In 2023, a barn find discovery was revealed, echoing the dreams of classic car enthusiasts worldwide. This historic barn unveiled over 20 classic cars, all of which were steeped in history and automotive heritage.
The car collection was stored in a small barn in Alabama for over 50 years and owned by local businessman and avid car collector, Earl Trammel.
This treasure trove of vintage vehicles has long been hidden from the public eye and includes a 1990 Corvette ZR1 with a mere 25 miles and a 1976 Corvette Stingray Coupe with only 103 miles.
Absolutely bananas.
The Discovery
The low mileage on many of these cars was no coincidence.
According to GMTV, Trammel viewed his collection as a means of storing wealth due to his mistrust of “Wall Street and the banking system.”
He acquired the vehicles as assets instead of investing in banks. Following Trammel’s passing in 2022, his ex-wife Patricia inherited the collection. She had previously sold a 1996 Porsche to Alabama car wholesale partners John Pierce and car enthusiast and radio show host John Clay Wolfe, calling them again to tell them she had a 1997 Corvette with only 100 miles on it.
Wondering what other vehicles she had in her possession, they came together and subsequently struck a deal to sell the entire collection to GMTV for an undisclosed sum.
What’s the list of vehicles? According to GMTV, the entire list of cars in the collection includes:
- 1988 35th Anniversary Corvette (25 miles)
- 1971 Corvette Stingray Coupe (1600 miles)
- 1990 Corvette ZR1 (25 miles)
- 1998 Corvette Convertible Indy Pace Car (23 miles)
- 1979 Corvette Stingray Coupe (41 miles)
- 1981 Corvette Coupe (2,400 miles)
- 1974 Corvette Stingray Coupe (30,000)
- 1976 Corvette Stingray Coupe (103 miles)
- 1976 Corvette Stingray Coupe (28,000 miles)
- 1956 Chevrolet 210 Sedan (64,000 miles)
- 1966 Chevrolet C10 (9,000 miles)
- 1997 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe (200 miles)
- 2001 Trans Am Firebird w/ S6 TA Coupe (247 miles)
- 1963 Cadillac Coupe Deville (29,300 miles)
- 1999 F-150 Reg Cab SVT Lightning (46 miles)
- 1987 Buick Grand National (13,800 miles)
- 1973 Lincoln Continental MK IV (830 miles)
- 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible (90,000 miles)
- 2003 Ford Mustang Cobra Coupe (4,900)
- 1990 Chevrolet 454SS (19 miles)
- 1968 Chevrolet Camaro 396 SS Coup (60,500 miles)
- 1996 Porsche C4S manual (600 miles)
- 2010 Camaro 2dr Coupe ZSS w/ RS Pkg (47 miles)
Notable Finds: A Corvette Lover’s Dream
Among the vehicles discovered are several notable Corvettes, making this find particularly exciting for Corvette enthusiasts:
1988 35th Anniversary Corvette
The 1988 Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition is a rare and special model, celebrating 35 years of Corvette heritage. Limited to just 2,050 units, it features a L98 V8 engine, blending nostalgic with modern performance, making it a highly sought-after collector’s item.
Can you believe this one only has 25 miles?
1998 Corvette Convertible Indy Pace Car
The 1998 Chevrolet Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car was a limited edition C5 Corvette, celebrating its role as the 1998 Indianapolis 500 pace car. Available only as a convertible, it featured a Rader Blue exterior with pace car graphics and a black and yellow interior. Powered by a 345hp LS1 5.7L V8 engine, it offered both a 6-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmission. Only 1,163 units were produced.
Equally impressive, it’s got a whole 23 miles on the odometer.
1990 Corvette ZR1
The 1990 Corvette ZR-1 is rare due to its limited production, unique engineering, and significant impact on Corvette history. Only 3,049 units were produced in 1990, marking it as a low-production model. What sets the ZR-1 apart is its LT5 5.7L V8 engine, developed in collaboration with Lotus, which delivered an impressive 375 horsepower, making it the most powerful Corvette at the time. Additionally, the ZR-1 featured unique bodywork, wider rear fenders, and a distinctive rear fascia. Its advanced technology, high performance, and limited availability have made the 1990 ZR-1 a highly sought-after collector’s car.
The mileage? A mere 25 miles.
1979 Corvette Stingray Coupe
While the 1979 C3 ‘Vette isn’t the rarest, it’s only got 41 miles on the clock and still represents a significant year in the C3 Corvette generation, with production reaching a record high of 53,807 units. It featured the iconic Stingray body style with a sleek fastback rear window, offering improved cargo space and aesthetics. Engine options included the L48 5.7L V8 with 195 horsepower and the more powerful L82 with 225 horsepower, paired with either a 4-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission. Interior enhancements, including redesigned seats and better sound insulation, made the 1979 model both stylish and comfortable.
The Restoration Challenge
Credit: CAR Magazine UK
GMTV indicated that they have plans to display this rare vintage collection at auction in the Spring of 2024, but as of August 2024, no updates have been given. It’s the find of a century so obviously due consideration will need to be made and some of these cars might not even get sold, let alone driven.
Additionally, restoration efforts will need to take place. Restoring these classics to their former glory is a monumental task requiring careful assessment to determine the extent of restoration needed.
As many of these vehicles have remained untouched over the years, it’ll be interesting to see what gets changed out. Keep the original interior leather? Hell yeah, it’s got our vote.
The market value of these cars, once restored, could easily reach significant sums.
Discovering Your Own Junkyard Gems
Credit: Corvette Blogger
We wouldn’t call this barnfind a junkyard find. After all, some of these cars have never been driven and remain in relatively pristine condition. However, uncovering automotive bargains isn’t limited to this extraordinary example.
Enthusiasts can embark on their own hunts in junkyards as well. These resources can connects sellers of junk cars with buyers who see potential in these forgotten vehicles. Looking for specific cars for your classic car? Check. Looking for a project car to restore? They’ve got those too. It’s a valuable resource for finding hidden gems across the country.
On the other hand, if you’ve got a scrap vehicle that you’re looking to get rid of, vendors such as JunkCarsUs make the process extremely easy with same-day pick-up available. They’ll buy anything from a sedan to a bus, and in any condition too. Their website has a tool that will give you a quote in a matter of minutes so if you’re looking for an easy way to offload a junker, try it out.
Conclusion
Discovering a barnyard collection with such a significant number of cars in remarkably good condition is a rare occurrence, not to mention that these vehicles have incredibly low mileage, making this find a true gem in the automotive world.
Barnyard finds like this one continue to captivate automotive enthusiasts, offering a unique glimpse into the past and the thrill of uncovering even more hidden treasures.
What’s next? No one knows.
These discoveries come along when the universe decides it’s time, and when they do, it’s a true testament to the passion for classic cars within the automotive community.
