The show is home to the UK's biggest Barn Find display with around 20 barn finds in various states of rust, all bidding for visitors votes to be crowned the winner. |
We welcome our new Barn Find sponsor:
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The finalsts!
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This was the model made famous by the popular television cop show, The Sweeney. The car that appeared on screen bore the registration number of NHK 295M, and it has since been fully restored and appea ... -
Launched in 1957, this compact luxury saloon was powered by a 43bhp B-Series engine. Mk II and Mk III versions would follow in 1960 and 1961 respectively, these benefitting from a number of revisions ... -
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This just so happens to be the second 850 in this year’s display, and it was one discovered in a barn just last year. And for a Mini enthusiast like Ian, it was simply too good an opportunity to pass ... -
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These earlier Land Rovers are popular with enthusiasts across the world, and the arrival of the Series II in 1958 introduced a number of improvements. But the long wheelbase example you see here boast ... -
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We’re always excited to see a Mini in the barn finds display, but this extremely early example - owned by Andy since 2020 - is particularly interesting as it’s had just one previous owner. And it was ... -
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Launched at the London Motor Show in October 1963, the Corsair certainly stood out thanks to its American styling cues. It wasn’t a sales success with just 300,000 made, but the car you see here is a ... -
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The current owner says that he’d bought this ‘80s classic just recently, and that it had been stored away for the last six or seven years. But the rarity of these models - there are very few still on ... -
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The current owner explains that this stately saloon was one of a pair that he purchased, and while some work has been done, it is best described as a stalled restoration. Which is rather a shame for a ... -
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The Ford Capri was ‘the car you always promised yourself’ and by 1978 it was time for the third generation. However, sales had begun to slow down by the beginning of the 1980s, so Ford introduced some ... -
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These ‘half-ton’ commercials from Austin first arrived in 1957 and remained on sale right through until 1973. That makes the charming example you see quite a late model, and it’s one powered by the 16 ... -
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The owner thinks this unusual vehicle was used by Lockheed Industries as an ambulance at their factory, and that interesting history means it really should be saved. But having been off the road for m ... -
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Despite being off the road for two decades, and living in a barn for many years, this Scimitar is in remarkable condition. The body is sound with no crazing, just paint fade. This is because the previ ... -
MG’s large saloon was launched in 1953, making the example you see an early model. Powered by a B-Series engine, it remained in production until the latter part of 1956 when it was replaced by the ZB ... -
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Purchased along with another Mk IV from a deceased estate, this rather special Jaguar was discovered in Scotland. It clearly needs plenty of work if it’s to be returned to the road, although the owner ... -
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This car was purchased new by Cyril Taylor in 1952 who used the car around Northwest London up until 1958. He then passed the car onto his son Peter Taylor, who used the car frequently up until 1966 w ... -
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When the first Cortina was launched back in 1962 it was the beginning of a model that lasted for twenty years. A favourite of company reps and families alike, it has plenty of fans more than sixty yea ... -
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Who can resist the charms of such a big slice of classic Americana? It’s certainly eye-catching, and a car that we think will grab plenty of attention at this year’s show. It’s got quite an interestin ... -
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Launched in 1963, so celebrating its 60th birthday, Rover’s new saloon was safe, stylish and innovative. The addition of the legendary, Buick-derived 3.5-litre V8 engine five years later boosted perfo ... -
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This impressively original example had only one owner before Craig bought it just a month ago, although he’d known about it for a few years. “A mechanic I know was looking after it for the original ow ...
How do you define a 'barn find'?
To some, it has to be a vehicle covered in four decades worth of dust but to others, it is a car that has laid dormant for many years. The cars displayed are unearthed from garages, sheds, the bottom of peoples gardens hidden by years of weeds. Some have been rescued with the plan on restoring them back to their former glory, while others should be left to 'rust in peace.'
It's fascinating what you can find when you’re on a walk or even just sorting out your own garage – like a vehicle that’s been long forgotten!
Footman James' Display
Footman James has sourced a number of classics from their Coffee & Chrome Community, all at different stages in their restoration. Some fully restored, some half way through and some in their original state. See their selection below.
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The car has been well used but also well cared for with little to no rust at all. Plus, it has kept hold of many of the original features including the original wheels and stereo. The interior was als ... -
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I will confess that before this project, I had no experience in building or working on cars, but I’ve always thought it best to learn to do practical things on the job. With no pressure on me to compl ... -
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This Porsche 356a was buried in a barn in Pennsylvania, USA for almost 30 years. The story goes that it was an old hill climb racing car that had an accident. It was going to be restored and someone d ... -
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This car is an original US LHD drive car in need of full restoration. Its first owner was Lt. Col Van Cusdell and has benefited from living in a dry state in the US. It therefore has what we call 'goo ... -
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Nearly 50 years later, Gary travelled to Northern Ireland to purchase his very own 1975 Rolls-Royce Corniche Drop-head in desperate need of restoration after being kept in a barn for 16 years. The car ... -
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Jacqui said: “I always thought that they were quite a pretty little car. However, during my engineering training I became interested in American-style hot-rods - during the 1980s, I drag raced a ’32 F ... -
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It didn’t take long until Adrian had developed a passion for the car, which one day led him to discover a laid-up ex-1976 RAC Rally Hillman Imp sitting in his friend’s garage. As for how it was found ... -
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Credit: Healey Drivers Club Warren purchased the first car in this story in 2008. He thought it was the Westland Roadster that founder Donald Healey had built for his entry in the Mille Miglia in 1948 ... -
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Classic Motor Cars commenced a complete strip down and restoration of the car totalling over 2500 man hours over many months. Painstakingly restoring every part and in some cases making subtle improv ... -
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Adrian said: “I was smitten by the style and performance and set myself the goal of owning a Lotus. During the last 40 years I have enjoyed working on them as much as I have enjoyed driving them. This ...
About Footman James
Whether your classic is in concours condition after a nut & bolt restoration or in pieces in your garage, Footman James have an insurance policy to suit your requirements. If your classic is currently off the road, FJ’s Laid Up policy protects your vehicle against accidental or malicious damage, fire, theft and attempted theft when kept in a locked garage. It’s also covered during transit to and from competitions, exhibitions and restorers. Call us on the number at the top of this page or request a call back online for a quote.
