A northern Michigan man is preparing to sell his late father’s eclectic collection of classic cars after realizing he can no longer maintain the vehicles that once filled the family’s pole barn. The story, featured in a recent installment of Barn Find Hunter, follows host Tom Cotter as he revisits a lead involving Jerry, whose father spent decades gathering an assortment of American and European models from the 1950s and 1960s.
The barn, packed with long-parked but largely complete machinery, reflects the older man’s interest in a wide variety of makes. Among the highlights are a big-block Pontiac Bonneville and a well-equipped Buick LeSabre, both of which stand out as desirable full-size cruisers from the era. But the collection extends far beyond Detroit staples. Jerry’s father also picked up Mopar models, a Studebaker Land Cruiser—bearing a nameplate that predates Toyota’s use by nearly two decades—and a selection of unexpected European entries, including a VW 412 and a pair of convertibles.
Jerry shared memories of how his father often tracked down these cars with the help of a brother, bringing home whatever caught his attention. Many of the vehicles have sat for years, yet most appear intact and suitable for restoration, offering new caretakers an opportunity to revive them without starting from scratch. Despite their dormant state, the collection represents the enthusiasm and curiosity that shaped his father’s approach to car ownership.
As Jerry and his 93-year-old mother came to terms with the responsibility of keeping the fleet, they concluded that it was time to let the cars move on. The decision marks the end of a chapter for the family but could spark new beginnings for enthusiasts eager to breathe life back into machines that have spent decades waiting for their next journey.
