How long must an automobile be stored before it qualifies as a “barn find”? Although opinions on this subject are divided, it appears that collectors favor works of art that have been kept secret for at least 40 years. I’m not sure why, but it presumably has something to do with the likelihood that all-original, unmolested autos spend more time in a barn than on the road.
However, keeping an automobile for an extended period of time in a wooden barn might seriously harm it. Rust, rat infestations, and locked engines are all very typical. It’s challenging because, while the classic in question perhaps being all-original and unrestored, it could also be irreparably broken.
But I’ve seen a few exceptions that emerged into the light after some 50 years in hiding, still in one piece and totally restorable. What I haven’t seen until now is a 1940 Chevrolet still standing after a whopping 70 years in a collapsing barn. Amazing doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Uncovered by “IronTrap Garage” at an estate in Northern Pennsylvania, this 1940 Chevy, which is part of the Master series, was reportedly parked in the barn sometime in the 1950s. This means it was driven for less than 20 years before it was parked for approximately seven decades. What a sad faith for such a beautiful coupe, right?
And on top of spending more than a half-decade in a wooden barn, it also had to endure the pressure of several wood posts leaning on its fenders to sustain the collapsing roof. And as it usually happens when a car is left in an old barn, the Chevy became a home for several rodents. As a result, the seat upholstery is toast, while the trunk is packed with rat poop.
Of course, there are some problems on the exterior as well, such as surface corrosion and rot holes, numerous dents, and a substantial buildup of dirt and grime. Surprisingly, the automobile is still in one piece, and the body seems to only need minor metalwork to be refreshed. As astonishing as it gets is the fact that all of the trim is still in place.
There’s good news under the hood as well, with the original engine still in position. It’s seen better days, though, and it appears as if it was partially dismantled at some point. That may be a sign that the Chevy was parked for mechanical reasons, and the owner never got around to fixing it.
Fortunately, our host was able to remove the automobile from the crumbling barn without any further harm. The good news is that it will be sold at auction along with other cars that were discovered on the site. It will hopefully be purchased as a restoration project and not used as a donor for parts. As a hot rod with a contemporary Chevrolet small-block V8 under the hood, this lovely coupe still has plenty of life left in it.
If you’re not familiar with the 1940 Chevrolet, it was produced from 1933 to 1942 as a member of the Master series. The series KA and KB are other names for the 1940 iteration. The latter identifier applied to the more upscale Master Deluxe model, whereas the former code was used to identify the base Master model. The Special Deluxe, an even better-equipped variation, was also released in 1940.
With a 113-inch (2,870-mm) wheelbase and an 85-horsepower 206-cubic-inch (3.4-liter) inline-six engine, Chevrolet offered the Master in a variety of body designs. The Master isn’t especially valuable these days, but finding one in unrestored form is growing harder and harder. And for precisely that reason, it’s worthwhile to save this two-door coupe.