Larry Schroll was an avid car collector who spent much of his life amassing valuable muscle cars – all of which he stored in a barn. Now, imagine being the first person to stumble upon this gem of a collection after his passing, finding dozens of collectible cars that he hid away for decades. Plus, Schroll wasn't one of those unfortunate people who had a million-dollar car collection and lost it. He kept his prized asset in immaculate condition.
Updated December 2022: Larry Schroll’s car collection is a sight to behold, and we're glad Matt Murray could give us a glimpse into the massive collection. We’ve updated this article with a few new facts about YouTuber Matt Murray and some of the iconic classic and vintage cars in Schroll’s collection.
The vastness of the collection overwhelmed Schroll’s family, so they hired someone else to help split the collection. They placed Matt Murray in charge of helping auction off Schroll's 50 valuable cars and one-of-a-kind collectibles previously sitting inside a dusty barn. It's safe to say you can add these cars to the list of sick car collections.
Let's find out some more about these hidden gems Larry Schroll had been keeping a secret for decades.
Larry Schroll's Hidden Collection: Who Is Matt Murray?
First, let's get to know Matt Murray, the YouTuber who is helping to auction the huge collection. He runs a channel called IronTap Garage, with over 139,000 subscribers who watch him do a series of restorations, repairs, and DIY projects.
When the family offered him a chance to come and see the vehicles, he, of course, took it. Schroll's vehicles were at two locations: a barn and a garage. Murray found rare vehicles in both locations, safe and protected from the elements. They looked brand new and had incredible bodywork.
Let's look at some of the cars Schroll had in his collection and go through the generations.
What Larry Schroll Was Hiding: 1923 Ford T Bucket
The T-Bucket is a hotrod based on the Ford Model T produced during the 1915-1927 era. The Ford Model T is generally thought of as the first affordable car, making travel available to middle-class citizens.
Most T-Bucket replicas use replica fiberglass bodies, with Ford purely building most for street or show use. Schroll added a 1923 Ford T Bucket to his vast collection, showing his affinity for vintage, classic cars.
What Larry Schroll Was Hiding: 1930 Ford Model A Coupe
The Ford Model A was Ford's second market success after the first Model T. First produced in 1927, it replaced the Model T, which had been in production for 18 years.
The Model A came in a wide variety of styles, including a coupe, business coupe, sports coupe, roadster coupe, convertible sedan, convertible Cabriolet, and many more. Schroll’s collection contained the regular Coupe version, complete with an L-head inline-four engine, 103.5-inch wheelbase, three-speed sliding gear manual transmission, and stainless steel radiator cowling.
What Larry Schroll Was Hiding: 1948 Chevrolet Sedan
The Chevrolet Fleetmaster is an automobile produced by Chevrolet for the 1946-1948 model years. The Fleetmaster came in 2-door and 4-door "fastback" body styles in the Fleetline series.
The 1948 Series 2100 FK Fleetmaster largely remained the same from the 1947 model year, except for gaining a radiator grille with a vertical center bar in the front of the vehicle.
What Larry Schroll Was Hiding: 1954 Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet painted this convertible in a rare sportsman-red color, making it pop and stand out in the dusty barn. In 1954, the company built only 3,640 units, and nearly a third were unsold at the end of the year.
Despite having numerous colors available, the six-cylinder engine and the Powerglide automatic were not what 'true' sports car enthusiasts had expected. The 1954 Corvette came in either Pennant Blue, Sportsman Red, or Black. However, all the models had a red interior.
Even though the sales of this model were lower compared to previous years, Schroll got his hands on one of the rare Sportsman Red model units, with an inspection sticker that reads '1968'.
What Larry Schroll Was Hiding: 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback
The 1965 Ford Mustang was among the first-generation Mustangs manufactured between 1964-1973. The introduction of this vehicle created a new class of cars, called the pony car, an affordable and highly-styled coupe with a sporty appearance.
Ford changed the engine, including a 200 cu in engine that produced 120 horsepower. In addition, they replaced the DC electrical generator with a new AC Alternator. Schroll's '65 Mustang remained preserved with nearly every factory option, including power steering, air conditioning, and disc brakes.
What Larry Schroll Was Hiding: 1979 Ford Ranchero GT
The Ford Ranchero is a pickup/coupe produced by Ford between 1957-1979. Unlike a standard pickup, Ford designers modeled the Ranchero after a two-door station wagon platform.
Schroll’s collection contained a seventh-generation Ranchero, indicative of when Ford restyled the body in line with the Ford LTD II mid-sized car line. Production ended in 1979, with a commemorative 1979 1/2 model being the last.
Going through the generations, these are just a few of the 50+ cars found in Schroll's garage and barn, hidden away for decades. We have this avid car collector to thank for this stunning collection, bringing these old collectibles back to life and into our lives today.
Sources: IronTap Garage (YouTube), Ford, General Motors