A member makes the news

[JH27N0B]

Ryan the auto archeologist was featured on a TV news feature last night.

[moreparts]

That was pretty sad seeing that.  I would like to hear the story of Ryan finding the 10k. 

[JH27N0B]

The report probably biases the fate of the cars Ryan finds to the negative. Mopar City is fairly local here, and between that and the fact there are a lot of derelict cars there made it a good location for the Chicago station news feature. Those cars are parts cars.
But many of the neglected cars he finds are in garages, warehouses and yes, even barns, and are in far better shape.  Many end up getting saved, either sold and restored by new owners, or the owner who had the car stored for decades finally gets motivated.
He manages the annual Barns Finds feature at MCACN and many of those cars from that feature have returned to the show several years later freshly restored.
The feature didn't mention he also has a YouTube channel and he drops a fresh video every Monday.

[Deezel]

That was pretty sad seeing that.  I would like to hear the story of Ryan finding the 10k. 

What's sad is knowing where a perfectly good candidate for restoration is, having an owner who refuses to sell and just leaves it to rot away. Had this happen with a 64 Belvedere with a 426 Max Wedge in it. I tried for years to buy it, to no avail. Found out years later, from a coworker who lived in his area, that the owner had it crushed. I probably would have gave him a whole lot more than the scrap metal guy did. I'm not sure if the motor was saved or not.

[JH27N0B]

Sadly lots of stories like that too.
There was a TX9 V code Challenger R/T Mr Norms car sitting in a driveway in the suburb west of mine for years and years. Seemed like everyone in the car scene knew about it, and many had stopped by to see if it could be bought to no avail.
The guy finally sold it maybe 12 years ago, thankfully not to a scrapper. But it sure looked rough.  It got displayed at a local Mopar show shortly after it got sold.  Rusty and possums or raccoons had called its engine compartment home for ages.
What a car though, black, white stripes and interior!  I haven't seen or heard of it since but pray it got restored.
In the building my 71 is stored there is a F4 with gator top T/A that I'm told has been stored there 30 years.  Gonna fix it someday I guess, well at least it's in dry storage.

[1970Cuda]

I agree that those cars are mostly parts cars, but nice that it does raise awareness for people on the fate of a lot of salvageable (and sometime sought-after) project cars. I think we all have stories like the ones mentioned on this thread ...

I have been trying to buy my friends 1968 Hemi Road Runner for more than 30 years. It just sits in his garage and hasn't run since the engine seized due to lack of oil about 25 yrs ago. It has boxes and such piled all over it. I offered him good money about three years ago - he politely declined. We can't save all the cars I guess.