"new" barn finds...

[Chris Border MFG]

I just got a call from a friend of mine from the hotrod world. He told me of a "barnfind" car he went to go buy. The pictures were of a mid forties lakes style model A hotrod. Period perfect. Just pulled out of the shed after a almost 60 year nap. He wanted it in the worst way. I dont blame him, me too. When he got there. The car was just as he had seen in the pics. It was not until money changed hands and it was loaded on the trailer that he had a bomb dropped on him. The car was less than a year old. Built to look like an old hotrod. All the right patiena and war wounds. The works. It was a fake.

This brings me to my point. How do the motorcycle groups feel about "NOS" ( new old style) builds. There are some very talented people out there that car build and make a new bike look old. Just like a true barn find. In the car world, If its known that its new up front, its usually accepted. I am not talking rat rods or rat bikes. I am talking true looking " original " bikes.

Just wanted to know the feelings here. We all love the barnfinds. How about new barn posers? Just asking please dont shoot me.

[Gomer]

Interesting concept although I find the way your friend found out down right underhanded. But saying that if everyhing was on the up and up and not advertised as anything but a remake I kind of like the idea. I am not sure how this plays out in the long run, in other words, the second or third owner, but somehow I think we will all find out. With the prices these things are bringing making a remake of a certain madel might be the only way a common man can afford one, just like the remake Yenko chevelles.

[exeric]

Interesting concept although I find the way your friend found out down right underhanded.


I don't understand. What was underhanded on the buyer's part?

[panz4ever]

How did he not discover it was a fake before buying it. Found a 36 Chevy master Coupe in iowa in a barn. Pretty hard to cover up road dirt under the frame or a few extra cob webs. Restoring a 55 Chevy Cameo that was in a field in Fresno, Ca. Pretty hard to mask the age and wear and tear on old vehicles/motorcycles. Be curious to see some pics if you would like to share them. There is always a lesson to be learned from the misfortunes of others.

[Chris Border MFG]

I kinda agree with the underhanded part. Its not as hard to mask or make look like an old barn or field item as you might think. I have seen it done on both cars and bikes. I also agree with when it changes hands a few times nobody will know. I dont mean restored either. I mean looks like you just pulled it out of the barn. I will look for some pics to help explain.

[Chris Border MFG]

As an example. I know of a Yale that was an unrestored original bike. Very nice but one of the frame tubes and seen some very bad repairs over the years. This tube was cut out and replaced with a new one. The area was then painted and striped just like new. Then its was "aged" to match the rest of the bike. You could not tell at all it was ever done. That being said, what would keep someone from doing an entire bike that way? And if it was or is done. How do people take it? The car thing just got me thinking about it. Its done all the time with old hot rods. But I dont know about bikes. I am ok with it as long as its known what was done. If you find 3/4 of a frame and a motor. Then come up with a tank. Why not put it together as an unreastored original. These thing are only that way once.

[Barry Brown]

deja vu on this topic . Old time look "patination" has been going on for about 20 years or more from my observations . The first example I remember was an Excelsior that Brad Wilmarth did for Dave Leitner. It was a work of art . Brad also does first class restos.
If that tv show ever gets going it'll be the barns that will be in short supply not the doctored bikes. In Canada most early bikes were registered in the cities and that is where they have been found, ie. in garages and basements NOT barns. probably the same for the USA. I guess "basement find" doesn't have the same ring, sounds more like a serial killer was involved.

[INLINE4NUT]

Sounds to me like at some point in time someone may have to have lead removed from their knees !!! of course the person had a hardon for the car and thought they were the ones getting over,I guess the old sayings apply,if its to good to be true,Buyer beware !!

[motorhead1]

Always carry a baseball bat and your bail money when you go out buying.

[flat-happy]

dishonest is dishonest---there's no gray area unless you're a lawyer or a politician