Texas Barn Find Update

[Forker]

Since I reported my wife finding a Model A on one of the adjacent family farms it’s been a couple weeks and yesterday I was able to take a firsthand look for myself. The farm is family owned (wife’s side) but this particular farm has been abandoned for years and sits between other farms in the family that are still being actively farmed.

The license plate on the car is dated 1954 and the key is still in the ignition. The missing rumble seat was not in the barn (actually 'barn' turned out to be in an old chicken coop and not a full barn).

I'll let the photo's speak for themselves and say up front that it’s not a restoration job I'd consider tackling because I lack the skill and knowledge to do the work and believe the cost to have it done would be too high. It may not even be restorable and only a parts car, for all I know.

[TinCup]

Hey it's got a dash rail that has not been drilled for a replacement horn button. Great find.

[Keith True]

Looks like an early 30 Sport Coupe.In New England we drool over finding them that nice.Nice find.

[28RPU]

Are you kidding? That is certainly restorable. We have all seen far worse get restored. If you don't want it and can rescue it, get it and put it up for sale here. It needs to be running again. A sport coupe is one of my favorite body styles..

[Steve Plucker]

Cars in worse condition than this have been restored...depending on the market you wish to go towards (restoration or that dreded other route), someone is bound to take it if it is for sale.

Pluck

[Forker]

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I said...

...it’s not a restoration job I'd consider tackling because I lack the skill and knowledge to do the work

I am fully aware of the many magicians here that have done amazing restorations and agree that there have been gems raised from worst conditions I'm sure...I'm just not one of them, was my point.


I also agree that it belongs in the hands of someone capable of restoring her.
george

[Gumpy]

Ok--consider informing the location so a barner can restore it...thanks gump

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

George it is very restorable IMO too.

What I am seeing in pictures is mixed indicators on the car's condition. Usually one thinks that if the car still had the keys in the ignition, then it was driven into the shed/barn/coop under its own power. That is always a good thing however in 25 years (+/-) of driving, the mileage could be under 50k, --or over 50k. Even that is not always an acurate indicator because one does not know how it was driven or maintenanced. It appears unmolested as far as modifications are concerned (like original fan, pop-out switch, generator, wiper, horn, no sealbeam lights, hood corner pads still intact, dash rail, etc) however with the steering column anti-rattle missing, the missing dash lamp cover, the sagging door handle, and missing deck lid, missing gas/fuel cap, it makes one wonder what the true story is. I guess I could buy-into the premise where thievery was involved with some of that, however with the head gasket hanging on the wall makes me believe someone has been doing mechanic work on Model-As in that building. If that is the case, maybe someone wanted to start a 'fix-up' project and ran out of steam. Just one of those things where you won't know the mechanical condition until it is apart and inspected.

I would probably expect this to be a sound foundation for a nice restoration because of how many original parts won't need to be found. With any luck, these original parts can be refurbished instead of replaced with repro which should make the car even better. The only difficult thing that would make this car difficult in doing an authentic restoration is the top.

[ctlikon0712]

You also said!

It may not even be restorable and only a parts car, for all I know.

[Forker]

ctlikon0712
That's true I did, but what I was doing was being careful not to over state the condition for anyone who might be interested in it.

Gumpy
As to the location, the car is in Collin County Texas. McKinney Texas is about half way between Dallas and the Oklahoma state line (say 30 minutes) and the car is about 15 minutes east of McKinney.

Brent
Here's the story as best I can decipher it from family input. The car was used locally (for going to the store and church), but there were other vehicles used for working the farm and family use in general before and after the Model A was put up in the shed. The father passed away, but the mother and daughter remained on the farm and it is highly unlikely either of them ever touched it and it stayed in place where it is today for many decades. As a point of information, on another wall in the shed are a lot of gaskets hanging for other vehicles and/or tractors etc. and there are a number of old tools (mostly wrenches) in pails here and there in the shed. The shed appears to me used as a collect-all of trash and stuff no one used. The farm house was abandon and is worn down. However, next door on both sides and across the road are all family members and anyone on seen on the property would have their presence there questioned/challenged. That’s not to say that any of your speculations are incorrect, just setting the stage a little. You mentioned the top and if you look closely the top is held in place with bailing wire, which I thought almost poetic the old adage of how some things are only held together with bailing wire

george

[Tom Wesenberg]

It would be great if someone here bought it and posted pictures as they restored it. It would also make a good magazine article.

[Chris Haynes]

So the question is How Much is it?

[southfork]

There are dozens of guys who would take on that project in a minute. Barn finds seldom come better than that one. If it were mine, I'd get it running and driving, and then decide later if I wanted to actually "restore" it to like new condition. Patina is real big nowadays, ya know.

[Forker]

So the question is How Much is it?

If anyone is interested, please PM me what you think it's worth to you.
george

[montanafordman]

Oh boy, If I ever came into a massive sum of money or became wealthy, like winning the lottery (if I actually played) I think I would first invest serious time learning how to do sheetmetal and paint work and then buy a serious shop with the necessary tools, lifts, and a paintbooth and then tour the country scouring farms, barns, old neighborhoods for neglected and forgotten Model A's and restore them. Maybe even hire a whole team so we could save dozens of cars like this from a poorly done hot rod, recycled steel, or rusted away fate. Every car would probably be restored at loss financially but it would mainly be for the philanthropy of it all. Maybe I could get a tax exempt non profit status for saving pre war cars, mostly Model A's. It would make a great TV show too! I guess a guy can dream...

I certainly envy guys like Wayne Carini of "Chasing Classic Cars" fame and Brent Terry, flop, Tinbasher, and others on this forum for the work they get to do and the talent they have. I am struck by the art of design put in prewar cars, and the art in bringing them back to life both mechanically and visually. I certainly respect all who save history like this. Its a labor of love and I get that with my coupe. All in all though I have much to be thankful for so I can't complain. While I don't have the talent and resources I'd like to do things in the timeframe or quality I'd like, it comes in time and thats ok too. I have a lot of years ahead of me to save, learn, and improve on my car, which has family history and thats special to me. I also get to fly airplanes for a living, which isn't nearly as easy or lucrative a career as the public at large think it is - but I get a smile on my face many days when I"m working and a guy has to be grateful for that.

[RichardW]

What ever happened to this car?

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by RichardW

What ever happened to this car?

That is cool you we're thinking this because just yesterday, out of the blue I was thinking the same thing. "SpOoKeY".

[kenparker]

Hi George. Just pick a day and time and I will be glad to go to see this "barn find" with you. Your neighbor, Ken.

[Forker]

My apologies to all those who recently PM'd me and that I haven't gotten back to. I've been off Ford Barn for a while and a friend contacted me about the barn find and asked why I hadn't responded to his PM...when I went on line to read his PM, I realized a number of you had also pinged me and I hadn't realized it or I would have responded.

I'll use this format to respond to all who inquired recently. The A is still in the chicken coop right where she was when we found her and took the photos that I posted. Hasn't been moved an inch or messed with at all by anyone, myself included. Problem is I can't get a straight answer out of the 'collective' family and no one knows who should make the call...none of them are interested and feel it has little to no value, but isn't sure who should say sell it or not. I'm sure that sounds crazy and in many ways it is, but that's kind of where it was when I last raised questions about it. I will make a more concerted effort to get an answer and post here when I do.

George