There’s a lot of talk about the mystery of the “barn find”. People imagine million-dollar Rolls-Royces and Bentleys sitting in barns up and down the country, just waiting to be discovered. They imagine a quick wash and instant fame and fortune at the nearest fancy car auction. The reality is much different…
This is a 1986 Jaguar XJ6. It sat in a barn in sunny Oregon for roughly 20 years. As you can see, it’s covered in several stages of green mould and spiders, and all the tyres are flat. One would also not be surprised to find the interior full of mice/rats/cats/sharks, trees growing on the floor, and suspicious holes in the carpets/seats/headliner. Additionally, as this is a British car we’re talking about, one would also expect the woodwork to have the consistency of Swiss cheese.
So, to prove a point, I unloaded it and washed it. This is what emerged:
This is the same 1986 Jaguar XJ6. The paintwork is shiny and dent-free, the body is rust-free, and the chromework is excellent. The interior is in great condition, with no rips or tears on the seats – and the woodwork is pristine.
The secret?
Air.
Yes, really. Storing a car under covers – and perhaps full of newspaper – is an excellent recipe for a rusty, mouldy, rotten disaster. Despite this car being utterly filthy externally, the fact that it was stored in a dry, well-ventilated barn completely saved the car. Aside from the flat tyres (which were, obviously, British), you’d never know it had been stored at all.
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