4for$1Ok: An MGA exploded all over a yard...and no one cared.

Fortunately no one was hurt when a highly pressurized four-car hoard of MGA parts and cars could no longer be contained by the seller, who was eventually forced to list them for sale. These four MGAs are offered in a package sale for $10,000 or offer.

We just can't figure out MGAs. Was there ever a more universally admired shape set forth by BMC upon our shores? Why then have prices continued to languish on these classy roadsters, imperiling ambitious projects such as the one above to the scrapyard?

Furthermore, there can hardly be a more straightforward subject for an aspiring restorer to build: simple body-over-frame construction and a stout inline 4 motor, with an active aftermarket parts supply. Even when they do break ( which is alarmingly often), it is usually something fundamental and simple. These are the perfect candidates to teach some high school shop class the basics of locomotion. 

We love rust. Can you believe there are actually car crafters out there that have to SIMULATE it to get that oh-so-fashionable look? Not us here in the Midwest. We have the real thing, 100% organic.

  

Somebody please save these puppies. They would fill up an overseas shipping container quite nicely!

Email the Barnfinder! for more details.

0% Appreciation: 1969 Austin Healey Sprite

Some cars are just immune to the recent run up in collector car prices, despite their innumerable charms.  Post-Bugeye Austin Healey Sprites -as a species- seem especially resistant to appreciation, despite their classic lineage.

There is a lot to love about these classic cars. And the value of this one has seemingly not wavered in 20 years or so. It is still a $3000 European sports roadster. Just like it was in 1994.

Nothing here will bite you too hard, and the seller seems upfront about the limit of his desire/capability to get this car back on the road.

The seller claims that the car will not disengage the clutch despite a rebuilt master and slave cylinder.
He cites the clutch pressure plate springs. We think it may not be the springs, but the clutch face rusted to the flywheel from extended sitting. It might pop loose with bump starting the car. But that is speculation. Either way, here is a chance to give that son/neighbor kid/nephew a great basic education in straightforward auto mechanics.

The seller claims no rust, but we know that might not be descriptive of PREVIOUS rust repair (aka Bondo). But really, it's hard to complain about a complete car with nothing but upside potential ahead of it. We hope it finds a good home.

Fully Stude

Yeah, we're back....Almost a year to the day. And things have changed in the collector car world. A new aesthetic has emerged..call it The Barnfinder Look. Maybe it's a rejection of the stratospheric prices of spotless and sanitized collector cars...the longing to return to something that wears its age with honesty...infused with the popular "Rat Rod" look that has become the mainstay of the hot rod crowd. Here is just such an offering:

 1946 Studebaker Truck $600 or Offer

The value of this truck is purely in the cab. No need to chop here; its already got a great, lean roofline.Don't worry about the bed (though it does look like an interesting early tilt bed) and even the chassis might not make the cut, depending on the next owners vision.

 Bring a snow shovel. The best thing this truck has is rust and livery. If that door wasn't painted, this truck may not make the cut. But as it sits, it is an awesome looking start to a Rat Rod. With talented painters now developing techniques to fake rust, faded paint and scuffs and bumps, the movement is on to "de-restore" a generation of shiny cars to look like they have seen a country mile or two.

Priced at less than its scrap metal value, this truck will require some elbow grease to extract, but you just don't find stuff like this laying around anymore. Save this old girl and scrap what you don't use...it will probably end up owing you nothing.

Blown Bugeye: 1959 Austin Sprite

Solid Bugeye projects are very tempting. The cars are as cute and basic as can be, but the final results can be underwhelming in the performance department. That deficit has seemingly been mitigated with the addition of a period supercharger for this Lil' Bug.

1959 Austin Bugeye Sprite Project $6000

The Judson Supercharger is such a great vintage speed-shop part for these cars...and much more preferable to a modern powerplant swap.

The owner claims over $12500 in receipts so far in the restoration of this Austin, including $1500 for the rebuilt vintage supercharger. This one won't last. And in this state, the buyer has the advantage- as it seems much of your initial effort will be moving the collection from its current situation. Contact The Barnfinder if interested!

Oh What Fun!: 1960 Morris Minor Drag Car

Remember what we said a few posts ago about finding ads that are misspelled? Fans of this British marque would have been hard pressed to find this car unless they searched "Miner" (i.e. def: one who extracts elements from the ground)- and probably horrified when they did find it.

1960 Morris Minor Drag Car $6000

This car appeals to a unique sub culture in America: the Street Racer. Or more specifically, the Vintage Street Race, or Hot Rod scene. Nowadays, its more about the aesthetic than actual speed...but neither could be denied with this set up.

If this were ours, we'd keep that wonderfully odd shade of green (British Drag Racing Green, I suppose?) and add period looking, hand painted livery- Speed Shop sponsorship, perhaps a catchy name for the car. Kitsch it up a bit.

The empty engine cradle begs for an interesting selection. Maserati 4 cam? Small block Chevy with Hillborn Injection? Small block Ford Stroker? It's fun to think about. The beefed up rear end and chassis leave the options wide open.

We'd finish the interior with a diamond quilt fabric and lightweight racing buckets. The finished product would be like a thinking-man's version of a '38 Willys Drag car. Lots of room to negotiate for an old roller that needs finishing. Contact The Barnfinder if you are interested!

 हम एक हीरे की रजाई कपड़े और हल्के रेसिंग बाल्टी के साथ आंतरिक खत्म होगी. तैयार उत्पाद के एक '38 विलीज खींचें कार की एक सोच आदमी के संस्करण की तरह होगा. परिष्करण की जरूरत है कि एक पुराने रोलर के लिए बातचीत करने के लिए कमरे के बहुत सारे. आप रुचि रखते हैं Barnfinder संपर्क करें!

Too Good To Pass: 1960 Jaguar

Lest you think we have gone whole hog on Coventry cars, we post this latest offering which just seems too good to pass up..

 

 1960 Jaguar Mk. II  $6500

Located in Central Ohio, this Olde English white lovely comes with a rather nice looking red interior and the standard steel disc wheels. This is one of the best colors for these cars. The car needs straightforward engine work but cosmetically we would drive as-is.

Is there a lovelier grille and front end design in all of the automotive world? With the venerable 3.8 straight six these cars are competent performers and make a wonderful exhaust note. Strangely the market has yet to wake up to these sporting saloons. Perhaps with E-types and XK120s hovering around the $100k range, these too will be dragged upwards and have their day in the sun. Email The Barnfinder for more details!

मोटर वाहन दुनिया के सभी में एक प्यारी जंगला और सामने अंत डिजाइन है? आदरणीय 3.8 सीधे छह के साथ इन कारों सक्षम प्रदर्शन कर रहे हैं और एक अद्भुत निकास नोट करें. हैरत की बात बाजार इन खेल सैलून को जागृत करने के लिए अभी तक है. ई प्रकार और $ 100k सीमा के आसपास मँडरा XK120s साथ शायद, ये भी ऊपर की तरफ खींच लिया और सूरज में अपने दिन की जाएगी.

Jaguar? No...JEGUAR!

One of the Barnfinders! best secrets is to search incorrect spellings of popular classic cars. Such a search produced this latest find...a 1964 Jeguar Mk II.Barnfindersの一つです！最高の秘密は、人気のクラシックカーの間違ったスペルを検索することです。このような検索では、この最新のを見つける生産...1964 Jeguar Mk IIのを

1964 Jaguar MkII $2600

This car has been robbed of it's 3.8 DOHC motor and transmission and is sold as a roller. It would be tempting to replace it with something different...a modern powerplant or American V8 for a patinated rat-rod.
この車はそれの3.8 DOHCモーターとトランスミッションを奪われているとローラーとして販売されています。それは何かラットロッド緑青のための現代的なプラントやアメリカンV8とそれを置き換えるために魅力的なことだろう。

 

 The interior and wood trim looks decent, and the RHD might be worth repatriating to Britain, Japan or Australia. The rear window seems to be the only major piece missing; used pieces are widely available.The driveshaft is in place and the car has a clean title. Ready to roll!

 インテリアと木製のトリムはまともに見える、とRHDはイギリス、日本、オーストラリアに送還する価値があるかもしれません。ドライブシャフトは、所定の位置にあり、車はきれいなタイトルを持っています。ロールバックする準備ができて

 

 

 This car won't last long at this price...contact the Barnfinder! for more information.