by C.Asaravala

Peeking out from behind the trees in Alamo, CA is a dirty but straight and original 1968 California Special Mustang. It probably hasn't moved in five years.

You're always hearing about the elusive barnyard find. It seems as if someone, other than you or anyone you know, is always discovering that 70 Torino Cobra Jet with 5000 miles covered in hay in some old lady's horse stable. While locating a serious Ford musclecar like that is the pinnacle of barnyard finds, have you ever stopped to think about the value of those quasi-musclecars that seem to be abandoned in your very
own neighborhood? Sure, they are sitting out for everyone to see, yet they're virtually untouchable because the owners won't let them go even though they have no ability or interest in keeping them mobile. I say neighborhood because I suspect that the majority of us do live in some sort of suburban development. We probably have been lulled into the assumption that "finds" just don't happen on the streets and sideyards of everytown USA. Well, we say take a closer look. You may be surprised at what your neighbors are sitting on. We certainly were when we went prospecting in our local vicinity of Northern California and also near Reno, Nevada.

While we didn't find anything equivalent to winning the lotto, that's not the point. The objective is to see if there is a potential project, or investment car that is original, perhaps even original owner, and more
importantly a dirt cheap prospect. Maybe a rare-optioned but otherwise plain-jane Mustang like the 351W '69 coupe in the lead image above. Maybe a rust-free Falcon or Galaxie. It could even be a car that someone
started modifying and just lost interest. You never know the owners' reason for parking the thing, and if it hasn't moved in a while, they may be willing to part with it for next to nothing. Here's a few real examples.

This lil red coupe screams "father son project gone wrong." It's pure speculation but I bet they'll sell it to the first person with cash in hand.

Here's a clean two door Galaxie that has been staring at this garage door in Reno around the clock for at least a year. Did the owner get bored with it? Who knows, I bet they'd let it go cheap.

A '64 Falcon sedan. It's all original and we used to see an older gentleman driving it daily. Maybe he's retired or worse. This could be a great deal for the person who knocks on the door first.

This clean Montego MX is probably considerd an eye sore by other other neighbors. In two years we've never seen it change position. A perfect find for someone wanting to replicate our own Project MX.

So get out there and stop to smell the proverbial roses in your own community. All it takes is slowing the pace down a bit, hop on your bike or take a walk, and peer into your neighbor's sideyards and driveways. If you find something send us a picture and short description and we'll add it to this article!

Here are a couple of cars submitted by one of our readers in the Southern California area.

64 Galaxie Fastback. This one has been tagged pretty good in the front. It sits at a house in Compton where it moves around the yard from time to time, but has never left the lot as long as i have kept tabs on it. Such a cool car and its going nowhere.

1965 Falcon coupe. No post, it has some Cragars on it and it appears to be at the home of a Ford guy. The car has never moved in the 5 or 6 years that i have known of it. It would make an absolutely sick Trans Am style clone.