The following story is a good one but it does fall just one notch short of terrific. Can you imagine the excitement of a Team Member finding a 69 Talladega in this condition out in the middle of no where? I know many of you have done just that. If you would like to share the story on how you found your Talladega or Spoiler/Spoiler II or other rare Ford product please send it along with some photos to: rfleener@comcast.net.
“Barn Find” is a term that all car guys have dreams about. Some of us have actually been lucky enough to pull a long lost muscle car from out of a barn but unfortunately few get to experience this excitement. In reality most lost survivors are rarely found in a barn; more than likely they will be found outside behind a garage or in a pasture with a cluster of other forsaken vehicles.
From experience, finding a neglected but no less desirable car that has been unused for decades can be a thrill similar to when you were a pimple faced teenager and the girl you have been lusting over for weeks finally said yes to a drive-in movie date.
We recently received the following email and photos on our LegendaryCollectorCar.com site from one of our loyal readers about his prized find. Any Ford lover, and most others, would be thrilled to have made this find. If you have a story about your find please pass it on to rfleener@comcast.net.
By Steve Link,
While not found in a barn, I thought this might interest you and some of the readers. I found this 1968 Torino GT in a woman’s backyard here in Oklahoma City. It had been sitting for 33 years! While it looks like it was buried, it still was off the ground just barely! Has a 390, C-6, 9″ rear end, buckets, and factory air/PS with almost no rust at all except under the driver’s seat and surface rust. Plus it is an unmolested survivor that has everything still there intact. I was moving it around and getting it staged to push it into the shop and noticed that the glove box was not locked as I had thought before and got it to open. While there was a lot of mice “evidence”, there was also some good info in pristine condition….This car was a one owner car when I bought it!!!!!
Original Car Invoice from 04/09/1968 showing the purchase price of $4356.14 and listed as Wimbledon White with red “C” stripe.
Letter from the National Service Manager E. P. Williams to the original owner Lester R. Leaman in SC.
Owner cards for servicing.
2 service maintenance reports.
She cleaned up pretty good, and the borrowed Pantera wheels look nice to roll her around on! The interior is dirty but intact though rotted. Right now I am trying to assess why they parked it and try to get it running, though I will most likely end up pulling the engine. My Ford friends tell me to just fix what needs fixing and get it running if I can, as it will never be original again! Leave the paint and surface rust….I don’t know….
I love your site!
Take care, Steve.
Awesome find!!!