Have you ever looked at a classic car that has been hidden away, and all you want to do is roll it out into the light of day and give it a wash? Well, that’s the feeling that I get with this 1940 Plymouth Business Coupe. According to the owner, this was a prize-winning vehicle in the 1990s, then in 1998 it was rolled into a shed and left up until now. Barn Finder Ikey H spotted the Plymouth for us, so thank you for that Ikey. The Plymouth is located in Lyons, New York, with an asking price of $5,800. If you would like to become this car’s next owner, you will find it listed for sale here on Craigslist.

The owner claims that the Plymouth is rust-free, and the supplied photos seem to paint a pretty positive picture in that respect. Speaking of paint, under that layer of accumulated dust, the paint on the Plymouth still has quite a decent shine to it. This is why I’d love to get it out of the shed. I tend to think that a wash an a polish would have the Plymouth looking a million dollars, or at least $5,800 anyway. Nicely in character with the vehicle is the shiny new set of whitewall tires that have recently been fitted to the Plymouth.

I said that this Plymouth had been a prize-winner, and there’s a trophy on the seat to prove it. The owner doesn’t elaborate on what the prize was for, so he’s left us hanging just like a good mystery writer would. The interior presentation is a bit of a let-down because the materials used aren’t original and really aren’t in keeping with the character of the rest of the car. The headliner is also hanging loose, and the carpet doesn’t look like it’s a good fit. Still, it probably won’t take a lot to whip it into useable shape. Mechanically, however, things are a bit of a mystery. All we know is that the engine in the car turns freely, and the car is fitted with a manual transmission. The owner does elaborate by saying that he believes that it won’t take much effort to get the car up and running. If the engine is original, then it will be the 201ci L-Head six-cylinder engine, and this would be backed by a 3-speed manual transmission. Of course, this is all supposition, so hopefully, the owner will be willing to answer any question about this for prospective buyers.

The general lack of information on this Plymouth is frustrating, but it isn’t a deal breaker. If the owner is approachable, then he might be willing to answer all of your questions about this car. Even without any knowledge about the mechanical specification and condition of the Plymouth, it really does appear to be a pretty tempting car at the asking price. Within the last 3-months, I’ve seen a couple of project-grade ’40 Business Coupes sell for in excess of $7,000, and they were nowhere near as nice as this one. I’ve also seen nice examples selling for figures north of $22,000. So, would this be a Plymouth that you’d be willing to return to its trophy-winning best?