Culture|Garage

We all have dreams of finding that amazing car, hiding under a sheet or in a back alley, a bit weatherbeaten, obviously ignored, but ripe for the taking-for the right price. For some, it’s a P 1800 far from it’s icy Swedish home, awaiting a good restoration. For others, nothing beats finding a tri-five Chevy tucked away in an old service bay. For very few, the dream comes true, and the dust-coated dropcloths come off of the cars in a flourish of history, lore and excitement. For Charlie Lillard, the dream became his in a tiny California barn.

To the uninitiated, Corvettes are rich-boy’s toys, little more than trophies to trumpet financial conquest. However, in their heyday, Corvettes ran the gamut, from mild to wild. Small-block V8’s could be found in base Corvettes, offering the fiberglass cars plenty of motivation despite the comparatively small displacement. At the top of the range, big-block stormers and “fuelie” engines were optional under bowtie-and-flag badged hoods. These were the ZO6’s of their day, very desirable then and highly collectible now. They were street kings, much lighter than their largely sedan-based competition, and were just as capable on the track, kissing cousins to the production versions. In fact, the race versions of corvettes shared so much with their street-faring cousins that Roger Penske’s team raided a spectator’s Corvette which was in the lot for a Sebring race in 1964 for parts-remembering to leave a note, of course(!).

It was a barn full of these machines that changed hands after two-and-a-half decades of sitting, the reclusive owner loathe to part with his beloved machines. Although bought as investments by the gentleman who stored them away, he rarely allowed visitors to the collection, and thus five ‘Vettes populated the drafty barn and a nearby garage, more or less forgotten by the local community. So imagine the surprise that must have registered in buyer Charlie Lillard’s mind when he heard the news that the owner’s family had decided to sell the collection- enough that within an hour, he had arrived at the seller’s doorstep, ready to make a purchase. What waited for him behind the doors of the barn and garage was nothing less than breathtaking.

The first car was a blue 1956 Corvette hardtop with a 265-cu. in. V8 underhood, the second year for said motor to be made available to Corvette buyers. Hot-rodded at some point in it’s life, the ‘56 had a red, almost burgundy metalflake roof with twin gold panels.

The second car was a red 1963 model with it’s original drivetrain and engine, as well as the documentation to prove the car’s history. Shod in customized period wheels, the split-window also appears to have sported a four-speed, the car’s original dual-snorkel air cleaner topping the 250-horse mill and power everything-brakes, windows and steering.

The second ‘63 Corvette had been slathered in a shade of metallic green at sometime in its life, but had a solid layer of dust caking it when Lillard first saw it. It had been hot-rodded with some unusual parts, including an early fuel-injection unit atop it’s 327. The car’s original color, Tuxedo Black, lay a scant few millimeters underneath the green- hopefully to be revealed in an upcoming restoration.

The fourth car was a silver 1967 model with a scant 51,000 miles on the clock with original paint, engine and drivetrain-known in Barret-Jackson land and the NCRS (National Corvette Restorer’s Society) lingo as a “survivor” car. I’d have to give it credit for surviving the 60’s unscathed- who knows how much LSD a 300-horse 327 could snort? Best of all, the car had a four-speed in the center of it’s black interior.

Finally, the fifth car was a pale yellow 327 ‘67, with only 48,000 miles on the odometer. Power steering, A/C and an automatic trans only sweetened the deal. The interior was in even better shape than the silver car’s- and the wood wheel was still intact, looking like-new.

So what did Mr. Lillard pay for the privilege of taking these five superstars home? He’s not saying. However, he did sell four of the five to Musclecars Northwest in Renton, Washington. Oh, and included in the deal when Lillard purchased the cars? A treasure trove of parts and other original bits and pieces, including hubcaps, steering wheels, extra interior components and more.

Maybe you won’t stumble across five Corvettes-heck, maybe you won’t bash your shins against a tarpaulin-covered Studebaker- but hopefully, you can fulfill your hopes of coming across a barn find yourself. Get out there-they are waiting!

[As a side note, I wanted to take a moment to thank reader and frequent contributor, Blix, for helping me out with my final interview paper- you helped earn me an A on that project- thank you so much!]

via: Corvette Fever Magazine

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