One of the best parts about Forza Horizon 4 is the ludicrous number of cars you can acquire. Whether through wheelspins, progressing through a racing discipline or the auction, the cars keep coming. However, some of the rarest and most desirable rides are the barn finds, hidden across the map, waiting to be stumbled upon.
While it’s not too hard to find them, it can be hard to figure out which ones are worth your time to upgrade and take on a championship or two. There are 15 in the base game (no word on any in future DLCs), so there are quite a bunch to choose from that run the gamut of racing types. Below, we’ve ranked them according to how fun they are to drive, regardless of where that fun comes from.
15. 1962 Triumph Spitfire
One of the many classic sports cars in the barn find collection, this one doesn’t do much to differentiate itself from the others. It’s not particularly fast, doesn’t have the best handling and isn’t the most iconic either. It’s a nice car, don’t get us wrong, but it’s not really one we see ourselves spending much time in.
14. 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
This car is pretty similar to the Triumph in that it doesn’t do a lot to make you want to drive it, specifically how it handles like a boat. You get to feel like James Bond behind the wheel, which is nice, but considering that there’s already an entire James Bond car pack in the game with the exact cars from the movies, this Aston feels a bit superfluous.
13. 1986 Ford Escort RS Turbo
The Escort is a pretty solid rally car, able to handle the bumps and lack of grip of dirt roads well, but it just isn’t the nicest to look at. Sure, there’s a bit of ‘80s retro rally swagger, but if that’s the sort of thing you’re into, the Audi’s design has a bit more space to breathe. There are definitely some things to like about this one, and it’s a solid car to drive, but it’s not our favorite.
12. 1993 Jaguar XJ220
This car looks like what the past thought the future would look like. The design is understandable since it started out life as a concept car, but it hasn’t aged that well. It has a pretty good top speed, but its handling is only alright. If you’re really into niche, ‘90s hypercars, then this is for you. If not, you can probably pass.
11. 1962 Peel P50
We’ll level with you. The only reason why this car isn’t last is the amusement value. No matter how you upgrade it, it’s basically undrivablely bad. It’s either too slow to do anything with in stock form or too hard to handle when upgraded. That said, there’s something so entertaining about driving by someone in a car that weighs about as much as you do.
10. 1966 MG MGB GT
When it comes to the classic sports cars on this list, this one probably feels the best to drive of the bunch. The engine could use an upgrade, but other than that it’s a great car for cruising across Britain. It feels like a classic car should: a little slow but smooth as butter.
9. 1983 Audi Sport Quatro
This is where it starts getting hard to choose. While the Audi has the aforementioned classic rally swagger, it doesn’t have as many upgrade options as the Impreza (another rally barn find). That said, it’s still a really fun rally car and should be a staple for anyone who enjoys driving on the dirt road along the cliff at the top of the Fortune Island map. That’s where we started to fall in love with it.
8. 1964 Ford GT40 Mk I
If the only thing we considered was aesthetic beauty, this one would probably be at the top of the list. There’s no denying how gorgeous this classic sports car is. That said, while it doesn’t handle poorly, it can’t really keep up with the other cars further down this list. Of course, that isn’t to discourage you from driving it. Take this one far and wide. You won’t regret it.
7. 1961 Jaguar E-Type S1
Out of all the classic sports cars on this list, this one is the best, and that shouldn’t really come as a surprise. It’s one of the most iconic cars ever made and even comes with a healthy assortment of engine upgrades to help you have even more fun galivanting through the hills. We love it.
6. 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi
We’re happy to report that the Impreza is as good at rally racing in game as it is in reality. It bites into the corners with ease and effortlessly passes the competition on mountain roads. A couple of nice engine swap options give it the nod over the Audi, but you should definitely give both a try. Maybe race a friend in one and then swap to the other. It’s just an option.
5. 1931 Bentley 4-1/2 Liter Supercharged
Who wouldn’t want a 1,000+ hp, V12-swapped, 1930s open-air Bentley? We know we do! The stock values aren’t anything crazy, but through some insane upgrades, it can be made to contend with any modern car on the track. Plus, you get to watch your avatar yank around a giant steering wheel while you take turns at 150 mph.
4. 1998 TVR Cerbera Speed 12
Many of the barn finds were classic British vehicles, and we’re happy that TVR made the list. The Cerbera is fast and agile, even if the backend looks a little wonky. It can get a bit squirrely if you’re not careful, but a skillful driver can get a ton of performance out of it. Everyone should drive this car at least once.
3. 1973 Land Rover Range Rover
You want to drive a 1000+ hp Land Rover, right? Of course you do! So much of the fun in Horizon comes from making your own roads through the wilderness, and after an engine swap, there isn’t a more fun car to do that in. There really isn’t any hill or obstacle the Land Rover can’t overcome, which is kind of the point of Land Rover, isn’t it?
2. 1965 Mini Cooper S
Swap in a better engine, add drift springs and have some fun. We love light, fast drift cars in this game, and the Mini is another excellent example. It easily gets sideways and stays that way for long, sweeping turns. You’ll definitely see us driving this in our weekly drift party livestreams on Facebook. Make sure to put the spare tire on top for ultimate swagger.
1. 1997 Lotus Elise GT1
This may not be the fastest car of the bunch, but no car inspires more confidence than the Elise. It feels like it sticks every corner, no matter how fast you enter it. It eats up positions on the track with ease, and driving around Britain is a dream. Plus, the classic sports car styling is nice to look at, too. This car really has the whole package. If you only drive one barn find, make it the Elise.