because of what was at that time terminal rot i.e. an uneconomic repair required. It needs outer cills, one rear arch repair, a strut top plate, a front passenger side floorpan and a drivers side wing. Oh and a new bonnet where some clown rested a bit of machinery on it at one time. (Me) I still have the original tax book and whatever documents were with it when it came. It has been off the road since 1980 and when I do a reg check on it there is no record on the computer! Now that is a REAL barn find.

Some day soon I might just do that - "find" it!

[mark2marty]

a barn find that broke down and was parked up for years will hopefully be more original and easier to fix because the rough and ready car will need years of cheap repairs removed to get to the same point during restoration and more original parts worn out and replaced over the years

[windy]

I have a "barn find" car in my collection. It was a one owner car and only came to light when the inherited family member discovered it in his mothers rented council garage.
They have value because they are usually genuine unmolested completely standard cars with low mileage needing very little work to get back on the road. Mine was one of those & I love it for what is it - a time warp from the 1970s.

[alancdavis]

why does the DVLA never question SORN when the books and finds turn up

I was under the impression if sorn was not declared the penalties were imposed

[Frosticles]

why does the DVLA never question SORN when the books and finds turn up

I was under the impression if sorn was not declared the penalties were imposed

Mine isn't on SORN as it hasn't been taxed since 1994!!!

[Ian@Hagerty]

a barn find that broke down and was parked up for years will hopefully be more original and easier to fix because the rough and ready car will need years of cheap repairs removed to get to the same point during restoration and more original parts worn out and replaced over the years

Up until now I have never thought of it like this.

[alancdavis]

so whats the deal if you dont declare sorn it an £80 fine ?

[Frosticles]

so whats the deal if you dont declare sorn it an £80 fine ?

Think after a certain date it needs to be declared SORN pre that date it doesn't?

[kas750]

As the Subject says, Barn finds. Do you believe these truly exist anymore?

Yes!..My Mexico was in its "barn" for nearly 22 years.

[alancdavis]

did the dyson exist 22 years ago ..

[youngpecker]

did the dyson exist 22 years ago ..

Dont be silly Alan,the hoover(dyson) was just to take years of dust off!!!