We all dream about finding the perfect project car. You know, the rust-free ride with all its trim and chrome intact, but no engine or transmission. A blank slate, if you will. Alas, such cars can cost a pretty penny, and if you’re really into rare cars, then your options for a budget ride may be few and far between. But if you’ve got the skill and patience, there is another option.

Over at Cars In Barns is the story of a fellow named Scott who bought a totaled 1970 Plymouth Barracuda and restored. And when we say totaled, we mean this car should have been taken to the scrap heap a long time ago.

As the story goes, Scott was working in a parts store when a young man came in and showed him a picture of a totaled 1970 Plymouth Barracuda in a field. The car had clearly been hit in the back end, and the entire driver’s side rear had just about been shorn off. Easy to see why this was a total loss.

Two years later Scott took pictures of a friends Corvette to sell and happened across that same totaled ‘Cuda. To cut to the chase, it took Scott two attempts and five years to eventually buy the car from the owner.

When he did buy it, he had to have a Bobcat dig it out from under some snow, and began the long restoration process. Though originally a six-cylinder car, someone had converted it to a 1973 340 V8 engine backed by a four-speed manual., which Scott had to just slightly tune up to get driving. After what we are sure was a long and hard road though, the ‘Cuda was restored and looking just downright awesome.

Not many people would put that kind of effort into restoring a wreck of that magnitude, but this is proof that it can, and should be done.