In a perfect world, every awesome American car model would be taken good care of from the day it leaves the production facility. It would be washed regularly, checked regularly to ensure all parts are in good condition and working properly, and stored in a safe, climate-controlled environment. Unfortunately, some car owners aren’t that good at taking care of their cars, even after spending a fortune to acquire them.
In fact, some owners forget about their cars entirely, leaving them rotting away in barns and garages for decades. Thankfully, it’s not all doom and gloom for these forgotten cars. Some of them are rediscovered many years after abandonment – usually in derelict condition – and in some cases, they’re restored to their former glory. This article explores ten of the coolest American classic cars discovered in barns.
10 1977 Pontiac Trans Am
Let’s kick off with one of the greatest Pontiac models of all time – the Firebird Trans AM. And not just any Firebird Trans Am – the 1977 model year. The 1977 Firebird is an icon of the auto industry, largely thanks to its role in Smokey and the Bandit.
This is exactly why eBay buyers are scrambling to buy a 1977 Firebird Trans Am that was found in an Idaho barn. This particular Firebird reportedly has 56,000 miles on the odometer and a lot of sun damage on the paint and decals. However, we still think it makes a good purchase as it has never been in an accident and is rust-free.
9 1968 Ford Mustang ‘Bullitt’
The Mustang has been featured in multiple movies over the years, and among the most iconic was in the movie ‘Bullitt‘, where the renowned Steve McQueen drove it around the streets of San Francisco while evading bad guys.
Ford built two 1968 Mustangs for the film, with one acting as the stunt double. The stunt double disappeared several years after filming was done and resurfaced in 2017 in a junkyard. The car was in horrible condition and didn’t have many key components, but a Ford specialist confirmed its authenticity
8 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona
Nascar has produced many incredible race cars over the years, but few were as impactful as the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona. This incredible car was based on the Dodge Charger R/T but had many upgrades that enabled it to become the first American car to crack 200 mph – including its famously huge rear wing.
Dodge Charger Daytonas are incredibly rare and expensive, which is why everyone was shocked when one was found in deplorable condition in Alabama.
7 Shelby Cobra 427
Hagerty founder and host of the TV show ‘The Barn Find Hunter’ has made a career out of going around the US to discover abandoned classics. One of his best finds has to be a rare Shelby Cobra 427.
The Shelby Cobra is a legend of the automotive industry, and in 427 guise, it was among the fastest sports cars of the ’60s. The Cobra 427 Cotter discovered was in bad shape, but it still fetched over $1 million at auction despite its unrestored state.
6 50 American Cars
One barn find is exciting, so imagine what YouTuber Matt Murray felt when he was granted access to two barns containing over 50 American classic cars. The barns belonged to avid collector Larry Schroll who passed away in 2018 and left all to his family.
Some of the best vehicles in the collection included a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback with almost every factory option, a 1954 Chevy Corvette convertible, and a 1955 Ford Thunderbird
5 DeLorean DMC-12
The DeLorean DMC-12 is often included on the list of classic sports cars to avoid due to its history, underpowered engine, and high price. However, its iconic wedge-shaped design and role in the Back to the Future movies have made it a highly sought-after collectible.
One DeLorean was discovered in a warehouse after sitting for years, and it’s pretty good. Although it shows signs of neglect like rough spots on the finish and a non-running engine, it makes a great project for an enthusiast.
4 Plymouth Superbird
The aforementioned 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona helped Chrysler go back to winning ways in Nascar. Chrysler wasn’t satisfied, so it built the Plymouth Superbird to repeat the Charger Daytona’s heroics in the 1970 season. This move worked out great, as the Superbird also won.
A Plymouth Superbird was found in West Wareham, Massachusetts, where it had spent over 10 winters in the woods. It was in horrible condition, but since Superbirds can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars when restored, it’s worth the effort.
3 Shelby Cobra Daytona
The legendary Ferrari 250 GTO was dominating the racing scene in the early ’60s. Ford wanted to change that, so it asked Carroll Shelby to build a two-door coupe loosely based on the Shelby Cobra Roadster – the result was the Shelby Cobra Daytona. Shelby built only six Cobra Daytonas, making it one of the rarest American cars
The very first Cobra Daytona – chassis #C SX2287 – has the most interesting story of all of them. This legendary car won several titles before retiring in 1965 and then vanishing several years later. The car remained hidden for almost three decades until 2001 when it was discovered in California. The car is now fully restored.
2 1960 Chevrolet Corvette
The C1 Corvette gets a lot of criticism for being too slow. However, it’s still an icon that laid the foundation for one of the longest-running sports car models. If you ignore the horrible performance, the C1 was actually a gorgeous car, especially the convertible version.
This is why gearheads were excited when a red 1960 Corvette was found in an indoor garage in Thomaston, Georgia. The Corvette belonged to a former GM dealer and was in decent shape, despite being stationary for several years
1 1969 Chevrolet Camaro
Muscle car models have come and gone, but one remains in production today – the Camaro. The Camaro is a gem of a muscle car, whether you get a new one or a classic. Classic ones are better to many gearheads, and among the best has to be the 1969 model. The 1969 Camaro had the perfect muscle car look and plenty of power.
One of these fantastic cars was found in deplorable condition, but we think it’s worth rescuing – especially now that rumors are going around that the Camaro may be discontinued soon
