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Review: 'The Corvette in the Barn,' by Tom Cotter

By Jonathan L. Stein

August 25, 2010

Corvette In The Barn 

Since I love to run, my mileage often takes me through new neighborhoods where I'm constantly on the lookout for an abandoned Triumph TR4A in a side yard, perhaps, or maybe even a Cobra 289. Apparently I'm not alone in my quest. Like previous books from author Tom Cotter, "The Corvette in the Barn" is a captivating series of vignettes about people finding cool cars in forgotten places.

The book’s eight chapters are grouped by topic, such as "Hibernating Hot Rods" and "Hollywood Machines." Within these chapters lurk powerfully intriguing tales such as "The Cornfield Hemi ‘Cuda," "Striking Carrera Gold" and "A Healey in the Shadows" that fully redline the imagination. The vignettes range from two to 15 pages, with the longest, “The Corvette Sleuth,” chronicling the amazing finds of restorer Kevin Mackay.

A particularly gripping story, "The Junkyard Ferrari," is found in Chapter Six, "Veterans of the Tarmac Wars," about old racecars. Cotter documents the discovery of an old 1953 Ferrari V12 in a Northern California junkyard in 1979. Tattered and rusty, it belongs to eccentric junkyard impresario Lou Brero Jr. – but as history later reveals, it had won the Mille Miglia and been raced by the likes of Alberto Ascari, Phil Hill and Carroll Shelby.

Despite the occasional slipup, the copy is lively and upbeat, and plenty of dialogue makes the read even more personal. Two wrenches up for this one. $26.00 from motorbooks.com.

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Comments

  1. A disappointment When I bought this book I was very excited to get home and start reading it. Being a huge classic and antique care fan, I could not wait to read the various stories about automotive archeology. About twenty pages into the book I realized that this book is less about automotive archeology and more concerning flipping cars for a profit. These stories all have a similar theme, research or chance upon someone’s old car, do anything you can to acquire it, and then resell it for a profit. Some of these guys make ambulance chasing attorneys sound like respectable professions. My point is these old automobiles were owned and stored by guys who loved their cars. They linked romance with their cars. When these owners getup in their years, and the medical bills start piling up, so-called automotive archeologists hound them until they either die or sell them their cars. What kind of premise for a book is that? It certainly is not about the love of old cars, or archeology, it is about greed.

  2. The best I ever heard. I guy I knew went out of state to visit his Uncle. He had not seen his uncle since his father died when he was very young. While he was exploring his uncle`s farm, he found an old GTO under a tarp in one of the barns. When he asked his uncle about it, his uncle explained that it had belonged to my friends father and he just never had the heart to get rid of it. That `65 GTO is now perfectly restored.

  3. Another great book from Tom Cotter. I read all 3 of mine over and over again!

  4. For those interested a guy has had the original bullitt Mustang in storage since 1976 and won`t let anybody see it. http://editions.amospublishing.com/MNGE/default.aspx?d=20100401

  5. Great book. I particular like the story about the Sleeping Beauties collection.

  6. Can`t wait to buy the book I have the first 2

  7. I love it. I have recently found some of these cars 3 1947 Mercury coupes and a 1936 Buick sedan. All very solid and in a building since the 1970`s

  8. Book is fantastic, as are all of Tom Cotter`s "Barn Find" series books!

  9. Thanks Jonathan : Well done. Barry Boricchio

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