Why Would Someone Bury This 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS Barn Find Under Junk
Barn finds are super exciting for the buyer, but they can also be a little frustrating to see. You see these beautiful vintage cars rotting away because the owner is too stubborn to sell. This is a common thing that many would-be barn find buyers have experienced. However, maybe it’s time to think about these old cars from the seller’s perspective. Why would someone bury this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS barn find under a bunch of junk?
Why are there so many barn finds?
For something so rare, we sure do see them a lot. To be fair, someone having an old car laying around isn’t rare at all. The rarity comes in what car you find sitting. Either way, it’s hard to imagine letting such rare, cool cars sit and rot. We’ve seen vintage Ferrari barn finds, old Porsches left in garages, and even a Lotus left in a field. It’s hard to imagine anyone letting these cars waste away.
What makes this Camaro so special?
Now, according to MotorTrend, sellers of barn finds have a story to tell too. MotorTrend interviewed the owner of a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS barn find, Rick Ager, who recently sold one of his prized Camaros. The ‘69 Camaro was a proper find in its numbers-matching and unrestored condition. The Camaro still has its original 300-hp, 350-inch small-block, TH400 trans, and 12-bolt posi, all wrapped in its original LeMans Blue paint. On top of all that, this is also a very well-optioned car with power steering, power front disc brakes, factory A/C, tachometer, console gauges, 14-inch Rally wheels, rear spoiler, and white deluxe houndstooth interior.
Why do people keep barn finds stored away for so long?
According to Ager, “I have a dozen Camaros, and most need restoration, including a JL-8 that should be at the top of my list, but life just keeps me from getting to it. I have two daughters, and we restored two first-gen convertibles from shells for them to drive. My eldest daughter has an exact replica of my first Camaro (black), except the engine is a 327, 100ci smaller than my old engine. My younger daughter didn’t want black, so she picked LeMans blue for her drop-top Camaro.” I reckon even if you own a warehouse full of cool cars, life is still busy, and getting to them all can be tough.
What motivates people to sell stored classic cars?
Timing is everything. While many classic car owners will never sell their projects, sometimes, when the stars line up just right, a buyer can find a car right when a seller is in a position to sell. With Ager, he told MotorTrend, “A guy caught me in a moment of weakness and asked what I would want for the LeMans Blue ’69. The amount exceeded what it would be worth with a restoration, so for me, it was just the right time, although I hated giving it up. At some point, I realized that I don’t know how many more restorations I have left in me.”
How long did this Camaro sit?
Ager says his LeMans Blue Camaro was in that barn for 35 years. Over the years, it sprouted a collection of boxes and other garage junk. However, Ager says the majority of those boxes had NOS Camaro parts.
