Discovering a barn find is a car enthusiast’s dream. It’s an opportunity to be an automotive Indiana Jones, except the museum that car belongs in is your garage. A 1989 Nissan 240SX got a new lease on life earlier this month after getting parked in a barn in 1996 or 1998 and not touched since. The coupe’s lengthy cleaning process was as satisfying as watching it get recovered.
A man in Ohio contacted WD Detailing about the Nissan. It was sitting in a barn, forgotten behind some old farm equipment. According to the contact, the 240SX was bought in 1991 by his father-in-law who drove it as a summer car. The coupe was caked in so much dust and cobwebs that you couldn’t tell what color the body was painted. However, they were able to tow it out of the barn and get it into a trailer.
The entire exterior of the 240SX was pressure washed, revealing a dark grey body. While the exterior was in relatively good condition, things got nasty when the hood was lifted. There was a nest of leaves, likely a rodent’s home, in the engine bay behind the right headlight. The back of the 240SX under the hatch was completely covered in mouse droppings. There was even a decayed mouse corpse to really highlight how long this car was stashed away. It was a similar story for the mats and carpets around the seats.
The finished 240SX wasn’t pristine, but it looked incredible for a 35-year-old car. However, the motor sounded incredibly rough and needed a much more intense rebuild. I hope that WD Detailing revisits this car once the work on the engine is complete so the world can see this Nissan back in its full glory.
