Cars found after 60 years – but one unusual item took all the attention

  • As barn finds go, this museum overflow collection is impressive
  • There are rare vehicles from the 1920s to the 1980s
  • However, the thing that steals the show isn’t a car

Published on Aug 01, 2024 at 2:24 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

Last updated on Aug 02, 2024 at 6:34 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Tom Wood

This huge barn find in Nebraska, US, actually includes 13 sheds filled with cars, trucks, and tractors—but one unexpected non-vehicular curiosity stole the show.

Many of the museum overflow items from the Pioneer Village Museum in Minden had been stored for over six decades.

But it was a World War 2 (WW2) Torpedo that really blew the YouTuber who discovered it out of the water.

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The torpedo

While we are used to seeing stunning barn-find cars – the item that appears in the frame at the 21-minute mark is slightly more surprising.

There’s a WW2 Torpedo sitting amidst other museum curios including old tank wagons, century-old carriages, and even the remains of a fabric-covered airplane.

While the rust and decay make it initially seem as if this WW2 Torpedo were buried and sunk somewhere in the mud – a placard tells a different story.

It states that it was found at the bottom of the Atlantic near Fort Lauderdale in 1950.

Despite being recovered after eight years, it seems little had been done to preserve it after that.

The torpedo featured a simple propulsion system powered by a compressed air bladder.

In another historic WW2 find, explorers found Richard Bong’s plane that’s been missing since World War II in a jungle ravine.

The cars

As YouTuber Mr. Goodpliers walked through the collection, he saw derelict classic vehicles that would cost a fortune to restore.

However, cars from the 1920s and 1930s were notable, with the Star Four – one of the rarest cars of the era – headlining.

The short-lived brand was assembled by the Durant Motors Company and former GM CEO William ‘Billy’ Durant.

A competitor of the Ford Model T, the Star had multiple versions from 1922-28.

The collection also includes cars from the 1950s and 1960s, including a 1955 Imperial and a Kaiser Vagabond that was introduced in 1949.

The luxurious car had an interesting take on the luggage compartment with a two-piece, double-hinged trunk lid, and was fitted with a rear bench that folded flat.

Only produced for a couple of years, a pristine example can be purchased for under $15,000.

There’s also a not-entirely-unexpected couple of Volvos, several vintage trucks, and a heap of derelict 1980s vehicles.

The lot will go on auction in September, but an exact date is still yet to be confirmed. 

You can watch the whole video here.

Want more interesting barn finds to fuel your day? This Dodge Charger barn find is the car people didn’t realize actually exists.

Plus this Aston Martin DB6 barn find is not just stunning but exceptionally rare.

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London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.