1,800 Cars in Rural California | Barn Find Hunter - Ep. 17

[@actthree34]

Tom is the perfect guy for this series. Know his cars, polite and friendly and he drive a woody. I look forward to every chapter.

[@terrylynch300]

William Large crowds a

[@rickraburn9538]

William Large

[@trailblogger]

man I love this stuff. better than anything on TV. thanks for posting

[@sikspaksocal]

There are still many finds here in California. I ran across a cool bunch of cars about 6 months ago. About 15 miles from the nearest hiway in the middle of the desert. A couple 64 Mustangs, 67 Chevelle SS,, 40s Ford V8 pilot right hand steer, 73 Monte Carlo 73 Cadilac convertable, old Jeep pickup, too many VW bugs, 55 Chevy pickup, and about a 67 Pontiac Firebird plus another 30 or more cars soaking up the california dry heat. the majority are in very decent shape.

[@--Zook--]

Please give us 1 hour shows. I could watch this all day

[@roystoys3099]

I Used To Live In San Diego & It Used To Drive Me Crazy!! So Many Solid Old Car Encounters A Daily Basis!! Love This Show!!

[@justonemore514]

I've seen a lot of these mentality I'll old car hoarders that won't sell anything. they have one foot in the grave, and foot on a banana peel. they should be selling the car's and using the money on one or two restorations. and enjoying something before they drop dead. and then the government comes in and Haul's them to the crusher to pay for unpaid property taxes. It is so sad to see cars rot away .

[@garyfoutch5974]

I agree and think you nailed it about them gonna be goin to the crusher.. Simply ! It is sad !

[@shoottakill1]

I knew Merkle very well and spend many nights there. He was an amazingly eccentric individual who was kind beyond measure. But I also always felt like what a fuckin waste

[@kbanghart]

The ones who talk about how horrible California cities are, full of trash, and yet they keep their property all trashy like this, I laugh because when they die they will lose everything

[@sl33per1]

As of Oct 2019, there's only like 250 cars left. Rough count on google maps.

[@thesandero2454]

It's a pity this episode was so short.I really like the way these episodes are made.Keep it this way and keep up the good work.

[@graemesydney38]

Reminds me of that saying; more money than sense. (AND that ain't art!)

[@haleysnipes712]

Graeme SYDNEY

[@martinlumber]

It seems upsetting to see a hoard of old cars rotting away, but I have a hobby of collecting and restoring a particular thing that was rarely saved. When I find a hoard of my stuff, It puts a smile on my face just to see it, as most were scrapped. At least this stuff exists.

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

Well said, if not for the hoarders some of this stuff simply wouldn't exist.

[@mitchdewitt3280]

These cars are rotting away for noting

[@adamlemus7585]

mitchell dewitt Sure they are. They are there to make some esoteric point about stuff and things. To me it looks like a run of the mill horders junk yard but because he put up a sign and called it art it's brilliant!!! It hits two of my biggest pet peeves, nonsensical and pretentious stupid art projects....and the waste of good cars that should be preserved for future generations of car lovers

[@ericwsmith7722]

I think your looking at it the wrong way, luckily its in California and rust is not nearly as much of a issue as up north, Just being fenced in is saving them, you have seen it every place, ever were,,,, first the windows get smashed then the interior rots away, then the parts start disappearing, While this may not be the best situation, very few people have to space to keep them indoors out of the weather and the rodents , etc Keeping the car as a whole is a step in the right direction from sitting abandoned by some one who just thought of it as scrap metal in there yard

[@mitchdewitt3280]

eric wsmith they should be used by the automotive community or put in museums, not left outside as art

[@ericwsmith7722]

All well and good Mitchell, but there are literally millions of cars like that just in the US, you know any one with a million or so garage spaces ? And you do have to take into account cars were ( more or less ) made to be out side

[@mitchdewitt3280]

eric wsmith look at their condition. There's rust. They shouldn't be neglected like that

[@markpainter5863]

A truly authentic reality show. No phony finds, no staged scenes. The polar opposite of pickers.

[@MrGTO-ze7vb]

You are finding so many of these great California car stashes ... I purchased many parts from this artist guy/nut job back in the 1980's... Lots of rust free parts in the desert

[@shoottakill1]

Tom Merkle was a friend of mine and I’ve spent lots of time out at the car garden. Yes it was always a huge shame to see all those cars wasting away in the desert. He was a total nut but such a kind hearted and loving person. I have some of his ashes sitting in my mantle actually. There’s a documentary here on KZbin called “The last man in paradise” about him if anyone wants to get an idea of who he was. Check it out. A little piece of Santa Barbara history and Tom Merkle the crazy car guy. Cheers

[@RadioWNEW]

I am friends of Tom Merkel's brother. A totally car crazy family.

[@vandalov777]

@@RadioWNEW do u know do they still own property? maybe u can help me to get invite/connect to go there to see whats going on?

[@jerrymckenzie4484]

I am 76 and of all the cars that I have owned the two that I miss most are my 56 Ford pickup and my 53 Ford convertible...

[@berdooflyer]

That old man's junkyard there in Bloomington has been well known for many years. Back in the 80s when I was in high school, there were a lot of stories about some of the stuff that guy had. Not to mention what you could see from the road.

[@JamesB.1]

Cars are meant to be driven not just admired.

[@thetuber705]

I suppose if you have a car worth a few million you wouldn't drive it much, but you'd not let it rot in the back yard.

[@JamesB.1]

Just for youtube - I would drive it every now and then, just to keep everything in working order, I'd also keep it on the drip charge

[@thetuber705]

+James B Definitely but not every weekend like you would with a nice $40,000 chevelle or something.

[@LawrenceRoss1906]

This is one of the best shows on KZbin. My only suggestion? If any of the folks are interested in selling, could you please add their contact info? I'm in California and I'd love to check out that 510.

[@Hagerty]

+Lawrence Ross For the sake of these folks' privacy we don't like to publicly post that information. If you have serious interest in any of the cars just let us know and we can put you in contact with the owner.

[@quintonmchale7997]

Lawrence Ross Good thing the 510's in Cali. East coast would of been a bucket of rust. Had a 210 frame buckle under me. EVERYTHING rotted.

[@davesogn3329]

i wonder how hard it is to find out where the 510 is

[@LawrenceRoss1906]

Thanks so much! There are actually two different cars/trucks. From an earlier ep, there was a Model T truck, and I'm interested in the 510. Let me know where I should email to give you my contact info to forward.

[@davesogn3329]

how do we get n touch with him

[@nicholasdibiccari2557]

Your doing a great job finding barn find cars Keep finding them

[@oldman5139]

Don't buy a new car. Put life back in a old one..

[@tronaboron_99]

🍻

[@rayg7339]

👏👏

[@bjbj5373]

100%

[@edpazikas8777]

old man This what you are saying is the truly spirit of ECOLOGY! You are totally right!

[@davidbartch8917]

STOP! STOP! putting prices on unrestored non running cars the price for projects has become Absolutely insane! It's making the cost of restorations go way beyond the value the car could ever be worth. You CAN'T get everything out of a parts catalog ,not every car is as easy as building a tri 5 chevy or a ford mustang. It doesn't make sense to have $15,000 in your project and parts cars.when a realistic restored value may only be $30,000. When project cars are 4,5,and $6,000 dollars plus they don't part them out they get sold as projects. Most people selling cars don't understand the value of that falcon, but theirs must be worth that To.

[@buckshotcake706]

You're absolutely right about cars still out here in California, Tom. I just bought a 1969 Dodge Charger, a 1967 Dodge Dart, and a 1966 Dodge Dart. They were all within a 10 mile area, and all reasonably priced. The Charger is now a daily driver after a mild resto, and the Darts are in the process.

[@DriveDaily1]

As soon as I saw the notification pop up I just couldn't hold my excitement 😂

[@tniggsification]

i absolutely love when animals jump out of the muscles and classics! :)

[@Patbooth1798]

The 65 falcon came with a 3 spd C4 auto 289 or 200 six 64 was a 2 spd ford o matic.

[@SuzanneKowalski]

Art my ass... Letting hundreds of classic cars just rot away in the middle of nowhere is simple barbarism. It has nothong to do with art.

[@PhilHewkin]

thank you for uploading this, where I live rust and hit-to-pass has depleted the old-car reserves, so nice to see them again.

[@coffeefish]

If these gentlemen don't sell. All this great stuff will go to the scrap pile.

[@danh2134]

the second they die , land will sell , environmental clean up and someone will get rich scrapping all that steel

[@MrZachgonz]

Dan H they would be much wealthier off the land, Cuyama is in Santa Barbara county. One of the most expensive areas to live in in the country.

[@JamesB.1]

coffeefish - Depends, some pass their collection on to their next generation.

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

There is lots of land in and around Cuyama for sale and aside for carrots and horse ranches it ain't good for much. Santa Barbara the city is a very different place. The biggest problem in California is the power rests IN places like SB, Frisco and LA. The folks get walked on.

[@markmiller4503]

@@danh2134 He is already dead.. lol

[@szczerzo]

For a guy from western Europe those movies are like those "where are they now" for old playmates. Yes, they show some time have passed and they have some marks on them but man. They are beautiful. I would go there and just act like a kid in an animal shelter "I want this, and this, and this, and OMG that one is beautiful can I have them all? I don't know what breed this are but can I have this?". You guys are really lucky you could salvage such thing and restore it.

[@johnthompson1978]

8:46 mark. "When was the last time you saw a crashed 1957 Thunderbird?" LOL! I still haven't seen one.

[@macten8442]

That falcon had a hell cat jump out the hood 🐈

[@stevedriver1476]

The critics say there hasnt been a good motion picture out of hollywood since 1970,,i really believe that and this sort of Barn hunter stuff is better than any hollywood blockbuster,, real time,, real people, real stories, real history and over 100 restorable cars in each episode.,,, Glad the british cars are getting a mention,,,i dont own one and live in Australia and Americal cars are my favourites.

[@cliors200]

what a stupid idea to see rotting cars as art at least maintain them if you cant use them let other use it for good this is not art this is torture

[@roguewarr4662]

There are millions of old cars sitting.rusting in America .Don't be fooled with big talk money. To find them all you got to do is drive and bring money with you . And never buy the first one .

[@ExilefromCrownHill]

All you people criticizing a man who prevented some cool cars from going to the crusher. What have you personally done to rescue ANY car from the crusher?

[@HnnsK]

@@ExilefromCrownHill or saving them from beeing restored? im pretty sure there are lots of people who would happily save that xk150 from rusting away for the sake of "art"

[@ExilefromCrownHill]

@@HnnsK All the talk in the world does not preserve a single vehicle.

[@west4057]

@@ExilefromCrownHill exactly !!!!!!

[@c5d53g2e]

This my all-time favorite show EVER!!!!

[@rre-group7521]

Wheel spin never seen that coming, my respect for him just went up old legend

[@ForTheEdge]

Bought my 79' Camaro in California for $1,400. Ran and almost completely restored!

[@MrTomek1112]

He bought the cars from business and then instead of preserving them he left them to rot? Makes me sick and sad

[@christopherg9806]

I like that this show is unscripted and just AUTHENTIC. Most car shows are so phony and contrived, but Tom Cotter's manner is very natural. I could watch this show all the time.

[@mattkaustickomments]

Aha! I KNEW Tom would have a classic Cougar! Man has good taste.

[@StahpShop]

The patina on that Ford @ 10:51 is honestly really really REALLY nice looking. I wouldn't touch it

[@PleasestopcallingmeDoctorImath]

i fucking LOVE this show

[@SailingYachtZora]

That 510 made me want to cry

[@ANDREWSAMY562]

cats and 60s muscle cars. perfection.

[@brianl5172]

Love the cat jumping out from under the hood of the Falcon.

[@TweedSuit]

Pre KZbin = Junk Yard > Post KZbin = Barn Find.

[@paulelliott6673]

At least they are still around to look at this was a pleasure to watch. I agree in some ways frustrating but while they are around they could be rescued in the future ,once crushed gone for ever.

[@wictorh1564]

really god production as always. one of my fav series on youtube.

[@trevorwillis8580]

great episode once again! Just wish they were more often than only once a month!

[@pwbrown1949]

I love to watch you explore all those collectibles. I saw a lot of cars and trucks, I would love to have something I could never understand is to leave the windows down, convertible tops down, broken windows uncovered. I love the 67 428 4spd Ford station wagon

[@thomasbrasse3145]

What an awesome show. Keep it up Tom/Hagerty! Always happy to ride along if you need someone to shoo the snakes away. Do an episode here in CLT!

[@mourning_ghost]

I wish these things were longer. Hell of a job.

[@BV-nq7wd]

I bought a 69 510 2-door from a dealership I worked at. It had a blown up engine. I found a wrecking yard engine for it I had to replace a few U-joints. That was one of the most fun cars to drive around in.

[@RiotontheRadioMSCR]

wish I would have known you are in California. I'm near Fontana and could have shown you a bunch of great finds. I've been hunting down cars like you for a few years. I love it. hope to meet you sometime!

[@JamesB.1]

The hoarder people have a real sickness. Sell it or restore it.

[@austx290]

I have found a LOT of hoarding in the Classic Car world. I've only been going to the car shows and in car clubs for about 5 yrs but I've met several hoarders. LOL

[@garyfoutch5974]

Hagerty's vids .. lots of hoarders.. many ! too much ambition for collecting.. sitting on cars that only needed a very little labor and know how to fix and the rats mice and racoons take them over.. sad indeed ! And they think they got gold ! Ratty smelly dry rot and rust where there was none when they parked the cars. Sad !

[@lestermiller2717]

I have seen tons of people hoard cars and just let it rot into the ground. Penn and NY are big on that.

[@w.s.soapcompany94]

I wonder if fire got this place?

[@lestermiller2717]

Gary Foutch You know what is really sad about that I’ve seen it so many times. Those people see in their minds a museum piece that they think they have for sale. I used to race back in 1969-79 period. Gassers nothing to special 1,200 hp fuelie I had a 2dr Pontiac 1946 all worked over that was a squirrely car to keep it down the trackran low 8 sec

[@luisponce5047]

Tom it's a very good show but too short, please make it longer, thanks for your show .

[@chadsimmons6347]

It never rains in California, but the hot sun, takes its toll

[@joebrown1382]

Great video can't get enough of them.

[@peterbaker8788]

that Jaguar needs to be restored and have the proper motor put back in it

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Art? BS... rotting history needs to be salvaged for restorations! Sad, really freaking sad...

[@TheDutyPaid]

Same could be said about Cadillac Ranch, but a lot of people visit it. Art should make you think and looks like this did.

[@aerored252]

TheDutyPaid it really pisses me off seeing this because how are my grandkids/kids able to see any classics cars if they're all in a field rotting

[@TheDutyPaid]

aerored252 I'm sure there will be examples of the cars in question for your future offspring to see. Remember all acoss the US there are fields filled with old cars. You ask the old boy in his 80s 'is that for sale?' you get the answer 'no, going to restore that one day' That is 'BS' and when he passes, the family pay to have the lsnd cleared for scap. Also in this video, the guy who let his mint condition pickup truck go to rust. When people visit they see different things, and that my friend is art.

[@rollin19]

Shut up you're sad...women will never understand the relationship between man and his car. You think you know about classic cars...well aside from them...life still takes place things happen to people they go through the emotions,things get put on the back burner. Doesn't matter if they have 10 cars unrestored or restored,they are car people and that's all that matters.

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Mr Mac yeah, real car people, laid them out to freaking rot, Why are you a sexist shithead? Say I dont understand men and cars? I have owned and loved high performance cars all my life, always better and faster than most males.. Seeing these left to rot is not art. Its a freaking lazy disgrace. That is something I have come to understand about many men.., some are indeed are a lazy disgrace to humanity, just like this art installation, a wasting away disgrace.. If you really a car guy, you would be incensed at the deliberate slow destruction of these historical vehicles..

[@milesalleven7471]

I love this show!

[@petergerritgroen3157]

Me too😂 Greetings from Holland

[@TheMileswin]

Love your show. Just at the start @ 1.24 you walked past probably one of the rarest cars in the collection a 1966 Rover MK3 3 litre coupe in LHD. One of a very few made.

[@jimclarke1108]

Great cars, great show, i watch all hagerty shows, looks like most of those cars in all the places will end up rusting to the ground,

[@46danz]

This is called a scrap yard

[@binkleyme]

Nothing is for sale. So, no.

[@kbanghart]

@@binkleyme Total junk

[@RK-kj8di]

Love it; more often please!!

[@kilroyishere6190]

When I was a kid ,I remember traveling Route 66with my Dad ,heading for parts East and seeing countless junkyards along the road...With Model Ts and As ,among others ..Stacked five high..literally..

[@waynep343]

the Cuyama car collection probably started on my parents place in lockwood valley in the early to mid 70s.. we went up there and there were old cars scattered thru the trees and sagebrush.. i was thrilled.. there were borgwards, Goliaths, subaru FF1's even a school bus laying on its side for some reason.

[@kerrykrishna]

Another great episode. Kudos to you for not just driving away after that dude told you needed permission to pull into that driveway. I would have handled rudeness like that an entirely different way.

[@oldtown6240]

Always a great show. It is so interesting - then it is over. Sure could use 15 mins more.

[@bigdogbob845]

Tom, if you like the 510, you must appreciate the car my wife had when I met her in '73. She had a '70 Datsun 1200 Deluxe, best damn car ever, she got it for $400 and a song. Didn't know where to add water so she opened the oil fill on the top of the valve cover and Filled 'Er Up. That is when I came into the picture, cause her older sis knew I was a wrench. $12 for a new rocker arm shaft, $4.50 for heli-coils to repair the tower bolts that popped out, flush, clean, and new oil, and good as new. Great Car.

[@aaron71]

Art? It's a junkyard. And all he did was doom every single vehicle in it. What a waste.

[@rickyhildebrand114]

Another nice one Tom.

[@426john]

very nice,thank you.

[@tercovilares9513]

they could upload the videos with an option to subtitles in Spanish for Spanish-speaking people. excellent videos, restorations and others. greetings from Argentina

[@captaccordion]

Hi. A few observations - The 2 speed auto in the Falcon will have been Ford's 'Fordomatic'. The Powerglide was GM's 2 speed, and the Chrysler 2 speed was the Powerflite. Some very interesting cars shown didn't get a mention - looks like a Hudson coupe (wow) at 8.35, a Panhard (?) at 13.05 and a Triumph Herald or Vitesse at 0.07. At 1.23, 3 Rovers are in shot. 2 P4's and a P5. I'd never seen these on American car clips and didn't realise that they had been sold there. I love the show by the way, but your very polite and non-judgmental approach must surely be strained by the continuing parade of folks who prefer to let their cars rust away rather than part with them!

[@R8V10]

This channel and Harrys Garage are my favourite KZbinrs. Oh and maybe Monkey London for the exhaust sounds.

[@ejblobaru1220]

love this channel hi from Zagreb,Croatia

[@kaylajohnson1782]

Tom was an interesting man. Big heart, and a great neighbor. Sad to see his Garden sold off by his brother.

[@apexmetalrestoration2805]

Big difference between what a car is worth and what it can be sold for.

[@jd-py5nm]

I wish i had the space time and a home in cali again great episode!

[@terrymoore9185]

This show is very good.

[@CalgaryRambler]

I would love to get my hands on that 1972 Torino Station Wagon Tom

[@andrewhigdon8346]

jimP71 That's a '71 GT wagon of all things. Unless someone put a GT hood and grill on it.

[@doresrules28]

Why isn't this show on tv?

[@styldsteel1]

doresrules28 because Tom's show would have to be cut down to like 13 minutes and 17 minutes of useless ads that you nor I, nor anyone else have any use for. This makes for much much nicer viewing.

[@styldsteel1]

Man I'm still happy for Tom, he purchased that 428 wagon. That's the best thing that ever could have happened to the old girl. Good on you,Tom!

[@nelsona779]

doresrules28 if it was on TV I wouldn't be able to watch it haven't had cable for 3 years

[@gregh7457]

10 years and no cable for me. If this was put on tv, the producer would say to Tom, "you need to get some tattoo's and some more drama like getting into arguments with the old car collector guys" Thanks but no thanks to mainstream tv.

[@--Zook--]

Because tv sucks and is full of garbage shows. Havnt had cable for 10 years

[@dausk675]

Another amazing episode

[@boonetesterman]

He’d make a lot more people happy by having free day than letting them rot away.

[@quintonmchale7997]

Interesting vid ! XK with an olds ?!! Who woulda' thunk ....

[@clintonpowell1443]

Frank and Mike tried to pick. Mike did make a deal on a 20's Studebaker touring that was converted to a P/U

[@TJC450]

I was gonna say that guy looked familiar.

[@clintonpowell1443]

I think that it was season 15 ep 4 ?

[@mattfarahsmillionmilelexus]

Yes, the crazy old wheelchair guy would only sell them a cut-down Studebaker POS.

[@clintonpowell1443]

Crazy old fart sitting on a "Gold Mine" And no one to cash in or enjoy what he has

[@clintonpowell1443]

Of course Frank or Mike only helped with the delusion that his POS is worth 4 x's what it is really worth

[@mikecruickshanks9615]

Gettin' a woody checkin' out that woody.Surf's up.

[@levim.c.7346]

Tom, I know a few in Walla Walla, Washington if you ever get up this way and I have a couple myself. -Levi Comstock

[@markmiller4503]

I love the Art display it is amazing!!

[@petergerritgroen3157]

Heaven 😂 Greetings from Holland

[@MrDeritamichael]

Tom, could you come to vancouver WA. I would Love to hunt with you for 1 days time.

[@Finn-McCool]

Love the bumper music soundscape. Very early zeppelin. Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp-ish. 😊

[@Scarybubble2]

Nice I love this show!

[@servantofzardoz]

This so called artist needs to kick the bucket so some of these old beauties can be restored.

[@Scootchels]

Beautiful art! We have some of the “art” yards in PA, too, but they sell parts.

[@speaksthetruth]

I really enjoyed this one

[@josephmclennan1229]

Tom when you check out Falcon for rusty floorboard , always check the passenger side under the heater that is wear the condensation from the heater is the worst srea

[@van_demonium]

more! lol love this show.

[@Ricopolico]

I'm with you on that XK150 coupe - always my favorite Jaguar..

[@Arvene12583]

Yay new Barn Hunters....