Drivers have found some incredible things in the used cars they’ve bought this year

Whether it’s a lucky barn find or a bargain second-hand purchase, drivers sometimes find more than meets the eye when it comes to used cars.

On occasion, drivers can get more than they bargained for – perhaps there’s an undisclosed fault or issue, or maybe there’s a nice surprise like an original powertrain in a vintage vehicle. 

And every once in a while, they’ll find something stashed away inside that they had absolutely no idea about. 

From helpful notes to mystery-solving onboard data – here’s our roundup of the weirdest and most wonderful things drivers have found in used cars in 2024.  

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Teen driver totaled Tesla Model 3 was hiding a secret

An 18-year-old in the US, snapped up a damaged Tesla Model 3 for just $15,000 only to uncover revealing data. 

Winston bagged himself the bargain EV with plans to restore it and give it to his dad. 

While working on the car he plugged a USB drive in to retrieve the data and discovered exactly how the Model 3 had come to be damaged in the first place. 

Winston, who documented the rebuilding process on his Winston’s Garage YouTube channel, plugged in a USB drive to retrieve the EV’s data and found footage that showed how the car was involved in a T-bone collision. Ouch.

But it was a happy ending for the Model S as Winston was able to completely restore it.

What was hiding in the ‘worst car on Facebook Marketplace’?

What could possibly go wrong when buying ‘the worst car on Facebook Marketplace’? Well, quite a lot, it turns out. 

British car enthusiasts Edwin Evans and Will Chandler, from the Top Dead Center YouTube channel, bought themselves a sight-unseen 1970s Cadillac Coupe de Ville for around $3,793 (£2,900).

Not bad, right? Wrong. 

The vintage vehicle was covered in rust and had parts literally falling off.

The rust was spread across just about every available surface and the engine was in an equally terrible state.

And somehow that wasn’t even the worst of it for the pair – who uncovered a blood-soaked, dusty carrier bag in the trunk.

The mind boggles. 

A hidden warning for drivers inside this Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 600

A rebuild expert bought this Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 600 at a salvage auction with the hopes of returning it to its former glory. 

The car was listed as ‘runs and drives’ but it turned out that there was a hidden problem that could have completely destroyed its V12 engine. 

In the vehicle’s trunk, a helpful mechanic had left a note behind for future drivers that warned: “Do not start. No oil.”

Unfortunately, the auction house selling the S-Class must have missed the note and tried to start it anyway. Ouch. 

It was rescued by the expert from YouTube’s Waldo’s World who soon discovered that the lower oil pan had a puncture. 

Thankfully, it wasn’t too deep, so the damage was limited and its new owner was able to carry out all the work himself. 

Nicely done.

A barn find 1972 Lincoln Continental with some hidden passengers

Few things bring more excitement to car lovers than a vintage barn find – and in the case of this 1972 Lincoln Continental, there was an extra surprise under its hood. 

The Lincoln had been parked in a barn for a whopping 35 years and, as you might have guessed, wasn’t exactly in the best condition. 

After decades of neglect, it was rescued by the team from the Junkyard Digs YouTube channel who were dead set on getting it restored and back on the road. 

The barn find car was covered in dust, with faded paint, rusted brakes, and a damaged radiator.

And the bad news didn’t end there, because while attempting to take a closer look at the Lincoln’s engine, they discovered a family of mice living under the hood.

This 1972 Chevrolet Nova had a pleasant surprise inside for driver

A car dealer in California held onto this 1972 Chevrolet Nova for more than three decades hoping to one day get around to restoring it. 

But it seemed the project had long since fallen by the wayside as he took to eBay to try and sell it on to someone who would, finally, give it the restoration it deserved. 

Although it had spent 30 years parked, the Nova was in good shape and it was also hiding a pretty neat surprise under the hood. 

Incredibly, the Nova still had its original V8 engine and it still ran. 

Also original to the car are the automatic transmission, power steering, front disc brakes, and the air-conditioning unit.

There was even the original driver’s manual in the glovebox.