Do's and dont's of classic barn finds

Like many other vintage motoring fans, the news about 174 classic cars being revealed in a massive North London warehouse got us properly excited here at Lancaster. Standout cars from the enormous haul of vehicles included a Triumph Stag, several vintage VW campers, a handful of R107 Mercedes SL convertibles and a lovely BMW 2002, the 3 Series' 1970s predecessor.

The cars were mostly covered in thick layers of dust, and all were going to need some TLC – but still, what a collection. And how amazing to be able to reveal all this classic metal to the world in one go. All the new owners will definitely need some insurance for classic cars for this epic haul.

Which got us thinking: are 'barn find' sales like this one among the best ways to get yourself a classic car at an affordable price? And what are the golden rules to remember when hunting for classics in unexpected places?

If you keep your eyes open, and follow a few of our tips below, you might just be in with a chance of spotting a classic of your own, and making its owner an offer they can't refuse.

Do...

Keep your eyes open

It sounds obvious, but look around you when you're out and about, whether it's commuting to work, picking up the kids, or out on your Sunday evening stroll. There may well be treasurable classic cars in your very neighbourhood, or on your route to the office, just sitting there unknown – and, by their owner, quite probably undervalued.

So where to look, exactly? Well, these old cars may well be kept in garages. Indeed, garaging a classic is something we would always recommend – it will both protect your car from the worst of the weather, and should also bring down your classic car cover premiums.

So, keep your eyes out for any open garage doors – in particular on fine summer evenings or at weekends, when people are more likely to be outside doing a spot of gardening or maintenance.

Look for clues

Can you spot any clues that a classic might be lying dormant nearby and hiding in plain sight? For example, if you see an older car on a large property – either clearly off the road, or still in use – there is a strong possibility that there are others parked somewhere indoors – especially on or around a farm.

Any other vintage paraphernalia – an old petrol pump, for example – will suggest that someone here takes an interest in old bits of machinery, and may have more interesting machines squirrelled away.

Use your own classic as a way in

Use your own classic car (if you have one) as a conversation starter. Perhaps a chance meeting with another classic owner in a supermarket car park could lead to bigger things? Try to park nearby (but not too close!) and start up a conversation. Mention your interest in classic cars, and perhaps any current restoration projects – and see if they offer information about their own neglected classic, or another nearby that they know about.

Scour the net

Scour the internet for news of house clearance sales. Sales involving farms or large countryside properties, where old cars are more likely to have been dumped or stored away in an old outbuilding, are particularly fruitful. If you find something that sounds promising, get along and take a look.

Look in the local press

We advocated new technology above – but don't forget that many of the people still holding onto classic cars may be of an older generation, and/or happier using old technologies generally. So, as well as your online searches, think about placing an 'old cars / parts wanted' advert in a local magazine, or a publication with the right broad interest area – a countryside or farming magazine, a monthly for fans of vintage machinery, and so forth.

Get a bird’s eye view with Google Earth

New tech can also be your friend when it comes to searching for a hidden classic. Use Google Earth or bing.com/maps to zoom in on farmyards, driveways outside of large rural properties and so on. You may not be able to see things in crystal-clear resolution, and it may not be that up to date, but if you see a few vehicles or even one slightly intriguing-looking piece of machinery, that's got to be worth a closer inspection.

Check out the forums

Keep an eye on classic car forums, classified ad sites, and auction sites. If you see any classics with what seem to be an unusually low asking price, and perhaps the phrase ' 'for spares or restoration', that ought to be worth following up. It may be that either the seller doesn't know what they're sitting on, or doesn't want to do the work themselves and is only too happy to offload the car at a very reasonable price.

Also, although it may sound insensitive, any auctions or sales arising out of a bereavement may be particularly likely to have some good quality stuff at an affordable price, as the relatives of the deceased may have their hands full dealing with the estate and are keen to make a relatively quick sale.

Make friends with the local workshops

Garages and vehicle repair workshops can be interesting places to investigate – especially if they have a reputation for knowing their classics. Taking an old car off a client's hands, in lieu of payment for repair work, is not unheard of in the garage and body shop world. These garages may just be sitting on some nice old motors that they haven't currently got the time, or the vehicle-specific expertise, to do anything with.

What's more, garage owners will often squirrel away some of these 'project cars' to work on in their spare time or when they retire. So bear these in mind as potentially interesting places to find a classic. Just get permission before you look around – never trespass on private property.

Go to the shows

Following on from our point above, you can once again use your own classic car as a way into the right types of circles. For instance, why not take your vintage motor along to a classic car show or village fete?

If you park it up in a prominent position and make yourself available to chat to passers by, some interesting things may come up in conversation. "You like your classics, I see! A friend of mine has an old Citroen DS in his garage"… that sort of thing. Of course, most people will just want to tell you that they had a Morris Marina / Ford Cortina just like yours back in the day. However, every so often you may glean something of genuine interest.

Be prepared

When you do go to investigate a promising but neglected old vehicle (with the permission of the owner), take a few useful items with you. Some secateurs may be handy for any vegetation growing around or even inside the car, and a stick will come in handy against cobwebs, nettles and so on. A sturdy pair of gloves would also be a wise choice and remember to cover your arms and legs in case of any nasty scratches on rusty old metal.

And don’t…

Go alone

It's always a good idea to take a friend along when searching for barn finds. Some of these cars are kept in remote locations so never go alone. And don’t take lots of cash with you in the first instance.

Be pressured into a purchase

Remember that not everything needs to end with a purchase. If it’s not the car you thought or wanted, then don’t feel obligated to buy it just because the owner is standing in front of you. A wasted trip? Not necessarily. That car may not be for you, but it might be one of a collection – or the seller may know of other neglected classics in the area.

Maybe that Mk1 Ford Granada turned out to be in too much of a state to consider rescuing – but while there, you fell into conversation with the owner, who knows all there is to know about maintaining 1970s Fords – a passion you share. Or a friend of theirs runs a brilliant classic car restoration business just in the next county, with particular experience in the very car makes and models you've been trying to restore on your own for years.

Have unrealistic expectations

This applies both to what you're expecting to find, and your own restoration skills. With regards to the former, if you set yourself a goal of finding a Ferrari, or even a half-decent Mk3 Cortina, at a bargain price within six months you're likely to be disappointed. If you haven't the patience, in fact, the regular classified ads may be a happier hunting ground for you.

But if you can put in the hours, enjoy the whole experience – researching, travelling, meeting new people – and don't mind if all that awaits you at the end is a tired-old Morris Minor for a three-figure sum, then you could be in for some fun.

When it comes to the latter point, meanwhile, try to be realistic about whether your barn find is actually salvageable – either as a whole car, or for parts – or whether it will just involve you in a lot of time and expense, without a car to be particularly proud of at the end of it all. Again, if you're going to enjoy the whole restoration process, then by all means get stuck in – but if you want that rusting hulk converted into a sleek, road-going machine within months, you may need a reality check.

Pay over the odds

Be honest with the owner about the car's value (after you’ve done your own research into prices, of course). Just like if you were buying a car at auction, have a limit in mind and stick to it. You may be tempted to pay over the odds after you’ve spent all that time and effort to get there, but try to buy with your head as well as your heart!

Forget to ask about the history

The work doesn't stop when you've tracked down the barn find of your dreams (or just something half-decent and affordable). You'll probably want to spend time getting to know the owner and the car, rather than launching straight in with a request to buy. Anything too hasty may alarm them – and could also seem insensitive in certain circumstances. This may be a car they have lived with, and cherished, for decades; it may have belonged to a recently departed loved one. So, tread carefully.

Don't be afraid, though, to talk about your own love of cars. For one thing, that will get a rapport going between you and the seller, which may prove crucial in helping them decide to sell. Letting them know about your interest in classics should also prompt them to tell you more about the car and its life to date – all essential knowledge when you come to assess what repairs and restoration it may need. Any documentation they can provide may also be useful when you come to get a quote for classic vehicle insurance.

Classic car insurance for every classic – from the barn find to the museum piece

Whatever state you find your next classic in, it's likely that you'll want to do some work on it to restore it to its former glory. And that's where classic car insurance can come in useful.

It can protect your classic throughout the restoration process, so no unexpected costs get in the way of bringing your new purchase back to roadworthy condition.

Our classic car insurance policies can offer the following benefits:

• Salvage retention
• Laid-up cover
• Limit mileage discounts
• Static Show Cover

Get in touch with us when you're ready to insure your next beautiful barn find.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.