New member with "barn find" question

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by tommcb99

Hi All,
My aunt recently died and we're trying to put a value on the assets in her estate. And guess what: one of them the 1965 Shelby AC Cobra that she purchased new back in 1965. It's got the 289 engine and everything is original, with 35,000 original miles on it.

It's been sitting in her garage covered up for about the past 15 years or so, so it's pretty dusty. But it's a genuine Shelby, looks like no body damage, and we're now wondering what it's worth and the best way to sell it.

My cousin is the executor of the estate and contacted someone (not sure who or what organization) and they got pretty excited. They specifically said don't do anything to it, not even wash it, as it's a "barn find" and collectors want it as is. They want to put it up for auction in August.
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Originally Posted by tommcb99

Hi all,

Just wanted to close the loop on my post here, as I'm sure everyone thinks it's total B.S.

Well, I talked to my cousin (the executor of the estate that the Cobra now belongs to) and she's been contacted by RM Auctions, which as I understand it is a high-end collector's car auction house. She gave them the details, including serial number and it seems they went nuts. They traced it and found there was a 17 year period of time where there was no recording of it, which is about the amount of time it sat in the garage.

Anyway, it's going to go up at their August auction in Monterey, California. She was told that Carroll Shelby might be there, health permitting.

Based on previous people's post here (by the way, thank you), I told her she needs to insure it for at least $500K. Not sure what she'll do but she said she'd check with the auction house.

In the meantime, she said that RM auctions told her to not release any information about the car, to keep it as a true barn find. I'm not sure this is good advice, but she's doing what they tell her now. They said this will increase the value, which is what a couple of posters here have said, but I have my doubts...but what do I know!

I know, I know...no serial number means just another poster with a fabricated story. All I can tell you is to check out the auction in August. I'm sure this will be the only barn find 289 Cobra in the auction.

Thanks for all the comments and advice. I guess it's now up to the auction house.

Tom

Tom...I will call BS or else you are misinformed or, perhaps too informed.

She was original purchaser, eh? Yet RM found a span in time when "there was no recording of it"...what's to record? Original owner took car off road?

They contacted her...she contacted them...?

Auction houses like to self promote their offerings... I'm smelling some self-promoting barn-dust here.

No need to defend... just PM me when you are ready to discuss facts in order to get the expertise of this community.