Restorers can find their pick of classic and used cars in some less-than-anticipated places, and car finders know just how much potential there is in barn find cars. After nearly 50 years sitting idle in a barn, this 1963 Oldsmobile Jetfire once again sees the light of day at the hands of a team intending on a complete and worth-waiting for restoration that will hopefully get this beautiful classic back on the road one day.
Rescued After 50 Years In A Barn
After a reported 50 years of storage in a barn that was not air-conditioned or properly sealed for car storage, this 1963 Oldsmobile Jetfire is finding its way to a new home where it will hopefully undergo a complete and original restoration. The car, although left under years of dirt and dust, is still in its original condition, completely unmodified and left in its tomb-like holding as if mummified, parked, and left forgotten by time. In a ceremonious rebirth, the car creeps from the barn through a thicket of bush and out into the world once again, captured by YouTuber Auto Archaeologist.
The 1963 Oldsmobile Jetfire
The 1963 Oldsmobile Jetfire was different from most cars of its time in a way that made it a unique collector's item. Unlike other big-block V8s that were naturally aspirated, the Jetfire features a turbocharged engine, making it one of the first turbo cars put into production by GM. Between a short-lived production from 1962 to 1963 GM only made 9,607 Oldsmobile Jetfires.
The Hazards Of Barn Find Cars
Barn find cars can prove to be tricky when it comes to restoration. For one, this car built in the 1960s may not have a surplus of parts available on the market. After years of decay, there is a high chance that the team will have to replace many components of the mechanical system as the fluids were not circulated through the system, leaving the engine vulnerable to corrosion. Because the unsealed barn left the car exposed to the elements, it is also possible that rodents could have gotten into the Oldsmobile as well, chewing through electrical wires and systems that may need replacement.
The challenge for finding parts on rare cars differs between brands and each classic or rare car. Only a few thousand of the 1963 Oldsmobile Jetfire were ever produced, and even fewer are still around today. Any pieces that the vehicle may share with other Oldsmobile cars may even be hard to come by, since the manufacturer has become defunct. But, with the right restoration team, this classic will make it way back onto the road.