When talking about American barn finds, we usually think about old cars discovered in the United States. However, North America isn't the only place to discover US-made automobiles abandoned in derelict barns or garages. Some of them made it across the Atlantic before they were retired from the road.
Obviously, such barn finds are much less common in Europe, but American classics do pop up here and there on the Old Continent. The folks at "Anglia Car Auctions," for instance, recently discovered a first-generation Chevrolet Corvette somewhere in Scotland.
An unlike sight in the Northern European country, the 'Vette was hidden in a big brick barn alongside a handful of rare British classics. The list includes a 1955 Jaguar XK140, a 1947 Jaguar 1.5 Saloon, and a 1952 Bentley Mark IV.
The C1 is pretty much a mystery. We don't know how it ended in Scotland and for how long it's been sitting in the barn, but the roadster has seen better days. However, while it's missing its front grille and bumper, and the paint is notably weathered, the Corvette is a solid restoration project. And the fact that it still has the hardtop is a fantastic bonus.
A 1959 or 1960 version based on the rear-end design, this Corvette rocks what has to be the most iconic color combo. It has a red exterior with a matching interior and top, which makes it a triple-red example. Chevrolet called this hue Roman Red.
How rare is this Chevy? Well, the company sold only 9,670 units in 1959 and just 10,261 examples in 1960. Unfortunately, I can't figure out a more specific number without drivetrain information. At the time, Chevrolet offered a selection of small-block 283-cubic-inch (4.6-liter) V8 engines generating 230 to 290 horsepower.
The Corvette was followed out of the barn by a 1955 Jaguar XK140. An improvement over the iconic XK120, the XK140 arrived in 1954 with similar looks and a 3.4-liter inline-six engine good for 190 horsepower (the US version came with 210 horses on tap).
This Jag is much rarer than the Corvette, as the British firm built only 8,937 units through 1957. And just 1,392 were right-hand-drive like this example here. Moreover, the Fixed-Head (coupe) roof makes it one of only 839 built. Sadly, the XK140 is missing quite a few components, but it's still in decent shape for a vehicle that sat for decades.
The Scottish property was also home to a 1947 Jaguar 1 1/2 Litre Saloon. Produced from 1936 to 1949, these beautiful sedans are pretty hard to find nowadays. Jaguar made nearly 11,000 of them, all powered by inline-four engines from the Standard Motor Company.
If you're a fan of luxury cars, you'll also see a 1952 Bentley Mark VI leave the barn. A final-year iteration of the full-size, this Bentley is one of 5,208 units made and draws juice from a 4.6-liter straight-six. It was Bentley's first post-WWII car and the first built at Rolls-Royce's Crewe factory.
Our host also uncovered a 1963 Jaguar E-Type Roadster, a pair of MGA sports cars, and an Austin-Healey Sprite of the "frog eye" variety.
None of these classics are road-worthy, but all of them will probably hit the auction block in search of new owners. And if all goes well, we should see them back on the road in a few years. But I think they look pretty cool as barn finds, too.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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