While filming a Bristol 408 barn find, a YouTuber discovered a decades-old mystery car buried in a nearby hedge.
Barn finds are nothing new in the world of car enthusiasts, but sometimes the real surprises aren’t where you expect them. That’s exactly what happened to YouTuber The Late Brake Show in Hampshire, England, who set out to document a rare Bristol 408 only to stumble across a second, unexpected discovery hidden in plain sight.
The primary mission was impressive enough. The Bristol 408, a hand-built British grand tourer produced in the mid-1960s, is already a rarity today. Fewer than a handful are thought to remain on the road, making this particular car a significant find. Under its long hood sits an American-sourced Chrysler 5.2-liter V8 engine—one reason why the Bristol name carries a certain mystique among collectors.
This 408 had been neglected for decades, tucked away in a garage and untouched for over 40 years. Despite its long slumber, the YouTuber noted that many components remained surprisingly intact, a testament to the craftsmanship of the era. After some careful work and the help of friends, the car eventually roared back to life, much to the delight of viewers.
But the day’s most unusual twist wasn’t the Bristol itself. While filming, the YouTuber spotted what looked like a forgotten relic buried deep in a neighbor’s hedge. On closer inspection, it appeared to be a pre-war Austin—or something similar—its front end collapsed and its body nearly consumed by vegetation. According to locals, the mystery car may have been sitting there for half a century, long forgotten and unlikely ever to return to the road.
The juxtaposition of the two finds—a rare but restorable Bristol 408 and a hedge-entombed relic—underscored the unpredictable nature of barn hunting. For enthusiasts, it was a reminder that history often hides in the most unexpected places.
Would you attempt to rescue the hedge-bound relic, or leave it as part of the scenery?
