4x4 and SUV Info Guide ›› Iconic Barn-Finds
For some, the irresistible appeal of getting to the bottom of complex histories around hidden or forgotten classics is what makes the unearthing process so exciting.
Yet, some of the most iconic vehicles found in barns or warehouses are so valuable it's hard to believe that they were ever neglected or abandoned in the first place.
Before we explain why the top three barn finds are so iconic, let's set the tone with an exact definition of a barn-find.
Barn finds can either be an aircraft, one of the true classic or vintage cars, or a motorcycle that's been "rediscovered" after many years in storage.
In the majority of discoveries, they will have been found in a worn out condition after being left in a barn, carport, garage, shed, warehouse, or an outbuilding.
This kind of car terminology applies most to vehicles that are considered as being rare and valuable. So, despite its poor condition, finding dilapidated rusty old bangers in a barn is always of great interest to vehicle collectors and automobile enthusiasts.
Here are the key details about the three greatest barn finds of all time with a realistic estimate about the current valuation.
Can you imagine discovering a treasure trove of more than sixty (60) vintage cars left inside a French château - left uncared for and undriven for several decades?
Roger Baillon was a transport tycoon who dreamed of creating a car museum. But, financial difficulties led to the cars being "forgotten".
The spyder was one of only thirty seven (37) made. A full restoration took place and when the hammer eventually dropped at a lively car auction, the realised price was more than $17,000,000.
Furthermore, the overall impact of the collection stunned people involved in the automotive world due to the size, historical significance, and total value of the find.
Pro Tip: Our motoring research department created an inventory of notable or significant cars from years gone by that have since faded from the spotlight. Click through and see how many you can remember.
Discovered in 2009 inside a garage in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, in the north of England, the classic was in a state of ruin and untouched for more than fifty (50) years.
In fact, a British doctor owned one of seventeen Bugatti Type 57S Atalante cars ever built. It had been parked up in the 1960s and left to rot.
According to records kept at Bonhams auction house in London, once restored to its former glory it fetched almost £8,000,000.
Why?
Built by the French manufacturer of high-performance automobiles (Automobiles Ettore Bugatti) the Bugatti Type 57S Atalante has historic significance. It is considered as being one of the most beautiful and advanced pre-war cars ever built.
It had been stored inside a barn in the Black Forest, southwest Germany for more than forty (4) years. The iconic discovery was a Lamborghini Miura - owned by Hans-Peter Weber (an amateur racing driver).
This early example features the original parts and colour scheme. Rumour has it that the owner had only driven it for a few years before he passed away.
Following heavy restoration and preservation work, the Lamborghini Miura P400 eventually fetched 1.24 million at RM Sotheby's in November 2019.
Iconic barn finds such as these stand out due to the rarity and desirability of the vehicles involved. Not to mention the dramatic circumstances of the actual discovery.
Editor's Bio: We're self-confessed car fanatics who enjoy writing top car blogs about the automotive industry - especially here in the United Kingdom.