The increasing popularity of reality TV shows like Storage Wars, Storage Hunters, and their multiple copy-cat series has broadcast the idea of finding strange objects or piles of cash hidden away in one of the millions of storage units across the globe. But while owners and operators of public storage facilities may, on rare instances, occasionally find something of minor value, in reality, more storage units are full of useless junk that their owners have forgotten, abandoned, or left behind.

For automotive enthusiasts, the modern conception of storage hunting comes in the form of barn finds. And sure, plenty of people might dream of finding that missing Corvette out behind Grandma's shed and the plentiful internet features covering rare Porsches, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis left exposed to nature and rotting away has fueled a passion for barn finds, as well.

But in some rare instances, the two worlds collide when people have decided to put automobiles in long-term storage. What exactly happened to the owners usually remains a mystery. They've simply stopped paying for their unit and disappeared—in reality, an occurrence so common that public storage companies explicitly delineate how long it will be before they claim everything in a neglected storage unit.

The wide variety of spectacular barn finds is nearly matched by incredible cars that have been found in forgotten storage units. Keep scrolling for 20 expensive storage finds that were left behind.

20 Ford Mustang

Via Caters News Agency

The Ford Mustang is one of the most iconic cars ever created and has deservedly earned a loving fanbase worldwide, but given just how many were produced by Ford over all these years, it should come as no surprise that a few have been left behind in storage units in some random places. But it's still a shame to see a Mustang like this, decaying from rust, decay, dirt, and even climbing vines as the years have worn on and it has worn out. This fastback could very well be beyond saving, but it could also make a great backyard project for some father-son bonding if there's any potential for a restoration.

19 Lamborghini Countach

Few cars remain as quintessential to their manufacturer as the Countach is to Lamborghini's entire design history. With all those angles, serious air intakes, and a wedge-shaped design based (loosely) on the Lancia Stratos HF Zero concept car, the Countach remains a collector's item, even if its performance is a slight letdown from such a radical exterior. Especially in the US, where impact bumpers were typically complemented with an enormous rear spoiler, the Countach is a car that everyone who lives in the 1980s will remember—although this white one's owner clearly forgot that it was in storage for a long, long time, somehow

18 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

via CarBuzz

This Chevrolet Corvette Z06 came out of storage looking like it needed a quick bath and perhaps a bit of paintwork, but even its wheels and tires seem pretty ready for some driving. Of course, those little scrapes on the front left bumper could easily have occurred simply trying to pull the Corvette out of its storage unit—but how long could it really have been in there? Even if this was an early C6 that has been hidden from the world since the first year of production, that's still less than 15 years. Regardless, a premier sports car like this deserves a bit of help getting back on the road, as it represents the era when the Corvette truly began to border on supercar status.

17 Plymouth GTX Hemi

via Hot Rod Network

Any time a classic muscle car gets found gathering dust and rusting away, gearheads everywhere can't help but wonder what happened to the owner. After all, no one puts away a car like this 1963 Plymouth GTX Hemi and then just forgets where they put the keys, so the only explanations that seem to fit the narrative point towards something interesting. Not as interesting, in this case, as that hood scoop, though, which seems to suggest this Hemi V8 could benefit from a bit of classic supercharged beef, helping to suggest that this car should definitely be fixed up in the near future.

16 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

Via Hot Rod Network

Some muscle cars that get found in storage units are models that haven't withstood the test of time and haven't become quite the same level of a collectible as the Chevrolet Chevelle SS, arguably one of the most desirable cars ever made. And those other models remain in storage because the rehabilitation process simply wouldn't be worth the time or money, at least these days. But at no point in the past, present, or future will a Chevelle SS project be cost prohibitive, and the fact that this one is up on some jack stands already makes it seem likely that a resurrection is in the cards.

15 Ford Mustang

via Reddit

Sure, when the fourth generation Ford Mustang hit the streets in the 1990s, it was a bit of a letdown—and even a mid-life facelift couldn't really compensate for the mediocre engines and standard automatic transmission that plagued those model years. But as awesome as newer Mustangs may be, this one found in a storage unit with a blower bolted on top could be a special build that someone undertook hoping to make up for the lack of factory appeal. Note the lip spoiler, black rearview mirror caps, and what look to be wider front tires—all those details suggest this Mustang was parked only after it received a once-over from someone with serious intentions.

14 Porsche 911 Cabriolet

Via Affordable Storage

Porsche fans, and even advertisements from the brand itself, are always quick to point out that an estimated 70% of P-Cars are still on the roads to date. While that stat is definitely impressive, it could very well be even higher if more 911s are hidden away in storage units despite being in borderline perfect condition like this one.  Even the plastic rear window of the convertible top (a notorious problem on many models due to oxidation) seems like it's in good shape, and given the relative simplicty of the 911's air-cooled engine, this Porsche looks like it could be blasting around with relatively little work needed.

13 Chevrolet Corvette

Not many automotive enthusiasts are about to be fooled that the third generation of Chevy's iconic Corvette (known widely as the C3 model) is a legitimate sports car. But that styling—those fender arches, that long hood—made the model an immediate classic. Still, given the sluggish performance in real-world applications, any C3 was liable to get ditched for a newer, faster car in the years following its release. Except for this one, which apparently got stuck into a storage unit to collect dust until the time when it would return, triumphant, into the world. With a bit of cleaning and a little engine tuning, this could be a nice piece of automotive history once again.

12 Kellison Astra X-300 GT

Via RCN Mag

This struggling orange sports car clearly belongs in the category of cars forgotten by their owners and the automotive industry as a whole. For anyone who doesn't recognize it (which is probably everyone) or even recognize the name, the Kellison Astra X-300 GT was actually a kit car constructed mainly out of fiberglass and available to the public starting in the late 1950s. The designer had been a former soldier in Korea who learned during his deployment just how viable fiberglass had become as a strong yet lightweight material. Shove a Detroit V8 under that radical exterior and potent sports car potential clearly lurks beneath the skin, even in the case of this example discovered in a storage unit (and revealing how poorly fiberglass fares the test of time).

11 Pontiac GTO

via Roadkill

Few cars have maintained their legendary status over all these decades as well as the Pontiac GTO. This 1966 GTO looks like it has seen better days, but overall it's in fine shape, just waiting for a restoration. On the other hand, the new owner (if the original owner consents to a sale or can't be found) could decide to leave it with a scruffy exterior and just make sure to revamp the mechanicals, hoping to produce one of the ultimate sleepers in the muscle car category. Of course, most drivers will be pretty awestruck by even a funky GTO, but there's some appeal to the work-in-progress style—as long as it's matched by serious power under the hood.

10 Chevrolet 150

vai Pinterest

This little piece of Detroit history looks innocuous enough, but could potentially turn into a seriously valuable storage unit find. Sure, it looks like any other old 1955 Chevy two-door sedan, but thanks to a classic film that has acquired a strong cult following, this year and model will forever be known as the car from Monte Hellman's Two-Lane Blacktop. This one even looks like it could have the perfect primer paint job going (or at least, its paint has faded sufficiently to look close enough) to mimic the car from the movie, which follows an unnamed driver and his mechanic in a race across the country against a brand-new Pontiac GTO. The film features memorable characters played by musicians Dennis Wilson (of The Beach Boys) and James Taylor, alongside a zany Warren Oates, and is also one of the few films to feature Laurie Bird.

9 Porsche 914

Via 914 World

Sure, the Porsche 914 may have been another hack-job attempt to create a VW-powered sports car for a specific price point, but the model has aged relatively well and is slowly becoming a collectible these days. Aged, that is, in the design department—clearly, without serious attention, the 914 is rust-prone if left to the wear and tear that comes with years of neglect. This 914 was discovered in a state that definitely points to some issues lurking in and around the 2.0-liter flat-four's engine bay, but with the right efforts and plenty of time, it could be worth fixing up if prices keep increasing as they have of late.

8 Volkswagen Bus Westfalia

Via Pinterest

Back in the day, the Volkswagen Bus became synonymous with hippie culture thanks to its unique style, passenger hauling and camping capabilities, and simple, underpowered mechanicals. These days, a VW Bus of any kind that is discovered in even fair shape is a worthwhile investment, and a camper modified by Westfalia is even more desirable. With that iconic pop-top roof, the Westfalia only increased everything that made the VW Bus so perfect for road-trips across the US—although even a slight increase in weight became a serious hindrance to the Bus's range of severely underpowered flat-four engines, which could barely get the model up to freeway speeds even when new.

7 Indian Motorcycle

via @buybuystorage1

Hailing from the days when motorcycles were little more than actual bicycles with an internal combustion engine to accompany the power of human legs, this Indian Motorcycle represents a serious storage unit find. Pieces of history like this are always liable to command serious prices on the collector market, and despite all the rust and deterioration, this early example is probably worth a hefty sum. Keeping the thing in one piece during a restoration would probably prove impossible, so this Indian seems likely to remain exactly as it was found after all these years.

6 Oval Window Volkswagen Beetle

Via The Samba

The Volkswagen Beetle has enjoyed such a long production run that deciphering all the different subvarieties that various factories have pumped out of the years requires a lifetime of research and seriously impressive automotive recall. This Beetle was found in relatively good shape after a long period in storage, and could potentially benefit from a restoration simply because it's sporting that rare-ish oval rear window. The brightwork remains in fair condition, though whether the paint is splotchy or there is rust setting in from the inside out will definitely also point to the potential state of the air-cooled engine out back.

5 Chevrolet Corvette

via Pinterest

The Corvette looks to have been both stripped and stored, a terrible fate for one of the smoothest cars ever to come out of a Detroit factory. Sure, the first-gen Corvette simply wasn't a serious sports car—even compared to the very next generation, which bumped performance up a huge step—but that classic exterior has an appeal all to its own. Given how popular (and valuable) a restored C1 is today, there's a good chance, even given the many pieces of missing trim, that this car will be the recipient of a proper restoration to restore it to its former glory.

4 Right-Hand-Drive Iso Grifo

via Pinterest

In those rare moments when drivers actually see an Iso Grifo on the road, they probably think it's just another classic Ferrari or Lamborghini model that they never knew existed but undoubtedly was a limited-edition, exorbitantly-expensive sports car from the 1960s or 70s. But in reality, the Iso Grifo was the product of a separate company that paired Italian design with good-old Detroit power to create some seriously awesome cars. This one, discovered after years of neglect, is actually a right-hand-drive example, which makes it especially valuable. And though it may well be beyond saving, it's a reminder to keep vehicles in tip-top shape before they are lost to the ravages of rust.

3  Ford Mustang

Via Egyptian Streets

This neglected Ford Mustang raises many questions now that it's out in the light of day once more. Where are its rearview mirrors? Why is its tail-end lifted so high? Windshield wipers, anyone? All these little details point to the fact that this Mustang may have been the recipient of a street-racing build at some point many years ago, and in that case, hopefully, its internals still bear the marks of some skilled hands that bored and stroked a V8 under the hood, upgraded the suspension, and possibly even swapped in something like a nice Hurst shifter. Of course, it could just as easily have been hacked away at by a complete amateur, but with a Mustang, a closer look is always warranted.

2  BMW 2002

via Hagerty

The BMW 2002 helped to establish the manufacturer's future as a producer of sporty yet utilitarian cars that paired style with driving enjoyment. Today, even 2002 project cars are skyrocketing in value because their cute exterior, nimble handling, and relatively punchy engines make for perfect entry-level collecting. The 2002 is a dream car of plenty of drivers who trudge to work in their daily driver, and simple mechanicals combined with plentiful aftermarket support make this car ripe for a quick go-over at the mechanic's shop followed by a long and loving backyard or garage project to bring it back to the roadworthy condition it deserves.

1 Lamborghini Miura

Via Jeremy Cliff

This is one of the ultimate automotive crimes that has ever been committed. Among the world's most stunning cars of all time, the Lamborghini Miura was a sports car with legitimate performance to back up its smooth, flowing exterior. Today, Miuras can fetch values up into the millions and even a base model like this one (admittedly, it's in the best color) can easily be worth half a million. Hopefully, its transverse- and mid-mounted V12—which was capable of pumping out at least 345 horsepower—is intact and ready to roar once more because whoever found this beauty hiding in storage should definitely refurbish the car with no regard to how much the project might cost.

Sources: Barrett-Jackson, Bringatrailer, and Wikipedia.