Classic Chevy abandoned in Michigan barn for 48 years shines after a wash

A classic 1952 Chevy sedan had its first wash after spending almost 50 years locked away inside a barn in Michigan.

The owner, a man called Jerry, revealed that the two-door Chevrolet sedan was acquired by his dad in the 1970s when he bought a house through a tax sale and later found the car stashed away in a garage.

At the time, the car was ‘driven around a bit’, according to Jerry, but was then taken to a barn on the property sometime in 1976 where it was parked up until YouTuber Detail Dane was called out to give it a spruce up. 

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

The abandoned Chevy was in a sorry state

We’re no stranger to filthy cars here – in recent weeks, we’ve seen the 1982 Corvette that was abandoned for 42 years, and had the dirt to prove it; and this 1956 Cadillac Eldorado that was so filthy it changed color after it was washed for the first time in two decades. 

However, even by the usual grubby barn find standards this poor Chevy has had a bad time. 

As well as the typical dirt, grime, and dust you’d expect to find, it seems that the car was packed away into storage without being given a thorough clean first and it appears that road salt was left on the car, which – over the decades since – has lead to some serious corrosion. 

Despite its rust, the sedan is rolled out of the barn easily enough and the epic clean-up could begin. 

Dane started by vacuuming the car’s exterior to tackle the debris before he turned on the jet washer to blast away decades of filth. 

The clean-up revealed some nasty surprises

The clean-up revealed some less-than-ideal surprises, such as a mouse nest in the trunk; evidence that the car had been involved in a crash at some point; and mold across the interior. 

And if all that wasn’t bad enough news, the car’s floor had completely rotted away. 

After the clean-up, the car looked a million times better but it’s very obvious that it was not about to take to the road any time soon and that a full restoration job is not on the cards. 

However, it doesn’t mean the Chevy is destined for the scrap heap, either – as Dane bought the newly cleaned car and suggested he might do something a bit wild with it, such as turning it into a 4×4. Watch this space.