READ SOMETHING, DAMMIT! – “Corvette In The Barn” Edition
We’ve all dreamed of it–finding some rare and unique car (or truck) hidden away in a barn or backyard somewhere, one that was thought to be lost forever. Maybe it’s an old Cobra, or an original Shelby Mustang? What about the ’64 Corvette Z06 Convertible that wasn’t supposed to exist? Or, what about an entire AMC dealer, locked down and fenced in to keep the damn French (aka, Renault) out of a good ol’ boy’s place of business?
Tom Cotter did just that–and lived to write about it. In his book, “The Corvette in the Barn,” Cotter takes us on an incredible journey through the stories of cars that mysteriously disappeared, and how they were found again. And unlike the stories “that guy” at the car show will tell you, these stories are all true, and all amazing. Most of the stories tell of some incredible sleuthing by professional “car hunters,” seeking out their prey in time for the next Barret-Jackson, which makes the book worthy on its own-just to see how the experts find cars and parts is worth it on its own. However, many of them involve sheer dumb luck, like the scrap dealer who found his first car in an overgrown shrub. Or, the guy who finds an old dragster frame to rebuild, only to find that it’s a rare twin-engine, top-gas rail that was once featured in Hot Rod magazine.
Tom (and the other writers who contributed to the book) also do a little sleuthing of their own; in one story, we discover the truth behind the “Portuguese Barn Find,” the infamous photos of a barn filled with dusty old cars somewhere in Portugal. In another story, we hear of three men’s nearly impossible quest to find a car collection known only as “The Sleeping Beauties.” Their tale of dead ends and determination is worth the lousy $17 bucks alone.
Mind you, this isn’t Shakespearian literature; Tom’s writing style may come across as a bit clumsy to fans of classical poetry, but it’s easy to forgive this one shortcoming. Having been a part of at least ten automotive history books from 2003 to 2010, his drive to create great reading material puts him in a special class, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Stephen King and the lady who writes those Nascar-themed Harlequin Romance paperbacks. But, unlike King, Cotter’s books leave you with a sense of inspiration to seek out your own barn find. Y’know, as opposed to a sense of fear whenever a clown or a Plymouth rolls on by.
Want to support this site? Buy your copy of Tom Cotter’s “Corvette In The Barn” on Amazon.com through this link
Related posts:
Leave a Reply