(upbeat country music)
- Hi, this is Tom Cotter
and welcome to another episode of "Barn Find Hunter."
Sometimes we fly to remote locations to look for old cars.
Sometimes we drive to locations.
This episode we're gonna walk to look for old cars.
I wanna show you that there are cars everywhere.
I'm at a house that I have in Maine.
And if I can walk to them here,
you can walk to them where you are.
So follow me.
(upbeat country music)
Hello, Mark. The big guns are here.
- Tom said not to clean up.
- [Tom] That's right. We're like them dirty.
We're with my friend Mark
who only lives two houses where I live.
This is what, a 1970 maybe?
- [Mark] '72.
- '72 MGB.
And it seems to be in pretty good shape.
Seems to be you're working on it.
But the interesting story to me
is how you came to own this car.
- I worked on an island for years, 20 something years.
And I made friends with a lot of people out there.
A lady and myself got talking.
I had one of these when I was in the military.
- Uh-huh. - And then one day, she says,
"Well I've got one in my garage."
Two years later, she says, "You want that car?"
(Tom laughs)
- So, it seems to be solid.
I mean, it looks like you've been through the brakes
'cause it's nice and clean.
Hydraulic clutch as well.
Yeah. - Yeah, I got working also.
- [Tom] So the last time this was registered, '97?
- [Mark] Yeah, '97.
- [Tom] So what's your plans for it?
- [Mark] To make it down to Spruce Point back this year.
- [Tom] So two miles down and two miles back.
- [Mark] Yeah.
- [Tom] I'm gonna check out the mileage here
'cause I'm curious.
- 97,651.
- You know, that's a lot of miles for an MG.
Most of them don't get that far.
- [Mark] It's got a few electrical problems and I...
- [Tom] Oh, surprise me. (laughs)
- [Mark] Well, like I said, I owned one before,
nicknamed Lucas, the Prince of Darkness.
You could be driving along and the lights would go out.
- [Tom] Well, you know, invite us back when it's done
and maybe we can take a ride with you with our cameras.
- But you've gotta take me for a ride, too.
- Okay, I'll do it.
- And I don't want to go in that Japanese car either.
I don't want to go in that American one.
I've seen you run around in here a few times.
- All right. It's a promise.
- It's a deal. - It's a deal.
- So when I got this house in Boothbay,
I'd be working on it, putting bricks down for a walk
or painting the porch or something like that.
And a guy would walk by every day with a NASCAR shirt on.
So he told me he went to Daytona 500
and he's a big NASCAR fan.
And then he started to tell me about the Ford Bronco
that his father bought new.
And here it is today, still in the garage, 1972.
So tell us a story about this car.
- [Mark] Well, I just looked up the exact cost.
It was $4,779.
Only got 27,000 miles on it.
- [Tom] Well this thing looks pretty clean.
I mean, the seats are not ripped.
The door panels are in place.
So this was never an everyday car.
- [Mark] Yeah, when he had it.
When it first came out, he worked the sewer district
and he did that and he plowed with it.
And he plowed the neighborhood three or $4,
a thing until the plow was paid for.
- Oh, no kidding. - Back then, yeah.
So I'm just thinking.
So 31 years old, 27,000 miles.
So it's been driven less than a thousand miles a year
since it was new, average.
Hard top. (roof thuds)
It's got the full body and it's got the side trim.
It's got the deluxe interior.
This is not a stripper Bronco at all.
So what are your plans for this?
- Well, I really wanted to drive it again.
And I really think it's time for somebody else to have it.
- [Tom] So you'd sell this?
- I think I probably would.
- Really? - I've saved it all this time.
It's got the 302.
- Can we take a look at the engine?
Would it be too much trouble? - Yeah, would you mind
if we take a minute?
(hood clanging)
- [Tom] So it's got that offset air cleaner
that Broncos had.
If you notice, if you put a traditional air cleaner on here,
it would hit the hood.
So this has got no air conditioning?
No, but it's got power steering, manual brakes,
three-on-the-tree.
- [Mark] I mean it's a lot of engine for a little car.
And you get on the highway with it.
It's really interesting.
- [Tom] So you were 11.
Was this a big deal in your family when you got this?
- Oh, it was pride and joy. Absolute pride and joy.
One fun fact I found during the American auctions,
I've been watching these,
the fall down hood I found only happened for a couple years,
the hinges on the window.
- [Tom] Oh, for the windshield?
- Yeah, and...
- So this hinge here. (hood thudding)
- It was actually workable for the first couple years.
And I found out
I don't think the hinge was too strong for the window
but they left it as a facade 'cause it just looked good.
- So your hope is to find a new home for this.
You know, I don't think you have a problem selling this.
Somebody watching this is probably gonna wanna buy it.
(chuckles) So anyway, I really appreciate it,
Mark, that you let us come over here
and see this family heirloom.
Check out your neighborhood
because somebody there might have a car
that their father bought new
and maybe they want to get rid of it as well.
(upbeat country music)
I'm meeting my new friend here, Nita.
So this is our third house that we're visiting.
Walking up the street.
But when I first saw that car, it was up on Campbell Street
and I think your brother owned it, right?
- Oh, yes, yes.
He lived with me for a while
and he lived with my sister for a while.
- And this was his pride and joy, I guess.
- Of, course. He passed on two years ago.
So he probably had it maybe three years.
- Three years.
'Cause I used to see him buzzing all around town.
- Oh, yes. He loved it. (laughs)
- [Tom] Well, you have this car,
you're storing it as a good sister should
but what are you gonna do with it?
Are you gonna drive it? - I have no idea
what to do with it. (laughs)
- [Tom] Is that right?
- [Nita] I've had a couple offers on it.
- [Tom] I'm just gonna open this engine compartment
if that's okay.
- [Nita] I didn't know that was what it was. (chuckles)
(compartment door clanking)
- I think I need a little WD 40.
(compartment door screeching)
Ah, I got it.
There we go. - Ooh.
- [Nita] Plenty of pine needles.
- Plenty of...
There it is. So it's a four cylinder.
It's got a single, it looks like a Stromberg carburetor.
Very basic motor.
But you can see why racers would love a car like this
'cause it was so easy to work on.
Well, I wish you luck in finding a new owner for this.
And if I can help you find somebody,
I'll steer them your way.
So now we're off to our next walk to location
which is just a few blocks that way.
- Another car?
- Another car.
We're just walking. Yeah.
Hey, Bob.
- Hey, Tom.
- So I've passed this thing for years.
I've seen it riding around town
and I've always wondered, like,
"What's the story with this car?"
- [Bob] Yep, story is, I bought it brand new in 1983
and I got it from my first professional job.
- [Tom] So where'd you buy it? What state?
- [Bob] I bought her in New Hampshire.
This is the 1983. 1499ccs under the roof here.
They were making 1300ccs
and it came in either red or black.
- [Tom] Is this the first year of the Civic?
- [Bob] This is the last year that the hatchback was made.
- Uh-huh, okay. - And then they changed
the whole rear end of it
but now it's just being driven around Boothbay Harbor.
And she has about 120,000 miles on her.
You know, it's almost, it'll be 40 years old next year.
So we're averaging about 300 miles a year.
- Why did you keep this car?
- I just didn't want to get rid of.
It was my first new car
and I think it's the only new car I've ever bought.
Yeah. - Oh, man. That's cool.
So it's got a five speed.
- Yeah. - It's got a five speed.
Yeah, five on the floor
- And it runs well? - Yeah.
- [Bob] She fires right up.
- Can you start? - I started it up in May.
And... (Tom laughs)
- [Tom] Let's start it up now.
- [Bob] Oh, let's fire it off
(door thudding) (engine beeping)
(keys clanking) (engine sputtering)
- Ouch. (engine sputtering)
- [Tom] Oh, it took a long time.
So this has got the big block, you said.
- [Bob] Oh, it is a big block.
This is huge. Yeah. (Tom laughs)
- Jeez. - Yeah.
This is where the mice live. (laughs)
- Oh, wow. (Bob laughs)
- [Bob] Hasn't had any major work done on it.
Think it had a water pump on it and that was about it.
But, you know... - So we're talking
almost 40 years
- Almost 40 years, you know, and Hondas are like that.
And I've owned five Hondas before.
- So how much did that one go for?
- This one for $7,400 new.
Yep, and- - You paid 7,400.
- Yeah, my monthly payments were $160 a month.
So, yeah.
I was strapped back then. - Those were the days.
I know. I bought a pinto the same time.
Yeah. (both laughing)
- [Bob] Well that's a different story on the Pintos.
(Bob laughs)
- And you have no plans to get rid of it. This is-
- Oh, no. Absolutely not.
My daughter won't let me. (hood thudding)
She wants to learn out my boys learn.
- Is this your daughter over here?
- That's my daughter.
She goes- - Hi.
- "Dad, no, you're not gonna sell that car."
I wanna learn to drive that car.
- [Tom] So this is a car that we all took for granted.
I mean, it was a car that was kind of revolutionary
when it came out.
And then they were so good and they lasted so long.
They just kind of,
"Okay, you saw them in a parking lot, it was no big deal."
But here we are almost 40 years later,
and this is a big deal.
I mean, the fact that Honda built such a quality car
and you hung onto it.
There's two good stories there.
- Yep, absolutely.
And this was the first sport version of the Civic.
And now they're pretty sporty.
If you look at
the new model- - Oh, yeah.
That just came out. - Oh, I know.
And a lot of kids have them now.
And I was lucky to get one in 1983.
- Jeez. - Yep.
- Well, thank you, sir.
- [Bob] Hey, you're welcome.
(upbeat country music)
- Well, this is my friend, Dave.
And when you're living in a little town like this,
it doesn't take long for car people
to know who car people are.
Tell me what we're gonna look at in here.
How long have you had this car?
- I've had this car since 2001.
It's a '69 Chevelle Super Sport 396.
- So let's take a look at it. - Okay.
- [Tom] Is this your anti-theft system here?
- Yes, it is. Yeah. (Tom laughs)
(wheelbarrow thudding)
- [Tom] Oh, boy. That's a sweetheart.
Is that an original car?
- [Dave] It's original. The motor's been rebuilt in it.
- [Tom] So it's a four-speed 396.
- [Dave] 375 horse.
Yes, got the original wheels.
About 126,000 miles.
- [Tom] It's in pretty good shape.
Can we see what the motor looks like?
- [Dave] Oh, absolutely.
- [Tom] Oh, boy.
That is a big block.
So it's got power steering.
That's good.
- [Dave] And I just had the brakes all redone.
- Yeah, I see that. Yeah, it's great.
Wow. All right, so...
And you have another car you wanna tell us about.
- Yes, yes. - Good.
I guess you're a lobsterman, right?
- [Dave] Hey, I'm retired from it now.
- [Tom] So, what am I looking at here?
- This is a 1962 Chevy Bel Air 4-Door Sedan.
And this is the first car I ever owned.
I bought this back when I was 15 years old.
I'd had my driver's license just two months
when I bought it.
It belonged to an old lady in town and she passed away.
The car and everything she owned
was put up on a silent auction.
Put a bid in at $200 on the car.
Yeah, and the car had just 36,000 miles on it.
- Man, she was the original owner, I guess.
- [Dave] She was the original owner.
- [Tom] Is it a V8?
- Yes, got a small-block 283 V8 then.
- [Tom] Let's see it.
You know, some people love 283s more than 327s
or 350s. - Oh, yeah.
- [Tom] Wow.
- [Dave] Yeah, I had the motor all rebuilt.
- [Tom] Is it built stock?
- [Dave] Originally, it had a two-barrel
Rochester carburetor on.
- [Tom] Boy, it sure looked sweet.
I mean, you know, you never see...
I mean, these cars just disappeared.
And to see one like this cherry is so rare.
So it's got a automatic?
- [David] Yes, automatic.
- [Tom] Powerglide.
- [Dave] Yeah, Powerglide transmission.
- [Tom] Yep, and it runs well?
- [Dave] Oh, runs great.
- [Tom] You drove it all through high school.
- [Dave] I did.
When I was lobstering, when I was a kid in high school,
I used to haul bait in the trunk of it.
- [Tom] Oh, boy.
It's nothing like finding a little piece of treasure
in your own neighborhood.
- Hopefully, Tom, later on this summer,
you'll see me come and get down by with it.
- [Tom] I wanna ride.
- [Dave] Oh, most definitely
- [Tom] Dave, thank you.
Check out your neighborhood.
You might find something like this
nine houses from where you live, too.
Happy hunting.
(upbeat country music)