I won a demo in a $5 granada once. I got T-boned in the drivers door in the reverse race and ended up tipped over with that old cop car on top of me. We always have several buddys that have a good time getting all our cars ready together and we never hit each other until there is no one left. The time I won it was down to me and my best friend. He got second.

 

http://www.carsinbarns.com/

 

I bought a 47 or 48 Dodge pick-up from an old guy whose son was killed in Viet Nam. Said his son had just gone through the motor before he left. Had been sitting in the yard under an Oak tree ever since. So covered in moss, I couldn't tell what color it was. I bought it for $200. Towed it home and pulled the plugs off the flathead - could still see the hone marks. Replaced the battery, cleaned the carb, drained the tank and oil, refilled. Put my foot down on the starter and in just three rotations, fired right up.

Rest of the story: Had to rebuild every brake cylinder, (2 per wheel), master cylinder, clutch, and it seemed like everything else but the motor. Would have been worth it, had it been a vette. Oh, the color was blue.

 

... on a more down-to-earth note, I was selling a 4X4 in 1986 and was asking $6500 for it. The buyer said he could only come up with $6300. Before I gave in on the price, I asked, "Do you have anything to trade?"

He said he had a diesel, VW Rabbit that belonged to his wife before he bought her a new car. The Rabbit had been sitting in the barn for 5-6 years and the last thing he knew it would run but had a dented fender.

I told him if it would move under it's own power I'd sell him the 4X4 for $6300 and the diesel rabbit. I figured SURELY I could get $200+ out of any car that was driveable.

He showed up the next day with a very clean, 55,000 mile 5-speed diesel rabbit with A/C and a dented front fender. I found a junk-yard fender cheap that was even the right color!!! I ended up driving that Rabbit for 18 months as an extra vehicle. It literally got 50mpg on the highway. Eventually sold it for $2100 2 years later and never put a dime in it except for the used fender.

It's not a '53 Corvette or a Mercedes- but it's true.

Steve