Barn Finds come in all shapes and sizes. With cars from the former Soviet Union gathering traction in the classic market, buying one today could represent a reasonable long-term investment. The owner of this 1961 GAZ-21 Volga found it hidden in a Polish barn. When he dragged it into the light of day, he was faced with a pleasant surprise. Not only is this gem complete, but it is rust-free. He has revived the GAZ and has decided that it needs to find a new home. If you feel that it could be part of your life, you will find this Russian beauty in Rumia, Poland. The owner has listed it for sale here on Barn Finds Classifieds, and he has set the sale price at $4,495.

The GAZ-21 was introduced to the Russian public in 1956, and it remained in production through three distinct series until 1970. Our feature car is a Series 2, which the company produced and marketed between 1959 and 1962. It is a four-door sedan that could seat up to six people, and in keeping with most cars from the USSR at that time, it is a rugged old vehicle. The styling is pretty conventional for its time, although the GAZ sits significantly higher than its Western counterparts to cope with the harsh road conditions in its home country. This car is finished in an attractive shade of Blue, and it is the entry-level vehicle that the company offered. This is easy to pick because the more upmarket  Deluxe featured additional chrome trim around the windscreen. The panels are in excellent condition, although the owner notes a repairable dent in the driver’s side rear quarter panel. There is also a dent inflicted by a previous owner in the passenger side front fender. It may be repairable, but the owner includes a genuine replacement panel in the sale. The Volga found its way to its current location from Ukraine. It isn’t unusual to see cars from this area with rust issues due to their exposure to snow and salt, but the news is positive with this classic. The seller says that its history reveals that it was a dry-weather car, and coupled with the excellent rust-proofing that GAZ applied, it remains completely rust-free. The trim is in excellent order, while the glass is equally impressive.

Lifting the Volga’s hood reveals a 2,420cc four-cylinder engine capable of producing 64hp and 114 ft/lbs of torque. In keeping with its rugged design, that power finds its way to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission. If the owner launched the GAZ through the ¼ mile, the journey would take 24 seconds. However, outright speed is not this car’s strong suit. The engine is a remarkably tractable unit, with both its maximum power and torque delivered below 3,000 rpm. That means that it can pull its way from low speeds in surprisingly high gears with ease. The owner has revived the Volga and supplies this YouTube video that shows it starting and running. It starts at the first turn of the key, and the engine sounds excellent. It shows healthy oil pressure and no signs of any odd noises. Everything seems to work as it should, although the buyer will face a few small tasks to ensure that the car is mechanically perfect. The seller notes that the radiator should be rebuilt due to its age, but any radiator specialist should easily tackle this. He notes that the shocks have deteriorated, but these are surprisingly easy for the buyer to source. The other item that the next owner should replace is the tires. They are marked “Made In USSR,” suggesting they are at least thirty years old. I’m all for authenticity, but I’m not sure I’d trust them at highway speed. Otherwise, this Volga looks good to go.

This GAZ’s interior is a surprise packet because it is pretty well preserved. The seats are upholstered in an attractive combination of vinyl and cloth, with the same materials gracing the door trims. The front seat has a slight seam separation that any competent upholsterer should be able to repair. There is also some wear and marks on the cloth sections, and it would be interesting to see how these would respond to some professional cleaning. The carpet is faded, but I would attempt to dye it before considering replacement if I were to buy this car. The dash is in excellent order, and as well as a pretty respectable gauge cluster, it scores a pushbutton radio and heater. If the buyer wishes to protect this car’s originality, a set of slipcovers will help to preserve the seat upholstery for many years for little cost.

Market trends indicate that many cars that have found their way from the former Soviet Union are building a strong following in Western markets. The GAZ-21 Volga is no exception, although relatively few have found their way onto US soil. The owner of this 1961 model is willing to help the buyer to organize shipping so that this can become a reality for this wonderful survivor. He quotes a figure of around $1,800 to ship it from its current location to North America, which would bring the total cost to approximately $6,300 plus any relevant duties. These don’t come onto the market often, but prices well north of $10,000 are typical when they do. This car has a few needs, but addressing those would still leave the total cost well under five-figure territory. Therefore, if you would like to own a classic that would stand out on the road or at a Cars & Coffee, this GAZ-21 Volga could be the car that you’ve been searching for.