It wasn’t that long ago we wrote an article with 5 of the best barn finds we had seen in the past couple years. Since then, we’ve unearthed many more treasures that got our blood pumping. Part of the thrill we get from looking for a barn find is the thought that the discovery could yield a hefty financial increase, and while that’s not always guaranteed, it’s part of what keeps us looking at old barns and abandoned buildings with hopeful eyes. So today’s edition features some serious heavy hitters.
If you haven’t seen our previous article, make sure you start there. We explain what a barn find is and we tell you how to find the best barn finds. Plus the cars in that article are more… shall we say, attainable, versus today’s 5 picks which might as well be needles in a haystack.
Dodge Charger Daytona
How would you like to be the man that discovered this 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona in an Alabama barn? It would be like finding buried treasure in your backyard. This muscle car still featured the original pieces and a numbers-matched driveline.
In the condition it was found, it could easily earn between $150,000 and $180,000 at auction, but the owner settled for $90,000. That’s still quite the find, especially since nothing was fixed or repaired before the sale.
If you wanted to restore something like this, it might cost up to $100,000 but experts projected that would yield a $325,000 selling price at auction, so it would be well worth it.
It’s funny to think about how these were back in the day – there was a time when Daytonas and Superbirds were used cars that couldn’t hardly be given away at the local car dealerships.
Movie Car: Ford Mustang Bullitt
No one can deny that Bullitt is one of the best movies ever to exist. You just won’t find chase scenes like that anymore. Not only that, but it made the Mustang famous. During filming, there were two cars used: the hero car and the stunt car.
The stunt car had been lost for many years. That was until the rusting Mustang revealed itself in a Mexican junkyard.
After years of sitting in the salt air and sun, the Ford didn’t look so good. It also didn’t have a transmission or engine anymore. The discoverer, Ralph Garcia, originally wanted to make it over like the Eleanor Mustang from Gone in 60 Seconds, but something stopped him in his tracks.
He spotted the reinforced strut towers and various holes throughout the body that made him question the possible use of lights for filming. That’s when he sent the chassis number to renowned Ford specialist Kevin Marti who confirmed it was indeed the lost Bullitt stunt car.
The new owners have had offers to buy the car as-is, but they are set on restoring it for themselves. It now resides in California.
1967 Porsche 911S
Ask any Porsche enthusiast to name one of the most coveted collector’s cars, and many will tell you about this particular 911 derivative, the 911s. It featured special gauges, magnesium-alloy wheels and unique interior appointments. So imagine the surprise of the guys at LBI Limited when they heard about a wooden barn near Philadelphia that housed one of these beauties.
The car was originally bought in 1972 and used until it met an unfortunate end in a rear-end collision with a Pontiac. That’s when the owner put it into storage. Thankfully, it was protected from the elements all these years, but it was never driven again.
The Porsche came complete with many of the original components and the rare 15x4.5” Fuchs wheels. They only needed to gently restore this 911 to bring it back to life. We don’t know what they sold it for when it was finished, but the same shop did have a 1968 Porsche 911S up for sale with a price tag of $120,000, and it’s safe to say the ‘67 went for even more.
1930 Duesenberg AAA Dreyer Sprint Car
This unique car was placed for sale through Hemmings (the post has since been removed). Everything in this sprint car is original except it doesn’t have the Rochester Duesenberg Walking Beam engine. That one blew up while racing in the 1940s and was later replaced with a 1941 Ford Flathead six, but hey, it’s still a Doosie.
At this time, it’s the only known WB engine race car to exist and one of only a handful of Duesenberg cars that have survived in any condition. We think that makes it well worth the asking price of $89,000.
1970 Honda QA50
Any fan of dirt bikes is going to get excited about finding a QA50 as a barn find (sadly, the eBay listing for this one is gone). It was the perfect beginner’s bike with a two-speed automatic transmission and 49cc single-cylinder engine. From 1970 through 1974, there were several models produced, all with a top speed of just 30 mph.
Okay, okay, so we might have pulled a fast one on you claiming that all of these barn finds were going to be worth a big pile of cash. But anyone who grew up on one of these little bikes knows their weight in memories is far more valuable than their weight in gold.
With a little work, one of these could be a real beauty and possibly even make a small profit. On that auction, the seller posted a $3.50 shipping fee. It doesn’t appear they meant to do that since they also claim it will fit in a first-class sized package. Very funny.
4 Steps to Title a Barn Find Car
Even though we’ve discussed this topic in greater depth previously, we figured now was a great time for a quick review. If you come across a barn find and you want to make it yours, here are the steps you must take.
1. Contact the Owner
You can’t do anything else until you first attempt to receive the title from the rightful owner. We would hope you did this already, instead of just waltzing in and taking someone’s car from their barn.
2. Purchase a Bond
Before you can go any further, the DMV will first run the VIN to ensure you aren’t attempting to title a stolen vehicle. Then, it needs to be appraised for the value. From there, you’ll be able to purchase a bond on the car. The amount required will depend on your state, so follow their directions. You could also go a few other directions like obtaining a declaratory judgement in court.
3. Apply for a New Title
You will need to fill out the paperwork in your state. The requirements are different for each state, so make sure you are following the appropriate steps. Of course, if you want to skip the line and all the paperwork, Dirt Legal can help.
4. Drive Your New Barn Find
Once everything checks out and is finalized, you can drive your new barn find proudly on the road!
Skip the Hassle, Skip the Line: Get a New Title Easily
We are here to help. The staff at Dirt Legal understands how much fun it is to search for barn finds, and how tedious titling a car can be. That’s why we want to help you turn your dreams into reality.
We’ve worked with countless other barn find owners to help them title their newfound treasures. Just contact us with the VIN from the chassis and we will start the process by ensuring your vehicle isn’t stolen. From there, we will handle it all. Just sit back and enjoy the fruit of your find.
We offer VIN Checks and title replacement for cars, motorcycles, and almost anything with wheels. Check out our services now or bookmark them for later.
We are not attorneys. This article is not legal advice. Cover image source
These barn finds might not have the sticker shock of a Ferrari, but they are all about as rare – and we would be just as thrilled to discover them.