The greatest classic car barn finds - part 2!

As we said in the previous article, there’s something so exciting about a barn find - coming across a dusty legend sleeping under cobwebs, forgotten for decades, that is then rediscovered like buried treasure. In the UK, a country rich in automotive history, a few extraordinary finds have made headlines over the years for their rarity, value and incredible backstories, so we thought this time we’d focus just on those barn finds that have happened so close to home.

Here, then, are five of the most interesting classic car barn finds that have ever happened in the UK…

1. Britain’s biggest ever barn find?

In 2025, in what may be the largest barn find in British history, over 200 classic cars were unearthed in Gloucestershire in the early part of the year. The incredible haul, which includes everything from Jaguars to Austins, including a Triumph TR7 FHC and several MGs, plus Mercedes-Benz R107 SLs and Volkswagen Golf cabriolets, were amassed by a single private collector over several decades and stored across multiple barns and sheds. It’s believed that the idea was to start a museum with them. Some of the vehicles were in remarkably good (and restorable) condition, while others were simply shells waiting for a new lease of life. The entire collection is set to be auctioned off, drawing interest already from classic car lovers from around the globe.

(Photo: Tewkesbury Auction Centre)

2. The 1989 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera Sport

Found in a barn, after 14 years of being put into storage and with just 47,000 miles on the clock, this rare 1989 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera Sport coupe is capable of doing 0-60mph in 5.6 seconds. Forgotten for over a decade and gathering dust, it was eventually rediscovered after the death of the owner and went under the hammer, selling for the tidy sum of £76,500 - thought to be more than three times the price of a similar example in average condition.

(Photo: Jam Press/Iconic Auctioneers)

3. A 1934 Triumph Gloria

In a real glimpse into the distant past, a 1934 Triumph Gloria - one of Britain’s finest pre-war saloons - was discovered in a derelict farm building in the UK this year. Untouched for decades, and surrounded by farming equipment, the car still bore its original features and a lovely patina, making it a highly desirable candidate for a full restoration. As a car it really was quite special - these cars were only produced between 1933 and 1938 - and Triumph devotees were thrilled to see such a rare specimen resurface!

(Photo: YouTube/IMSTOKZE)

4. The Ford Escort RS Cosworth pair…

In another of the more modern and equally thrilling discoveries, two Ford Escort RS Cosworths from the 1990s were found abandoned and collecting dust in a locked garage. Both examples were in original condition and had been off the road for many years. Given their rarity (only around 2,500 of them were made) and their rally heritage, each car could apparently soon fetch over £100,000 at auction once restored, and they will no doubt be snapped up soon!

(Photo: YouTube/ The Bearded Explorer)

5. A 1952 Mercedes-Benz 220 Type A Cabriolet

A car with a story as compelling as its design, this 1952 Mercedez-Benz 220 Cabriolet once belonged to a British Army spy stationed in Berlin during the Cold War. When he returned home - after driving it back from Cyprus and through ten counties - he stored the car away, where it sat untouched for 40 years. When it finally resurfaced, it sold for £37,000, along with a set of rare documents including the original 1952 logbook.

(Photo: Reemandansie.com)

Exciting, isn’t it, finding out about all these re-discovered, long-forgotten delights from the past! Whether it’s a dusty Porsche or a Triumph surrounded by farming tools, all of these cars remind us that history isn’t always to be found in museums - indeed, sometimes, it’s just waiting in the back of a shed for us to find!