Walter Medlin was a Florida real estate mogul who amassed a staggering collection of Ferraris, twenty in total, stored in a barn near Kissimmee. This stash included some of the most coveted models: the legendary 330 P4 chassis 0858, famously converted by Ferrari into a 350 Can-Am racer, alongside a 410 Superamerica, a 275 GTB, a 250 GT Coupé, and even vintage Formula 1 cars from the 1960s. Medlin’s passion for these Italian masterpieces was well-known among collectors, but his life was also defined by a long struggle with the IRS, which complicated his ownership and storage of the cars.
Then disaster struck. In 2004, Hurricane Charley slammed into Florida with winds exceeding 150mph. The barn that housed Medlin’s prized collection didn’t stand a chance. The roof collapsed, sending beams crashing down on the cars, smashing glass, denting bodies, and exposing the collection to the elements. The once-proud Ferraris were left battered and bruised, their glossy paint weathered and their pride shattered.
Unlike the romanticized notion of a forgotten barn find, Medlin’s collection was a victim of circumstance, a treasure trove laid waste by nature’s fury. The aftermath exposed these priceless cars resting on dirt floors with flat tires, frozen in their damaged state for years. Their provenance remained untarnished, these were race-winning legends that had conquered iconic events like Le Mans, Monza, and the Mille Miglia.
Despite their odyssey through misfortune, these Ferraris captured the imagination of enthusiasts worldwide. The collection has since been auctioned off.
