If you have an interest in vintage cars, then you probably already know about the “Forgotten Treasure Hunt” program on the Hagerty channel. In one of the episodes, vintage car expert Tom Cotter took a trip to a car barn in North Carolina, USA. Little did he know that he would stumble upon 5 hidden automotive gems.
A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS
An image showcasing the interior of the car barn. Photo: Jordan Lewis.
Tom Cotter was met with an unkempt entrance and neglected trees as a first impression. It didn’t get any better as he ventured inside the dilapidated car barn. The interior was chaotic and covered in dirt, but this didn’t deter him. The owner’s friend, who greeted him at the entrance, explained that they wanted to get rid of the cars as they believed the car barn was on the verge of collapse.
For 26 years, these cars had remained untouched. Prior to that, there was a mechanic who regularly maintained them. However, after the mechanic tragically passed away in a car accident, the cars were left unattended. The owner held the belief that only the mechanic possessed the knowledge to keep these cars running smoothly.
The Ferrari 275 GTB with just 21,000km on the clock. Photo: Ben Woodworth & Jordan Lewis.
The interior of the Ferrari 275 GTB covered in dirt. Photo:
These cars were covered in thick layers of dust, with their paint oxidized and hazy. Fortunately, the dry air in Western countries prevented any mold or mildew from forming.
Perhaps the saddest sight of all was the red Shelby AC Cobra. Not only was it covered in dust, but when Tom Cotter attempted to open the trunk, he discovered a mouse nest! The mice had not only taken up residence in the trunk but also in the passenger compartments.
“A MILLION DOLLAR MOUSE NEST”
The BMW 325ix with Warren Cramer and Tom Cotter. Photo: Hagerty.
All 5 of these cars in the car barn held immense value and significance.
– The 1985 BMW 325ix in white was BMW’s first ever all-wheel drive (AWD) model.
– The 1978 Morgan Plus 8 in duck egg blue was a propane-powered car (due to US emission standards at that time) from a brand known for its handcrafted cars with wooden frames and bodies, a tradition that still continues today.
– The 1976 Triumph TR-6 in white was the top-rated model among Triumph’s lineup in the United States during that period.
The Triumph TR-6, with an odometer reading of just under 16,000km, in excellent condition. Photo: Hagerty.
– The 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB in silver, although being 50 years old, had only covered around 21,000km. Both the interior and exterior appeared to be in immaculate condition, leading Tom Cotter to believe that only a few Ferrari 275 GTBs in such an exceptional state existed.
– The Red Shelby AC Cobra 427 from 1962 was deemed as the most coveted model by Americans. While roughly 60,000 Shelby AC Cobra 427s were on the roads, only about 348 were officially produced by the factory, with the rest being replicas.
Mice have taken over both the trunk and passenger compartment. Photo: Hagerty.
Not only were these cars valuable, but all 5 were in original condition and had barely been driven. Based on these factors, the owner had the potential to sell them for up to 4 million USD, which is equivalent to approximately 91 billion VND.
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Tom Cotter’s first impression was somewhat indifferent: an overgrown entrance, a dilapidated garage. Welcoming Tom Cotter was actually a friend of the owner. As soon as the garage door was opened, Tom Cotter was slightly surprised by the clutter and filth inside. According to the owner’s friend, this garage could collapse at any moment and these cars needed to be taken away.
