As proof that barn find cars have gone mainstream, the San Diego Automotive Museum located in beautiful Balboa Park, has installed a permanent exhibit, showing a real barn find from nearby Imperial Beach, California. The car is a 1928 Studebaker two door that evidently went into a barn in 1966, and except for a few times, stayed there for more than 40 years.

The real car is in the museum now, displayed as it was when it was removed from its long term storage. Because this is southern California, the description of the car suggests it most likely would have been made into a hot rod if it had been found back in the day.

I wonder though, if this relatively rare Studebaker (I think it’s a Big Six Commander, of which relatively few were made in 1928) might have been a candidate for restoration, considering its relative completeness.

The display also includes a great video showing a major barn find of cars from the fifties, and overall provides a nice sense of what the barn find “sport” is all about.

I really enjoyed this relatively small museum. At this moment their current main floor exhibit is a great collection of UK cars called “The British Invasion,” featuring Jaguars, a Morgan, a Rolls, a beautiful Lagonda, a couple Austins, and several other British cars of note.

The museum also has a nice collection of motorcycles of various ages and brands, including some beautiful Indians, Harleys and older British bikes.

They also have on display the remarkable Louis Mattar’s 1947 Cadillac (home built in the fifties to be able to travel long distances without stopping; it’s a spectacular car with an incredible story), a segment on the Plank Road that was built in the early 20th century to cross the desert between El Centro, California and Yuma, Arizona, and a Steve McQueen exhibit.

Whenever you are in San Diego, you will have a lot to see and do, but visiting this museum is worth the effort, and how can you pass up a chance to see a real barn find preserved for posterity?