Race Car Barn Finds

[Steve Holmes]

One of my favourite subjects; the old car or old race car discovered in someones barn/garage/paddock/basement, thought lost forever. How about sharing some of your own experiences of finding old race cars, or sharing stories of other peoples discoveries.

I'll kick off woth one of my favourites, although not my own discovery. This was the one and only Alan Mann built Open Sports Ford which appeared at the penultimate round of the 1969 Can-Am, then was raced just one more time, in the final race, then seems to have vanished forever.

I've long been fascinated by this car, but have always struggled to find information about it. I put together a brief article on the car here: http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?53-The-Open-Sports-Ford

Was advertised for sale on Ebay a few years ago after decades in storage.

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[RogerH]

A couple of cars that I tracked down were "kind of" barn finds.

The 1960 Lola Mk2 had been sitting in the loft of a private museum in the Black Forest in Germany for over 40 years. It was the first production Lola single seater ever built (chassis #1) with a Monza, Monaco, Nurburgring etc history and was assumed lost. Here are some photos as found :

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/4740/pict0931a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/594/pict0931a.jpg/)

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/3103/dsc0791do.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/841/dsc0791do.jpg/)

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/3963/copy3ofdsc0893.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/847/copy3ofdsc0893.jpg/)

The 1947 A40 Special was tracked down to the back of a warehouse in Wellington where it had been hiding for over 20 years :

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/2001/copy2ofimgp2268.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/651/copy2ofimgp2268.jpg/)

[Steve Holmes]

Wow! Incredible stories Roger. I can't believe how original each car is. Thats amazing. The Lola apperas to have its original seat fabric. How did you come to track each car down?

Whats the red sports car next to the A40 Special?

[AMCO72]

Yes, and the blue car looks like a Morgan, maybe even a 4 seater Morgan. Must have been some warehouse!!!!

[RogerH]

The Lola was in virtually "time capsule" condition with most bits as it was in the early 1960s - original body, chassis, engine, gearbox, wheels etc - even the seat upholstery. Finding it was a bit of searching and bit of luck. The owner of the museum had died and his son was clearing out. This car was in the loft and even had the original chassis plate with #1 on it. I heard of it through a contact in Europe and was sent some photos. I don't think they really knew what it was but I was pretty sure it was the "lost" first Lola made so made an offer which was accepted - this all happened in about 24 hours through emails. Once they found out what the car actually was the deal got a bit "difficult" but in an "interesting" arrangement through France, Switzerland and Germany it was soon in a container on its way here.

The A40 was was just detective work over a few years. You are right it was a Morgan 4 seater and the red car is very interesting and very rare - might take a few guesses before I give the show away ...........

[Howard Wood]

Given that the Lola was Eric Broadley's first production race car and that Broadley and Lola went on to build some wonderful cars, we can forgive the asymetric rear suspension geometry!

The fixed length driveshafts effectively form the top suspension link, a la Lotus 20 but because the diff is offset the driveshafts are different lengths.

Roger, have you driven one of these and do they drive differently going left and right?

Red car a Marcos?

[Trevor Sheffield]

Given that the Lola was Eric Broadley's first production race car and that Broadley and Lola went on to build some wonderful cars, we can forgive the asymetric rear suspension geometry!

The fixed length driveshafts effectively form the top suspension link, a la Lotus 20 but because the diff is offset the driveshafts are different lengths.



Not a problem compared with Chapman's last efforts with his Lotus Seven rear suspension as finally built in NZ. LOL

[bry3500]

1974 Lola T332 barn find that was raced during 1975 by Brian Redman. Recently went up on Ebay

[RogerH]

Howard - I race the Lola often and the handling is no different between right or left corners. The offset rear suspension is to cope with the offset engine so the driver sits alongside the gearbox not sitting over it. The set up Broadley used was quite smart with the half shafts being of almost equal length despite the offset - the RH uv sits inside the magnesium rear upright assembly while the LH one sits outside of the assembly.

Here is an overhead view of the car without the body showing the offset set up:

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/8234/brj1chassis2.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/27/brj1chassis2.jpg/)

No the red car isn't a Marcos. A clue - its extremely rare with I think only eight or nine made - it was very slippery.

[Steve Holmes]

That bloody red car is driving me nuts! I know what it is.......... but I don't, if that makes sense?

[Steve Holmes]

1974 Lola T332 barn find that was raced during 1975 by Brian Redman. Recently went up on Ebay

Got a link Bry or has the auction already ended?

[thunder427]

Got a link Bry or has the auction already ended?

Steve, that 5000 may have past me only a couple of days ago,on the back of a traytruck, on the Tullamarine Freeway here in Melbourne Town, had a cover over it but it had those wheels on it , front multi spoke style and single dish rears, I'll keep the ear to the wall..............regards thunder427

[Steve Holmes]

Myles, wasn't there an old Kevin Bartlett F5000 that surfaced recently too? Was it his Mildren? Can't remember where I read it.

[Steve Holmes]

1974 Lola T332 barn find that was raced during 1975 by Brian Redman. Recently went up on Ebay


Bry, how much did that Lola sell for in the end?

[RogerH]

That bloody red car is driving me nuts! I know what it is.......... but I don't, if that makes sense?

Another photo of the "bloody red car" .............. which will give the game away.

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/7524/copyofimgp2285.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/52/copyofimgp2285.jpg/)

[Steve Holmes]

OK, you made that easy Roger! Thanks! That really had me rattled. How did a Costin Amigo end up in NZ?

[RogerH]

From what I understand Steve, it was bought into NZ in the late 1980s. There were 7 Amigos built by Frank Costin when production stopped in 1972 but at that time two unfinished cars remained. This was one of the two unfinished cars and it was completed by Frank's son Hick Costin in 1979. When I saw it when I bought the A40 Special it had been laid up for about 15 years and I think the only issue was that it had a flat rear tyre.

[Howard Wood]

[QUOTE=RogerH;6223]Howard - I race the Lola often and the handling is no different between right or left corners. The offset rear suspension is to cope with the offset engine so the driver sits alongside the gearbox not sitting over it. The set up Broadley used was quite smart with the half shafts being of almost equal length despite the offset - the RH uv sits inside the magnesium rear upright assembly while the LH one sits outside of the assembly.

Here is an overhead view of the car without the body showing the offset set up:

Clever, the "inside out" UJ set up was not visible on the rear shot. And at least I got the designer right on the red car!

[bry3500]

Bry, how much did that Lola sell for in the end?
Reserve wasn't met at $60.000 Steve..here is the ebay link with full history and more pics
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260779371552+&viewitem=

[thunder427]

One of my favourite subjects; the old car or old race car discovered in someones barn/garage/paddock/basement, thought lost forever. How about sharing some of your own experiences of finding old race cars, or sharing stories of other peoples discoveries.

I'll kick off woth one of my favourites, although not my own discovery. This was the one and only Alan Mann built Open Sports Ford which appeared at the penultimate round of the 1969 Can-Am, then was raced just one more time, in the final race, then seems to have vanished forever.

I've long been fascinated by this car, but have always struggled to find information about it. I put together a brief article on the car here: http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?53-The-Open-Sports-Ford

Was advertised for sale on Ebay a few years ago after decades in storage.

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Steve,these photos where on another thread/forum,I asked the person concerned,that having such good luck with his 'discovery' what happened to the 'Pantera' in the background, he gave a 7 outa 10 for spotting that engine cover, but explained that it was not there 'as such'.....it was FORD powered I guess.........regards thunder427

[Steve Holmes]

Is that what that engine cover is? Good spotting! Yes I found out about the Open Sports Ford over at the Autosport/Atlas forum, and got the owners (of the photos) permission to use his photos so I could put together a short article on the car. He didn't actually end up buying it. The seller pulled out of the deal and went for a higher offer.

[Steve Holmes]

Reserve wasn't met at $60.000 Steve..here is the ebay link with full history and more pics
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260779371552+&viewitem=

Thanks Bry. That is interesting for sure. The seller is careful to say the log book indicates Redman raced it. Certainly a very original car.

[rogered]

Reserve wasn't met at $60.000 Steve..here is the ebay link with full history and more pics
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260779371552+&viewitem=

Yeah that came up a couple of months ago
I was flat out buying lotto tickets but my numbers never came up:(
Still suprised at what turns up in peoples back sheds

[Shano]

Any car covered in an inch of chook shit is going to bring a world of heartache to anyone who has plans of restoration.

[GeebeeNZ]

They weren't exactly barn finds as a lot of people knew they were there but many cars were bought from the Ron Roycroft collection in barn find condition by members of the Waitemata Branch of the VCC and they are now used in VCC and HRSCC events. The Mallock I bought off Ron is used to great effect by Brian Service in HRSCC events and the Formula Vee that sat alonside it was recently sold again on trademe. Jimmy Baird did great things with the Ardun Spl bodied Chev and it unfortunately went overseas.Peter Benbrook is well into restoration of the RJR Jag and Steve Sharp has had many FTD's in the Elva Ford Buckler 90. Kelvin Hill competes in the three wheel Morgan and Paul Zaloum competed in a number of events in the Austin Seven Special. Ryan Macdonald had the very early Chev Speedster out at Hampton Downs at Easter and the list goes on. It is great to see these cars that were stored for so many years now being used.

[Steve Holmes]

They weren't exactly barn finds as a lot of people knew they were there but many cars were bought from the Ron Roycroft collection in barn find condition by members of the Waitemata Branch of the VCC and they are now used in VCC and HRSCC events. The Mallock I bought off Ron is used to great effect by Brian Service in HRSCC events and the Formula Vee that sat alonside it was recently sold again on trademe. Jimmy Baird did great things with the Ardun Spl bodied Chev and it unfortunately went overseas.Peter Benbrook is well into restoration of the RJR Jag and Steve Sharp has had many FTD's in the Elva Ford Buckler 90. Kelvin Hill competes in the three wheel Morgan and Paul Zaloum competed in a number of events in the Austin Seven Special. Ryan Macdonald had the very early Chev Speedster out at Hampton Downs at Easter and the list goes on. It is great to see these cars that were stored for so many years now being used.

Did you manage to snap any photos of the collection before it was dispersed? I would have loved to have seen how the cars were stored. A friend of mine has a (road car) Corvette Roycroft owned also. Must have been quite some collection.

[GeebeeNZ]

Steve, I think I have a video of the collection. I will try and dig it out

[Steve Holmes]

That would be great! Thanks.

[faminz]

have you seen that gasoline Australian video of a 'barn' simply chocker of aussie muscle cars? if not I may be able to upload a snippet.

[Steve Holmes]

I think there is a link on here somewhere about that collection Brett? I'll try and find it.

[Leo D]

Myles, wasn't there an old Kevin Bartlett F5000 that surfaced recently too? Was it his Mildren? Can't remember where I read it.

Steve, you might be thinking of the Kevin Bartlett McLaren 10B which is now with Alan Hamilton along with the previous 10B that Alan owned. Both cars originally owned by Niel Allan.

[Steve Holmes]

Yeah I think you are right. It was yellow from memory? Is that the one?

[pallmall]

I thought it was the Mildren that recently surfaced, or is being restored. Can't recall where I saw it.

[Leo D]

Yeah I think you are right. It was yellow from memory? Is that the one?

That's the one Steve..... The Alan Hamilton car was red.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for that.

[Flightlessbird]

This car is at present being restored at the NSW south coast town of Batemans Bay
and by accounts all is progressing well, if a little slowly

[ged]

have heard of x rahal car in a garage hanging from roof will see what develops will intro owner to site

[Steve Holmes]

This car is at present being restored at the NSW south coast town of Batemans Bay
and by accounts all is progressing well, if a little slowly

Thats great news! Thanks for the update. Good to know the car still exists.

[Steve Holmes]

have heard of x rahal car in a garage hanging from roof will see what develops will intro owner to site

Thanks Ged. Got more info on this? Is it an Indycar or something else? He did race a center seat Can-Am car in the late 70s or early 80s from memory.

[ged]

steve i believe it is a 29 39 chevron not to good on id open wheelers but will find out am looking at p76 with alfa g\b for our mk2 escort from same guy

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Ged.

[briteyes]

OK, you made that easy Roger! Thanks! That really had me rattled. How did a Costin Amigo end up in NZ?

Is this the Wellington based Costin that reced several times in the then Whittakers classics at Manfield?

[RogerH]

Is this the Wellington based Costin that reced several times in the then Whittakers classics at Manfield?


I think so.

[ERC]

Great! That confirms what I had been told, that there was a Costin Amigo in NZ.

[briteyes]

From memory it has a 2.3 SOHC Vauxhall motor with twin side drafts and not a lot else done to it. The meeting I saw it at the owner was going well and was only just second to a TVR Tuscan. Not bad for an all wooden chassis which I am lead to believe is rated to 350hp. I believe still is rather than was.

[RogerH]

Great! That confirms what I had been told, that there was a Costin Amigo in NZ.

Yes there is Ray, I saw it when I got the A40 Special - actually had a sit in it - see photos in post #2 and #15 of this thread. I have more photos somewhere.

[fullnoise68]

Speaking of Vauxhalls and barn finds, maybe Craig Stacey has some photos when he first got Jack Nazers Victor. They would be good to see.

[ERC]

From my mix of pics thread. Pre 1983 but in an historic grid at Donington.

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