The Cobra in the Barn: Great Stories of Automotive Archaeology

Description

Dream cars lost - and found. It's the fantasy of every car enthusiast: Pull a tarp off a pile in a barn, or hear a farmer say "there's an old car out back" and discover a classic collectible such as a Hemi 'Cuda, a rare Porsche, or a Jaguar E-Type racer. Many such tales told during enthusiasts' bench racing sessions are urban myths. But this book is full of true tales of rare gems pulled out of haystacks or junkyards - and there are before and after photos to prove it! Author Tom Cotter uses his engaging writing style in telling the tales of found Cobras, a rare Delehaye found disassembled in Czechoslovakia that eventually won Best in Show at Pebble Beach, a Ferrari racer found in a California woodchip pile, and several more. Cotter traces the early histories of the cars, how they were discovered, and where they are today.

Tom Cotter is a regular contributor to Road & Track and has a deep-seated love for automotive rescue. He is also co-author of a book detailing the award-winning history of Holman-Moody, a legendary racing team that enjoyed its greatest success in stock car racing. Holman-Moody won the 2003 International Automotive Media Award for motorsports history. Cotter has built one of the most successful PR agencies in NASCAR racing, with a client list that includeS Lowe's, McDonalds, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Dodge, Pontiac, BMW, John Deere, UPS, General Foods, Sears, and SPEED Channel. Cotter lives in Davidson, North Carolina, with his family and a garage full of collector cars.

"Car and Driver", September 2006"Whether you're a serious collector or somebody who simply digs old cars, Tom Cotter's book will delight you for hours.""""""Philadelphia"" Inquirer, "May 11, 2006"Many of us have watched the Barrett-Jackson classic car auction with envy. Out rolls a mint-condition copy of the 1972 Plymouth Duster two-door hardtop where we stole our first kiss. Or the 1952 MG TD roadster that we always wanted. Then the bidding starts and these cars sell for $30,000 or more, well out of our price range for a weekend 'fun car.' "Thanks to "The Cobra in the Barn", we now know there's another way to get that historic car of our dreams without breaking the bank. North Carolina auto writer Tom Cotter has spent his life driving down dead-end dirt roads, peeking through smudged barn windows, and nosing around his old Long Island neighborhood. These cars are out there, just waiting to be rescued and restored."