10 cars were left behind in great barn find

Our story on one of the biggest barn finds in Canada, with 40 future and current collectibles brought out of storage on a farm outside Lethbridge, didn’t seem complete without discussing the 10 cars that were held back, and how the cars came to form such an unusual collection.

To recap, Lotto Max winner Lawayne Musselwhite of Fort Saskatchewan recently bought 40 cars as a lot with business partner Darren Boychuk. Among the cars were three 2006 Ford GTs, including a rare Heritage Edition model. Many of the cars were virtually brand new, with plastic on the seats and all factory stickers and invoices.

According to the brother of the 55-year-old dairy farmer who originally bought the vehicles, the farmer started buying cars and trucks to put away in 1999. The brother does not want his name, or that of his brother published. But the buying spree started with limited edition Plymouth Prowlers.

Later, in what can only be described as a salesman’s dream, the farmer went to his local Ford dealership in Lethbridge and told then-sales manager Shane Wyness that he had $1 million to spend on cars and trucks, but only wanted to buy those that would go up in value.

“I sold him most of the cars and trucks. He is a car guy, and so am I, and he would buy two or three a year,” Wyness said.

The cars he bought included the Ford GTs that were instant collector cars. The Heritage Edition is one of only 400 built. College Ford in Lethbridge also delivered numerous Harley-Davidson Edition Ford pickup trucks, along with other vehicles such as two of the four Plymouth Prowlers.

“He saw a photo of a Ford GT Heritage Edition in my office and that’s what started the purchase of the three cars,” Wyness recalls. He found a Heritage Edition in Quebec and the red and blue Ford GTs at dealerships in Medicine Hat and Lloydminster, Sask.

The farmer loved cars, explained his brother, and he had started buying them years ago. But the cars were stored in a Quonset hut and were deteriorating.

“My brother didn’t want to sell the cars until recently because he had them for so long. But he’s OK with it now,” he says, noting health issues prompted the sale.

Ten vehicles, however, were set aside, and not included in the 40lot sale, prompting speculation as to what gems might remain. Unfortunately, none are as glamorous as the GTs.

“The cars that were not sold are no big deal,” explained the farmer’s brother. “There is a Firebird, Camaro and Mustang among other vehicles that were special to my brother. There are also some regular cars.”