Sometimes you come across a well-preserved car that doesn’t need a restoration. Some people call these “Rip Van Winkle” cars, some call them “Survivor” cars and some — whether correctly or incorrectly — call them “Barn Finds” The first and last terms both refer to cars that have “slept” for a long time, but not to the condition they are in. A stored away car can be darned near perfect or it can be a disaster. Sleeping for 20 years or spending time in a barn is better than outside storage, but long-term storage can also cause a lot of deterioration.

Read the rest of John’s article here you can also read John in the excellent Auto Restorer magazine.