Welcome back! For our fourth installment of Project Car Week, our search terms included that now-tired phrase, “barn find.” But as overused as the term is, both of today’s cars look like viable projects.
Yesterday, our two contenders were nice clean examples of interesting cars. They don’t need anything except love and care, and someone to keep up their already excellent condition. I expected the wild Subaru coupe to win, but as it turns out, the beige-but-bulletproof Mercedes cleaned up. This would be my choice, too.
Some of you cited parts availability as a problem for the Subaru; the mechanical stuff shouldn’t be hard, but the body and trim pieces are unique to the SVX, not shared with any other Subaru, and could be tough to find if the need arises. Also, some of you wanted to manual-swap it. It didn’t occur to me that there was no manual option available for the SVX. I keep forgetting that the Japanese like automatics almost as much as Americans do.
It’s a daydream I think most of us have indulged in at one point: Opening a barn door on some old property and finding an old dusty car, something we never even knew we wanted, just sitting there waiting. It does happen; cars get parked for all sorts of reasons, and forgotten about, until someone leaves this plane of existence and the inevitable estate sale uncovers a hidden gem. Or an old rusty wreck. Some folks have made whole careers out of this practice. And of course, the online classifieds are riddled with so-called “barn finds,” usually at hyper-inflated prices, and often not that interesting of a car. With a little digging, however, I was able to uncover two cars for sale, both referred to as barn finds, for reasonable prices. Both of them have the potential to be something really cool. Let’s take a look.
1947 Lincoln Club Coupe – $4,450
Engine/drivetrain: 337 cubic inch flathead V8, three-speed manual, RWD
Location: East Wenatchee, WA
Odometer reading: 81,000 miles
Operational status: Starts and runs on a gas can
After World War II, automakers wasted no time switching their production lines from bomber parts back to cars. But since the design departments had been idle for years, the 1946-47 models looked very much like the 1942 editions. Five years isn’t a long time to keep sheetmetal around these days, of course; Chrysler kept the recent 300’s design the same for almost three times that long, and so did Toyota with its 4Runner. But back when this Lincoln was built, automakers typically changed a car’s look every year or two.
Not only did the styling stay frozen in time, the mechanical specification did too. For Lincoln, that meant a flathead V12 displacing 292 cubic inches. It’s by far the Lincoln’s coolest feature, but unfortunately this one no longer has that engine. Instead, it has a 337 cubic inch flathead V8 from a ’49 Lincoln. Still a cool engine, but no V12. The seller says their father owned the car, and the V12 was already gone by the time he bought it. The good news is that the V8 runs – as long as you feed it with gas from an external source.
Restoration work was begun years ago; the seats and carpet were redone, and it looks like someone added, or was trying to add, power windows. At least I think that’s what those switches on the door are for. The door panels are off, but included.
It’s straight, and as far as the seller can tell, not rusty. The trim is all there, it looks like, and the intricate chrome grille is still impressive all these years later. It’s got a cool set of wide whitewalls, but there’s no indication of how old they are; hopefully they’re serviceable.
1968 Ford Fairlane 500 – $1,500
Engine/drivetrain: 200 cubic inch overhead valve inline 6, four-speed manual, RWD
Location: Ormond Beach, FL
Odometer reading: 48,000 miles
Operational status: Not running, engine condition unknown
If you’re looking for something a little newer, and a little cheaper, here we have a four-door Fairlane from two decades later. In typical Ford fashion, the Fairlane changed sizes in 1962, from a trim level on the full-sized line to its own model on a mid-sized platform. 1968 was a big year for the Fairlane; it switched from stacked headlights to side-by-side, and the Torino name made its first appearance at the top of the line, making this Fairlane 500 the mid-level model.
This Fairlane has the smallest engine available, Ford’s 200 cubic inch inline six, backed by a four-speed manual, if I’m reading the shift pattern on the knob right. It’s a little hard to see in the photo. The seller has no idea what condition it’s in; they haven’t tried to start it. But it’s easy enough to pull it out and drop in a known-running V8, if you’d rather. I mean, it’s already a four-on-the-floor; might as well have a good engine to go with it.
The interior obviously needs some work, but it’s just worn out, not gross or dusty. You could either reupholster the bench, or pull it out and drop in some bucket seats. Whichever way you go with the seats, that new-for-’68 steering wheel with the crash pad in the middle just has to go. An old three-spoke Mustang wheel or something similar would look so much better.
It doesn’t look very rusty, but it does need some work on the outside. It’s missing some side trim and one hubcap, and one rear window is taped shut. I don’t know if the window is missing, or just stuck partway down, but it obviously needs some attention. And I’m pretty sure the black paint isn’t original; I think this car used to be that damn ubiquitous Ford green again.
Whether or not either of these cars was actually found in a barn, I have no idea. But it’s as good an origin story as anything, I suppose. However they got to this point, though, what really matters is what happens to them next. One is pretty much all there, and already started, even if it has the wrong engine in it. The other might need more work, but the price sure is right. Which one are you going to tell people you found in a barn?
(Image credits: sellers)
The Lincoln is sharp, but the Fairlane is project-priced.
Man, that Lincoln sure has style and that front seat looks comfy. But those plastic window switches?
The Lincoln just doesn’t have the pre-war look of the amazing Zephyrs, and that would always eat at me.
People need to realize: four-door sedans don’t have the great looks of the two doors or fastbacks of the same model, but give an easy entry into classic cars with a bit more practicality. For $1500 as a base, sans any hidden rust, dump another $3500 into parts and DIY labor, could make a fun daily/weekend car.
I’d take the Lincoln and EV it.
Plenty of space under the hood for batteries – run the cable to the motor in back, which is probably about the same size as the old differential.
That would be the way to go.
If you cut the greenhouse off the Lincoln, by itself I’d say it came off a Beetle.
My daddy’s gone.
No worries about drivin’ him to drinkin.
I’m building a Hot Rod Lincoln.
I was immediately drawn to the Fairlane. It’s got that “could be driven either by a detective or a moonshine runner” kind of vibe. Engine swap would be pretty simple, and I might also consider adding power brakes while I was in there.
I seen that Lincoln on craigslist last week, just over the mountain from me, just don’t have room for another car, wouldn’t mind having it. They came with power windows, probably substituted more modern control switches.
Seeing as this is internet money, I went Lincoln. I’d source a replacement V12, something Italian, just to piss off the pursuits.
My thoughts went directly to TWR Jaguar engine, not just internet money but internet skill set too!
I respect that.
The Fairlane is plenty cool, especially for that price, but c’mon! That Lincoln is easily ten times as cool, for only three times the price. Probably cooler.
This is the correct take.
The Fairlane seems like a great deal for $1500. It isn’t the most exciting car, but I like the styling. It also looks like a relatively unintimidating project. It is mostly complete. It is a simple, low-tech vehicle. It looks solid. It is also relatively close to where I live.
I am genuinely interested in buying this car. I am out of town at the moment, but if it is still for sale when I get back I might pick this one up.
It looks like someone was trying to make the windows electric in the Linclon. I am pretty sure that those year has hydraulic power windows originally. One for these Lincolns is in my bucket list but I would hold out fir a v12 just to experience it.
I have the smaller Falcon with a 289 and it’s a decently quick little car. I can’t imagine what a larger body with the smaller 200 six would be like. Woof. Plus, it’s not even a 2-door and needs a bunch of work. The Lincoln would be worth fixing up in the end as the body style is cooler. The Fairlane is just Fair-lame. Lincoln takes it, even without the notoriously overheating V-12.
The Ford for me given that V12 is missing from the Lincoln. Proper color already for making a sinister night cruiser, although weirdly I’d want to source a Barra from down under to drop in this.
The V-12 was problematic from day one, which is why a lot of them were replaced with the V-8. The fact that Ford still used the transverse leaf spring/solid axle front end turns me off to an otherwise good looking Lincoln, especially the ’41 MY.
Not weird at all! That engine is a beast, you’d have to go with a Coyote or a fully breathed-on 347 to beat it. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that!
The shift knob may say 4 speed, but I will bet it’s a 3 speed.
Agreed. Give me the bottom basement engine with the upgraded transmission definitely wasn’t how it worked back then.
Was a 4-speed even available with this engine?
No a 4sp was only available with a V8 according to the brochure.
Either of these could be a solid choice for the (hopefully not) forthcoming apocalypse, with carbureted engines and no electronics except maybe the radio.
What makes the choice difficult is their current run states. Do I save three grand and count on being able to get that I6 running, or pay three times as much for a running example… Tough choice today.
I went for less chrome and less money. Better stealth and more cash on hand after it all goes to crap.
Well, that was depressing.
I voted Ford simply because the 40’s styling has just never done it for me.
I agree on the 40’s styling, it’s just so… frumpy. A big drop after beauties of the 30’s.
They weren’t so much ‘finds’ as waiting patiently to be rebarn!
This is a tough one. But I think I’ll take the Lincoln as it seems in better condition than the Fairlane.
The cost of entry is lower on the Ford, but I’m not convinced the savings are worth the added effort that’ll be required.