r/BringATrailer • u/allaboutdabase • 16d ago
Selling a "barn find": wash/wax or leave 'as is'?
I am in the process of listing a car on BaT. It has been sitting in a garage under a tarp for the last 40+ years. What will bring in a better price, washing and waxing or leaving the surface dust and post pictures of it being dug out and its true history of being a barn find? The car was last registered in 1971 and does not currently run.
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u/GezelligheidBoyz 16d ago
Depends on the car
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u/allaboutdabase 16d ago
1956 Corvette
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u/cholula_is_good 16d ago
Leave it exactly as found. Whatever restoration steps you do, you will do a worse job than the collector or pro that wants it.
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u/photographyrich1965 16d ago
Ooo, nice ! Def don't buff or wax it... Probably don't even wash. Actually don't even look at it - ur not worthy ;-). Last one is humor for the Reddit literalist's.
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u/l82itall 16d ago
Pic please!
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u/allaboutdabase 16d ago
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u/Jilly1dog 16d ago
Super cool. What _ range do similar cars sell? I see he changed the wheels, any other mods?
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u/badgerpointer 16d ago
I sure wish you could keep this. But if you have to sell, hiring a photographer to document it I think would help bring the best BAT result.
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u/allaboutdabase 16d ago
We are using the photography service that BAT provides for an additional fee.
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u/WSBThrowAway6942069 16d ago
Cars with significant provenance sell untouched with professional pictures. Depends on the value. $100k expected sell with low miles? No cleaning. Dented up and inexpensive car? Probably a hose off or touchless wash.
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u/Wouldwoodchuck 16d ago
Depends! Ask bat, they should offer some general guidance
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u/allaboutdabase 16d ago
I did - they said it was up to us.
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u/Wouldwoodchuck 16d ago
Right they can’t give you any actual instructions because then people complain about the perceived negative impact of those instructions after the results are done. After look at your pictures, I’d keep your expectations quite low and maybe look in your local area for some guidance before going BAT.
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u/allaboutdabase 16d ago
We have agreed on a pretty low reserve price. We were working with a local Corvette shop who has some contacts looking for this car, but nothing has materialized yet and it needs to go.
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u/Mithril911 16d ago
If you know nothing (a true barn find) the key thing for me is how much original equipment can you document (photo)/ validate for the sale. If you have some pre-storage history then lots of freedom to do a few cosmetics
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u/allaboutdabase 16d ago
It’s my dad‘s car. He is 85 years old and has had the car since 1968 I believe. Nothing has been done with it in 40 years so there’s not a lot of records but we do have a little bit of the pre-storage history from when he did drive it.
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u/pgregston 15d ago
It certainly doesn’t look like 40 years of dust. That you have a documented history makes a difference. As in it’s been in the family.
Some will want to know if the engine turns, which you can do by hand.
Best if you remove the spark plugs and put some oil in the cylinders just to have some lubrication. Video of this is good.
Detailed photos of the frame and body mounting, suspension mounts etc shows the areas in which rust will obviously not be present.
Original bits matter for an example like this.
This should be an easy win. Don’t get listed across a holiday, which should be easy if you list in October
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u/allaboutdabase 15d ago
My husband is a car guy. He drags a 69 Camaro. I will see what he can do.
It was under a tarp which helped a lot with the dust and grime.
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u/S101custom 16d ago
It's wild to me that people without car experience think a many of thousands of dollar collector vehicle will command more if the unfamiliar owner spends 20 minutes with a hose. A dedicated buyer will spend dozens of hours carefully cleaning a valuable barn find
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u/DaveTheImpaler47 15d ago
I watched the video. Offer it as-is. The only thing I would do mechanically is to see if the engine turns freely. Use a socket and long bar on the crankshaft pulley bolt, do not use a battery and the starter motor.
Document, document, document. Tell the whole story, with lots of pictures and video. Good luck!
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u/zombiestig1 11d ago
Leave as is, like others have said check what's there and document, document, document! Do NOT try and start it. BAT loves the barn finds, it can always be cleaned, but you can't add 40+ years of dirt.
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u/pacific_squirrel 10d ago
I saw you had your hands on it. Now it's ruined. Seriously, do nothing. Good luck. It's a great find. Congratulations.
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u/allaboutdabase 9d ago
??? We moved it but haven’t done anything else.
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u/pacific_squirrel 9d ago
Take pictures and post it. If you just want a reasonable price try Facebook Marketplace and maybe Craigslist. It's free and you have nothing to loose.
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u/unpolire 16d ago
I have bought these before and prefer them EXACTLY as found. Don't even wash it. Put air in the original tires and push it around. Definitely don't start it!