Barn Find: Boss 429
Barn finds. We all hope to have one at some point in our lives. Something worth saving. Something worth owning. Something, that’s worth a metric ton of cash that we could pick up for a fiver. Sadly, though, that most likely won’t happen. We can scour all the backwoods, backroads and hillbilly shacks we come across and it’s never likely to happen.
That is unless you really stick your nose to the grindstone, make a bunch of friends within a certain group of people, and stay as dogged as possible. Then, maybe, you’ll have a chance. That’s what happened to Bruce Schreiner.
He found out there was a garage — a windowless garage — where a Boss 429 had been sleeping … for 41 years. He sleuthed away, talking with everyone and anyone who might know more about the car: where it was, who owned it, and if they’d be interested in selling it. After a few years (yes, years) he finally got the owner to agree to sell it.
The car had only 17,000 miles on it — it was a true barn find. Bruce doesn’t really drive the car that much because he doesn’t want to replace the factory original tires in fear of having it depreciate in value.
Part of me says that decision is epically stupid. The point of a barn find is that you find something that’s been stowed away for years and then you get it back to running and driving condition; otherwise, what’s the point of taking it out of the barn?
It’s a beautiful car, but one that deserves better. What do you think? Should he restore it and drive it? Should he leave it as-is and hope it appreciates? Just bear in mind, muscle car prices have dropped significantly in the last few years.