16-02-2025
Restoring a ‘barn find' classic car – the agony and the ecstasy
It's a dream shared by enthusiasts worldwide, finding a valuable car in dilapidated condition in a tumble-down barn and restoring it to its former glory – or even better than when it left the showroom. It's not always about money, although the potential to turn a profit is as alluring as ever.
But not all enthusiasts dream of a Ferrari or Jaguar E-Type; there's a growing number for whom relatively mundane cars are the subject of their affections. Whether it was a car their father or a favourite uncle owned, or they simply find it interesting, they will do anything – often with scant regard to the cost – to end up with a car that they genuinely love, not one that is necessarily worth a lot of money.
According to the DVLA, more than 300,000 classic cars remain on United Kingdom roads. Many have been painstakingly restored by their owners, such as these four, who have single-handedly resurrected almost-forgotten machines simply to fulfil a passion.
Here's how – and why – they did it.
Mike Owen
Age: 73
Location: Conwy County (north Wales)
Car: 1968 Austin 1300 Countryman
'I took possession of the Countryman in 2015, when it was heading for the scrapyard. It had been tucked away in a garage next to mine ever since the owner died in the early 1980s. One day, his son turned up to clear the house and gave me the car, which has only covered 57,900 miles.
'I've spent around £5,000 restoring it over an 18-month period. It was a real challenge, even though I had been a marine engineer in the Merchant Navy so was used to working on machinery. I'd maintained cars over the years, but nothing as big as a rebuild.
'I use the Countryman mainly for shows but if the weather is fine we'll go for a spin. My grandkids love it, mainly because there aren't seat belts in the back. People smile or wave as we drive past, while at shows complete strangers like to chat because they or their parents owned one.
'The only challenge with the car is that if something breaks it can be a big job fixing it. When the suspension failed, for example, I had to remove the rear subframe to repair it. The 1100 Club [for all ADO16 variants] has been a godsend, though, with articles and knowledgeable members who can advise.
'The Countryman appeared in an episode of Netflix's The Crown. When the investiture of Prince Charles at Caernarfon Castle was recreated for the series, some 1960s cars were needed. Mine can be seen in two scenes – but blink and you'll miss it. However, it was an experience and I got a fine photo with Olivia Colman, who played the Queen.'
Paul Nicholes
Age: 60
Location: South Yorkshire
Car: 1973 Mk3 Ford Cortina
'For years, I'd searched for a Mk3 like my dad's car from the 1970s but couldn't find or afford a good one matching his spec, so in 2019, I bought one needing restoration.
'Although I didn't find it hidden in a barn or garage, a previous owner did. Apparently, a guy went to Australia and left it in storage with his parents in south London but never returned. When his parents died, the car, which had been in a barn for about 25 years, was sold.
'It cost me £2,500 and I've spent the last five years rebuilding it. Initially, I kept track of the cost, but quickly stopped counting because parts are expensive. I've probably spent about £10,000 but now it's worth approximately £25,000, apparently!
'I undertook most of the work, including turning it on its side and taking it back to bare metal to remove rot. In the process, I've learnt many new skills, such as welding, body preparation and painting.
'The custom-mixed shade of Onyx Green metallic, along with a black vinyl roof and quad headlights, were added to match my dad's car, but overall, it's simple technology with no gadgets.
'I love how the car looks; so do other people, judging by their reactions. It clearly brings back memories and has even won 'Best 1970s Vehicle' at a local car show.
'Now it's on to my next restoration project. A colleague uttered the phrase all classic-car enthusiasts want to hear: 'I know where there's an old car in a garage that you can have if you want it. All you need to do is move it within 10 days.'
'He showed me photos and immediately I recognised it as a Jensen Interceptor. But there was a catch: the car was in Spain. Thankfully, I found a shipping company which handled the whole process.
'The Jensen has more holes and rot than the Cortina but the last five years' experience will be invaluable.'
Oli Dacosta Evans
Age: 21
Location: Northumberland
Cars: 1990 Yugo Sana 1.4 and 1993 Rover Metro Rio
'I've had my Yugo, which has 29,000 miles on the clock, since 2022. It had been stored in a garage on the Isle of Wight since 1995. Someone posted a picture of it on a Yugo Facebook page and it interested me because I've always liked cars from that era, especially more obscure models.
'When a mate holidayed on the isle, I discovered where the car was garaged and asked him to pass on my phone number. Fortunately, the late owner's son called and offered it to me for £100. I travelled down from Northumberland, brought the car back and restored it.
'The Sana offered amazing value for money at the time because it had many features more expensive cars didn't, like brake pad wear sensors and bulb failure indicators.
'I own several cars, including a Metro Rio in Caribbean blue, which has a 1,120cc engine. My parents' friends knew I liked abandoned cars so showed me the Metro, which had failed its MOT in 2004 due to serious rust. It was going to be collected by the local scrap merchant, but when he didn't turn up, it sat in the corner of a barn until 2014, when I bought it for £120.
'I was 11 when I got it. Now, 10 years later, it's still not on the road, but I'm too attached to get rid of it. It's probably not economically viable or sensible to save but I've been gathering parts, saving up and am determined to restore it.
'I estimate it'll cost about £10,000 to get it roadworthy, and even then, it will probably be worth only around £3,000 – but that doesn't matter because the car means a lot to me.'
Pete Richardson
Age: 73
Location: Warwickshire
Car: 1961 TVR Grantura Mk2a
'Being in the TVR Car Club and living close to the NEC, I often help during events at the exhibition centre. In 2015, someone from a top-end car restorer stand asked if anyone wanted a Grantura which they'd had for more than 10 years in a stripped condition. To them, it was uneconomic to repair so they wanted to offload it.
'I visited the garage with Richard Carter, a local Grantura historian and owner of a Grantura Mk2a, who volunteered to cast his eye over the pieces of the wreck because I hadn't a clue what I was doing.
'Inspection revealed that all the critical parts to get it motoring were present, although everything was packed into 20 boxes. Only the gearbox and axle were left untouched.
'My aim was to return the Grantura to the original condition as when it left the factory over 60 years ago – or as near as we could – by reusing as many of the original parts that could be preserved. I planned to do as much of the work myself, using specialists only for gearbox, differential and seat trimming.
'Parts from the various bins were sorted, although it wasn't always obvious what went with what. Initially, TVRs were supplied in kit form to reduce purchase tax, while parts from other manufacturers were used, such as an MGA engine, Austin-Healey disc brakes and Volkswagen suspension. Sorting the many parts was like trying to complete a huge jigsaw puzzle without the picture on the box lid to refer to.
'Thankfully, the chassis was in remarkable condition. I suspect it was stored indoors for many years awaiting refurbishment prior to being dismantled, by which time she'd only done 36,000 miles. It has completed another 500 miles post-renovation.
'The total spend, including the boxes of parts, was about £23,000, but I spent an additional £1,800 getting the bonnet resprayed when the suspension collapsed and damaged it. When I purchased the wreck, there was still evidence of the original green paint, so I've painted it in Jaguar British racing green.
'The project took five years to complete and now it's used during the summer, usually for attending shows.
'When it comes to resale values, prices are low at the moment in the classic-car world. A fellow restorer recently sold his Grantura at auction for £32,000 to someone in the USA.
'In terms of plus points, its looks, rarity and the satisfaction of saving a rare car from disappearing come to the fore. The only negative is having to remember that it's more than 60 years old and drives like a veteran vehicle.
'Overall, though, it's been a fulfilling experience saving a TVR Grantura from oblivion. Turning a pile of bits into a working vehicle means I've enabled a piece of TVR history to live again for future owners to enjoy.'
