Abandoned Ferrari 512 BB With A V12 Under Decades Of Bird Droppings Was Bought At The Ed Weaver Auction In Dalton Georgia

Some cars are parked. Some are forgotten. And then there are the ones that end up so thoroughly neglected that you have to squint to see the car under the mess. That is the scene in a reel from @wd.detailing, where an abandoned Ferrari 512 BB sits under what looks like decades of bird droppings and debris in a garage where it had been parked for 28 years.

An abandoned Ferrari reel cover beside a rusted car body in tall grass.

The line that sets the tone is a good one: this has been in here my entire life. Whoever says it has known the car as a fixture of the building for as long as they can remember, a lump under the dust that was walked past a thousand times. Then the team gets a first look, and one of them says it plainly: we found an abandoned Ferrari.

The first impression is wild. One of the team asks how many Ferraris in the world are in this condition. The louvers on the back are packed with debris, the windshield is spotted with what looks like dried droppings, and every one of those fins carries some kind of grime. Underneath all of it, one of them says, is a V12 engine that they have not even seen yet. The car looks like it came from a movie.

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The Ed Weaver Auction

The big question is where the car came from and how long it sat in that garage. The owner explains that it was bought at the Ed Weaver auction in Dalton, Georgia. The man behind the sale had 300 cars, trucks, anything with wheels that ran, and the buyer went because there were six Lamborghinis on the lot and he figured that with that many, he was bound to find something to his liking.

The trip was an adventure in itself. He had his son and his nephew drive through the night, got his bidder pass and a letter from the bank stating his limits, and bought two cars: a Lamborghini and the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer. It is a reminder that a big estate auction can be a once in a lifetime hunting ground for collectors, and a good example of how much preparation goes into the day.

Why He Chose the Boxer

Why the Ferrari? The owner says he picked the Boxer because it is the carbureted model, which came before fuel injection, and he finds those more throaty when they run. The earlier 365 BB was faster, he adds, but not as refined. The car in the garage is a 1981 model, and it got limited use, was garaged, and then other things took over, including children and raising children.

That detail gives the story its heart. This was not a car that was dumped. It was a car that waited while a family lived its life. Now, finally, comes the chance to admire it again, and the reel makes clear the car is not headed back to that garage. When someone asks whether it will go right back in, the answer is an emphatic no.

The Wash

For the detailers, a car like this is a dream project. The clip shows them working the dirt away step by step. The wheels get a careful scrub, the Ferrari prancing horse badge gets a gentle brush in a layer of foam, and the V12 gets the same treatment, with foam all over the engine bay. Inside, the tan interior has cobwebs and dust that need attention.

The granddaughter, Lily, plays a big part in the day. The owner says she is the reason they were able to get all this done, joking that they would not have been trusted without her. The family banter includes a line about how the young have a different view of life than the old, and it ends with a laugh and a cheerful not today, Grandpa.

Why Bird Droppings Are More Than Gross

It may look like a joke, but bird droppings are a genuine enemy of paint. They are acidic, and when they are left to bake in the sun and absorb moisture they can etch into clear coat and eat deep into the finish. Over years, the damage can reach the paint below, and the metal underneath may start to corrode. Even on a rare car, a covering of droppings can cause lasting harm.

If you ever need to clean a heavily soiled car, patience is key. Do not scrub dry. Soak the area with warm water or a quality detail spray to soften the material first, then lift it gently with a soft microfiber towel. Wash with a gentle car shampoo, and avoid harsh brushes that could scratch the surface. Afterward, assess what damage remains. Fine etching can often be improved by careful polishing, but deeper damage may need professional help.

The Reveal

When the family sees the car after the detail, the reaction is the best part. Someone says wow, it is like a real car, you actually exist. Asked whether it looks like it did when they got it, the owner says it looks more brilliant. The red is deeper and the car looks the way a Ferrari should. One person calls it intimidating, especially with the carburetors, and another asks about getting it to run.

Waking a Car That Has Sat Forever

Any car that has sat for decades needs careful attention before it moves under its own power, and an exotic needs even more.

Photograph everything before you touch it, to document the car as found.
Check for pests. Rodents love to nest in engine bays and wiring.
Drain old fuel and inspect the tank and lines for varnish and rust.
Replace every fluid, including brake fluid, which absorbs water over time.
Replace belts, hoses and tires, since rubber ages even when unused.
Turn the engine over by hand before ever using the starter.
Get a specialist involved for an exotic. Ferraris reward experts and punish guesswork.

The takeaway from this story is simple. Behind every dusty car is a family, a decision and a set of memories, and sometimes a granddaughter who helps bring it all back to life. For more of the cars that turn up in unlikely places, follow @wd.detailing.

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