Barn finds - Are they worth taking on these days?
Discussion
I have looked at a few barn finds in my time and have bought a few projects but with the prices dropping for good examples, is it really worth spending double the cost of buying a good condition runner that someone has already spent the time and money on.
I am expecting that a lot of projects are sitting in garages around the country that are going to come back on the market soon.
I am expecting that a lot of projects are sitting in garages around the country that are going to come back on the market soon.
As has been said already; if looking for some kind of financial return then it’s a big no even if doing much of the work yourself and not accounting for your time.
However, having done quite a few myself, the attitude has to be one of “enjoying the process” and hopefully being around break even at the end. For me at least, the incentive has been to own/work on a car I’d not be able to justify as a mint example. Largely I’ve done OK with the inevitable miss on some, make it up on others approach, but it would take some serious rose tinted specs to see much as a money making opportunity from the outset in todays market.
However, having done quite a few myself, the attitude has to be one of “enjoying the process” and hopefully being around break even at the end. For me at least, the incentive has been to own/work on a car I’d not be able to justify as a mint example. Largely I’ve done OK with the inevitable miss on some, make it up on others approach, but it would take some serious rose tinted specs to see much as a money making opportunity from the outset in todays market.
Depends.
I know a chap who bought an A35 from a deceased estate.
The lady hadn't done anything with her husbands cars, who'd died probably 20yrs prior. Car was in a heated, dry garage attached to the house, under blankets and a duvet, above carpet and on axle stands. It only had 10k miles on it when he died and he'd owned is since the early 60s and was always garaged.
A few spots of surface corrosion but honestly it otherwise looked new.
These are the only ones worth buying IMO.
Otherwise they're only mostly good for parts.
I know a chap who bought an A35 from a deceased estate.
The lady hadn't done anything with her husbands cars, who'd died probably 20yrs prior. Car was in a heated, dry garage attached to the house, under blankets and a duvet, above carpet and on axle stands. It only had 10k miles on it when he died and he'd owned is since the early 60s and was always garaged.
A few spots of surface corrosion but honestly it otherwise looked new.
These are the only ones worth buying IMO.
Otherwise they're only mostly good for parts.
Ambleton said:
Depends.
I know a chap who bought an A35 from a deceased estate.
The lady hadn't done anything with her husbands cars, who'd died probably 20yrs prior. Car was in a heated, dry garage attached to the house, under blankets and a duvet, above carpet and on axle stands. It only had 10k miles on it when he died and he'd owned is since the early 60s and was always garaged.
A few spots of surface corrosion but honestly it otherwise looked new.
These are the only ones worth buying IMO.
Otherwise they're only mostly good for parts.
To echo nismocat's point above, that's not really a barn find is it? It's been carefully stored in ideal conditions to preserve as much as possible of its current state.I know a chap who bought an A35 from a deceased estate.
The lady hadn't done anything with her husbands cars, who'd died probably 20yrs prior. Car was in a heated, dry garage attached to the house, under blankets and a duvet, above carpet and on axle stands. It only had 10k miles on it when he died and he'd owned is since the early 60s and was always garaged.
A few spots of surface corrosion but honestly it otherwise looked new.
These are the only ones worth buying IMO.
Otherwise they're only mostly good for parts.
Or maybe it's waiting for Jonny Smith to come along and stage a miraculous "discovery"
POORCARDEALER said:
Financially usually not.
Cost of work too high.
Could work if you’re doing it all yourself.
Correct, last time I spoke with friends of restoring a 'basket case' (as we used to call them) I was recommended a couple of body shops worth looking in to in Poland (from memory); allegedly the cost was far cheaper than getting a car done over here, and the quality of work was equal or better than a few 'restoration specialists' over here.Cost of work too high.
Could work if you’re doing it all yourself.
Although too old now, I always preferred restoring cars myself as I found it a far more comfortable ownership proposition knowing 100% of the car, inside out, top to bottom. Only option i'd prefer to that would be as Ambleton said to buy something original - a car is only original once, and it can save a great deal of time/money/effort in the long run. Even now when visiting bodyshops, I see classic cars in some horrendous states, and the sad thing is maybe 30% of the time the proprietor will tell me "Oh yeah, the bloke has had this donkeys' years, sent it to XX Specialist for a full restoration last year, brought it here for some touch up work and this is what we found lurking beneath..." - beware, there are some unscrupulous people about...
CKY said:
POORCARDEALER said:
Financially usually not.
Cost of work too high.
Could work if you’re doing it all yourself.
Correct, last time I spoke with friends of restoring a 'basket case' (as we used to call them) I was recommended a couple of body shops worth looking in to in Poland (from memory); allegedly the cost was far cheaper than getting a car done over here, and the quality of work was equal or better than a few 'restoration specialists' over here.Cost of work too high.
Could work if you’re doing it all yourself.
Although too old now, I always preferred restoring cars myself as I found it a far more comfortable ownership proposition knowing 100% of the car, inside out, top to bottom. Only option i'd prefer to that would be as Ambleton said to buy something original - a car is only original once, and it can save a great deal of time/money/effort in the long run. Even now when visiting bodyshops, I see classic cars in some horrendous states, and the sad thing is maybe 30% of the time the proprietor will tell me "Oh yeah, the bloke has had this donkeys' years, sent it to XX Specialist for a full restoration last year, brought it here for some touch up work and this is what we found lurking beneath..." - beware, there are some unscrupulous people about...
jeremyh1 said:
I don't belive most of it
There are more barn find vehicles now in the UK than there are barns
Maybe they were all in one big barn
Or there has been one in every barn without the barn owners knowing
Yes, it tickles me when these influencers create content about a "barn find" when in fact they are anything but!There are more barn find vehicles now in the UK than there are barns
Maybe they were all in one big barn
Or there has been one in every barn without the barn owners knowing
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