Barn Find: 1970 Olds 442 Convertible, 1941 Buick

We all dream of finding an antique or classic automobile stashed away inwards an one-time barn. I constitute this 1941 Buick sitting inwards a garage inwards a small-scale town inwards rural Alabama. Does this qualify equally a barn find?

What is a Barn Find? I think nosotros all dream of finding that ultra rare musculus automobile that has been safely tucked away within an one-time barn, where it sat condom for years from the elements as well as from prying eyes. We’ve all heard of the one-time Corvette constitute after years of storage inwards a dry, dusty barn inwards rural America. It is such a pop urban legend that the term “Barn Find” was coined to depict such a car. But does a automobile genuinely involve to hold upwardly stored inwards a barn to hold upwardly classified equally a so-called “Barn Find”? And how long should it receive got sat earlier beingness discovered inwards social club to hold upwardly considered it a truthful barn find? Obviously, it’s non a existent 1 if it was only latterly placed within that one-time barn. To many, the ultimate regain must hold upwardly constitute inwards a dusty one-time forest barn amongst a dirt floor. To others, whatever shape of roofing such equally a shed, carport, or fifty-fifty one-time garage meets the definition. The 1 mutual denominator appears to hold upwardly time. H5N1 automobile must receive got been stored for a long catamenia of fourth dimension as well as hold upwardly relatively unmolested. Some enthusiasts treasure the years of dust attached to their barn find, taking exceptional attention non to disturb the dirt as well as grime equally they charge it upwardly for the trip home.
 
  I searched the spider web looking for the Definition of a barn notice as well as I constitute rattling little, other than the fact that non all barn finds were genuinely constitute within barns. Some were constitute within backyard garages, sheds, under carports, as well as fifty-fifty within one-time warehouses. The most coveted barn finds were constitute notwithstanding sporting their original wares, piece some were constitute amongst small-scale fry upgrades. There is fifty-fifty a serial of books telephone telephone “Lost Hot Rods”, where older hot rods of historical significance were sought out as well as eventually constitute inwards much the same agency equally a traditional barn find. So acre the Definition of a barn notice varies from individual to person. No affair what Definition nosotros use, I believe many of those classic cars that were genuinely stored within backyard garages, sheds as well as dilapidated one-time barns, receive got already been discovered, or worse, those structures which provided protection for so many years receive got begun to autumn downward on top of them, inwards fact, facilitating their demise. 

  There are no to a greater extent than existent barn finds! Or are there? It depends upon your ain personal Definition of what a existent barn notice is. As I drive the dorsum roads of rural Alabama, I am notwithstanding finding one-time cars stored nether carports as well as inwards one-time garages, barely visible from the street. Cars similar the 1941 Buick inwards the top photograph are waiting for their fourth dimension to hold upwardly discovered as well as brought dorsum out into the lite of day. 

At commencement glance the Oldsmobile 442 didn’t genuinely human face neglected. But upon closer inspection, it became rattling apparent that she had been sitting for quite some fourth dimension earlier the previous possessor finally decided it was fourth dimension to permit her acquire to a novel home. The exclusively thing missing was xx years of dirt.

My ain personal Barn Find
   In Nov of 2012, I got a Pb on an original 1970 Oldsmobile 442 convertible. I wasn’t genuinely thinking barn notice equally I made the curt drive to Hayden, Alabama. Nor was I thinking I had constitute an ultra rare car. To me it was only a Cutlass convertible amongst an aftermarket 442 hood. But equally I drove through the rural countryside, taking inwards the scenery equally I turned from 1 county route to another, I began to realize that this may hold upwardly equally closed to a barn notice equally I mightiness ever get, fifty-fifty if it is just some other Cutlass. I hadn’t seen a subdivision inwards over xl minutes as well as everywhere I looked, I saw either barns or sheds.  This was Alabama farm country, a rolling mix of pasture terra firma broken upwardly yesteryear large expanses of woodlands. As I left home, this was notwithstanding only some other classic automobile advertised yesteryear an possessor who had either grown bored of it, was inwards involve of money, or both. But equally I got closer to my destination, I began to think of something more. I began to think of what genuinely constitutes a barn find.
   I had spoken to the owner’s son, Joe, over the phone. Joe was selling the automobile for his father, who had owned the 442 for a petty over 25 years. He had given me pretty goodness instructions on how to notice his house, as well as he had assured me it would hold upwardly fairly slow to find. And only for a petty extra insurance, I had printed upwardly directions from Google Maps. But finding Joe’s domicile proved to hold upwardly much to a greater extent than hard than I had anticipated. He lived on an one-time 1 lane gravel road, far off the beaten path. Finding this small-scale gravel route was hard enough, but finding the hidden driveway that led upwardly to the one-time farm theatre was side yesteryear side to impossible. I eventually had to telephone telephone Joe as well as inquire him to come upwardly out to the principal route inwards social club to guide me in. 
 

  As I followed his one-time Ford truck downward a long as well as winding driveway, I saw the one-time construction that housed the automobile I had come upwardly to see. It resembled an oversized shed or small-scale barn, something that was originally intended to shop a farm tractor as well as a few other farm implements. Joe’s dad had converted it to a garage, which at nowadays housed 4 cars inwards the front end department as well as misc yard tools, equally good equally one-time automobile parts inwards the bring upwardly section. From the within it at nowadays resembled an oversized garage, cement flooring as well as all. Along amongst the 442, at that topographic point were a few other vehicles sitting beside it. These other, newer vehicles had taken the identify of the one-time 442 years ago. Leaving the 442 to sit down as well as languish, eventually becoming a domicile for a few acre mice that lived inwards the barn equally well.

 

Fortunately, the 442 was somewhat functional. So pulling it out of the barn/garage/shed wasn’t an issue.

Doing my research
   To me the automobile looked to hold upwardly original. But I am an amateur inwards the globe of automobile collecting. The pigment appeared to hold upwardly original, equally did the interior, as well as both were notwithstanding rattling presentable, fifty-fifty though they were showing their age. It was exclusively after talking to a rattling honest seller that I learned that the automobile had been repainted. He also explained most all of the other deficiencies constitute yesteryear the many Oldsmobile experts who had viewed the automobile earlier me. The hood was an original 442 hood, but this automobile didn’t acquire out the manufactory amongst a Ram Air hood. The seats had been reupholstered inwards a tuck as well as gyre designing as well as 1 of the fenders was also non original. The non-original fender was from a 1971 or 1972 Cutlass. The deviation betwixt a 1970 fender as well as a after model fender is so small-scale fry equally to hold upwardly missed yesteryear a novice, such equally me. It tin exclusively hold upwardly noticed yesteryear lifting the hood as well as looking for some relatively small-scale indention where the hood meets the fender. The 1970 fender is apartment as well as polish where the hood residue when closed, where equally the 71/72 model fender receive got a ripple every vi to 7 inches which allow the fender to crumple on impact as well as absorb the stupor of a collision. 
 
  The biggest number seen was the non-original motor at nowadays sitting inwards the engine bay. The previous possessor had for some unknown reason, pulled the original 455ci motor as well as replaced it amongst an Oldsmobile Rocket 350ci. I think this was the principal argue why the automobile had non yet been sold. Well, that along amongst the relatively high cost tag. 
 
  Being unfamiliar amongst these cars, I did some online query earlier arriving. So I had a goodness thought of what to human face for. The most of import thing to human face for when looking at a 442 is the digits 344 inwards the commencement 3 digits of the VIN. Other things to human face for are a 455ci motor, crudely boxed-in trailing arms, bucket seats as well as a centre console. This automobile was right inwards every agency except it was missing the original 455ci motor, which apparently is a large deal. During my research, I also learned at that topographic point were exclusively 2,933 442s built inwards 1970. So they are relatively rare. And they are also rattling highly sought after for their styling as well as performance.
 

To many, this isn’t the preferred color combination for a classic 442, but to me, it say’s 1970’s similar no other color can.

Closing the deal
   Considering the fact that none of the experts who came earlier me genuinely bought this car, I should receive got belike walked away from this deal. I am certain they knew to a greater extent than well-nigh the actual value of this detail example as well as they had goodness argue non purchase it. But I genuinely liked the car. I receive got e'er wanted a Cutlass convertible, ever since commencement seeing 1 when I was inwards high school. And this was a 442 convertible, which inwards my mind, is a genuinely cool Cutlass. 
 
  There is to a greater extent than to my affection for the Cutlass. My grandmother had several throughout the years; 1 of which was a 1970 Cutlass Supreme Holiday Coupe.  I tin notwithstanding retrieve riding along amongst my grandmother, sitting inwards the front end seat, looking out at the passing countryside equally nosotros drove from the farm into town to purchase groceries, or to make whatever else she needed to acquire done. Later, when I was inwards high schoolhouse I brought domicile a seventy Cutlass to demo my parents. It was my intent to merchandise my Chevy Vega for the Cutlass. Something my parents refused to permit me do. I gauge they realized it may receive got been only a petty also fast for a 16 yr one-time to own. So, equally y'all tin see, I may receive got been a petty emotionally involved when I was buying this 442.
  
  I spent the improve component of an lx minutes talking amongst the seller earlier genuinely mentioning an offer. I walked only about the 442 equally nosotros talked, looking underneath the hood, crawling underneath the automobile inwards social club to improve jurist the flooring pans, trying to notice a argue non to purchase the car. As hard equally I looked, I couldn’t notice anything. Or at to the lowest degree anything that genuinely scared me. The floors were inwards neat condition. The automobile was solid, amongst exclusively a few bubbles only about the bring upwardly bicycle wells as well as lower front end fenders. There was zero that said this automobile couldn’t hold upwardly easily restored. So after considering the piece of work needed to acquire the automobile dorsum on the route again, the value of the automobile 1 time restored, as well as my ain fiscal capabilities, I made what I thought was a depression but fair offer. After a few minutes of silence, Joe reached out as well as shook my hand, closing the deal. Much to my surprise, my offering was accepted. The automobile was at nowadays mine. And at that 2nd it dawned on me.  I hadn’t examination drove the car. 

 

The information plate confirms this automobile is non a Cutlass, but rather a 442. The commencement ii digits betoken the model year, the side yesteryear side 3 betoken the model. Beware though, equally information plates are beingness made. So it is best to confirm the VIN equally well.

Dragging it home
   I’m non 1 of those guys on idiot box who arrives amongst a trailer as well as a bag total of cash. So I needed a yoke of days to get together the funds. I also needed to notice someone to assist me select this one-time cruiser home. Fortunately Joe was extremely cool, as well as he genuinely pulled the advertizement right as well as then as well as there, amongst no deposit. I think he was happy to finally notice someone who didn’t dot out every petty defect on the car. I also think he had been trounce downward good earlier I arrived. All I had to make was hold upwardly polite as well as respectful. I imagine this bargain would non receive got worked out had I been the commencement 1 to build an offer. 
 
  I returned a yoke days after amongst the agreed amount, inwards cash. I also brought along some tools. It wasn’t a long drive home, but I wasn’t genuinely certain the automobile could build it. And fifty-fifty though it was currently registered as well as at that topographic point was an antique vehicle license plate on the dorsum bumper, it hadn’t been driven inwards years. So inwards many senses, it was a truthful barn find.  Joe started it upwardly regularly, thinking this would insure its drivability, so it did run, variety of.  
  
  Before handing over whatever cash I did finally acquire to examination drive the one-time car. Oh human being did it run rough! The automobile hadn’t been tuned upwardly inwards years. What sounded similar an exhaust leak ended upwardly beingness a broken exhaust manifold. Most probable a number of beingness warmed upwardly inwards the winters exclusively to hold upwardly speedily closed dorsum down. The quick ascension as well as autumn inwards manifold temperatures causes the metallic to expand as well as contract also quickly. The brakes needed piece of work equally well. They pulled hard to the right. Another number was the sagging bring upwardly springs as well as shocks prevented me from beingness able to safely consider over the hood, as well as I am 6’4.  This is non unremarkably a work for me. Oh well. What make y'all hold off from a automobile that hasn’t been driven inwards years? I was lucky that it could hold upwardly driven at all.
 

The tires human face new, but they are so one-time equally to hold upwardly dangerous for highway use. And since they are mounted xiv inch wheels, finding replacements tin hold upwardly a challenge for those novel to the hobby. In the background y'all tin consider the shelter that housed 442 as well as provided it protection from the elements for so many years. 

Getting it dorsum on the road
     When I got the automobile domicile I at nowadays started fierce into the one-time 442. Trying to figure out what I genuinely got myself into. I pulled the interior out so I could build clean out the mess left yesteryear the mice. The rodent urine damaged ii of the bring upwardly topographic point belts, which I replaced amongst some constitute online. After that, I tore into the bring upwardly suspension, replacing the one-time worn springs as well as the 70’s era Sears build air shocks. Now, amongst the automobile level, I could finally consider over the hood. The exhaust organisation needed to hold upwardly replaced equally did the broken exhaust manifold. So I sourced a manifold online as well as had novel dual exhaust installed. The Flowmasters audio neat as well as at that topographic point is no to a greater extent than pesky tapping dissonance from the broken manifold. I finished the exhaust off yesteryear installing a laid of reproduction trumpet tailpipe tips. Amazingly, the automobile cleaned upwardly good as well as I am non ashamed to drive it to local cruise ins. I programme on using the car, weather condition permitting, equally I acquire all of the parts I volition involve to restore it. 
  
  I am attempting to utilization original parts when available as well as I am trying non to over-restore the car. Thanks to the Internet, I speedily sourced some genuinely dainty original topographic point belts along amongst some other small-scale materials that was missing. I also located a yoke of parts cars which I bought, parted out, as well as sold off. From these parts cars I was able to delineate ii rust gratuitous original fenders, an original Outside Air Intake (OAI) air breather to consummate the Ram Air set-up, as well as an original dash mounted clock. I am notwithstanding looking for a goodness torso lid as well as a few other parts earlier I strip the 442 for paint. Eventually I’ll hold upwardly looking for a 1969 or early on 1970 455 to topographic point inwards the automobile so equally to build it equally original equally possible. The terminate goal is to receive got something to a greater extent than than only a driver piece notwithstanding beingness able to relish it. I don’t desire to cringe when my six-year-old man child climbs in, or on it. I desire something nosotros both tin utilization as well as enjoy. And who knows, peradventure we’ll build some memories working on it as well as taking it to automobile shows. Someday, I promise to transcend this automobile onto him.

 
Scott Johnson,
— Junkyard Life contributor

 

Another chemical component that adds to the cool gene is the original Firestone Wide-Oval spare tire inwards the 1970 Olds. The jack as well as lug wrench are also original equipment. The clips belongings the lug wrench are reproduction pieces added after I bought the car.

This is a moving painting of the Olds 442 a few weeks after purchase. Many of the bugs receive got been worked out. But the regular utilization has caused many to a greater extent than to come upwardly out, most notably, the brakes. Which failed completely presently after putting the automobile on the road. Fortunately I felt them equally they started to give as well as was able to safely halt the automobile using the emergency brake. Note to self: e'er freshen upwardly the brakes earlier doing anything else.

When was the in conclusion fourth dimension you’ve seen a laid of these on an one-time car? The 442 wore Sears build 
adjustable air shocks. The cool gene is high amongst this find, but the ride isn’t. 

Only 2,933 Olds 442 convertibles were produced for the 1970 model year.

1970 Oldsmobile 442 production number breakdown
  Oldsmobile built 19,330 of the 442 models for 1970. The bulk of 442s produced were hardtop coupes, amongst 14,709 built. Convertible fans snapped upwardly 2,933 Olds models wearing 442s badges from the factory. The Sport Coupes were the rarest, amongst 1,688 built. Sport Coupes tin hold upwardly identified yesteryear the post that separates the side drinking glass on the car.

  Olds people know that 442s were carve upwardly models from the Cutlass inwards 1970. The Cutlass name was non used anywhere on the 442s. H5N1 1970 Cutlass 442 is a misnomer. Now y'all know.

Know of a automobile or a junkyard I involve to see or desire to ship me photos as well as information well-nigh a barn find, automobile or junkyard?  
Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

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