Orange County, California is making out like a bandit with this yard find collection of cars. All photos from Orange County Register

It’s always a sad thing when someone passes away. It’s worse when that person has no family to grieve them when they pass. A 76-year old plumber from Buena Park, Ca. passed away recently, with no heirs, and no will. When the county went to his property shortly after his death, they found a veritable treasure trove of cars, 69 in all. These cars included Ford Model Ts from before the 1920s, Ford Model A Roadsters from the 30s, a 1965 VW Van, and even an experimental aircraft. Since there was no will and no apparent heirs, the city petitioned the court for possession, and won. These cars will now all be auctioned off soon.

Shown behind Elizabeth Henderson, chief deputy public administrator of Orange County are a 1932 Model A Ford, a 1920-era Ford Roadster, and a Model T dating from before 1919. These are three of the cars that are the best condition of those that were found.

First Reported by NBC Los Angeles

We first heard about this gold mine of classic cars from NBC Los Angeles, Channel 4 in an online report. The man in question was a plumber in the Buena Park neighborhood. When the Orange County Public Administrator went to the man’s property, half an acre of land, and found 69 cars and the experimental aircraft somewhat haphazardly strewn around the property-in the back and on both sides of the house. Because there was no original will and no executor of his estate, the Public Administrator’s office had to petition the court in order to dispose of the man’s estate. Due to estate laws, although the man passed away in August of 2014, it wasn’t until recently that the county was able to take the case to court because they had to wait and see if any heirs would come forward.

More of the better condition finds.

Some of What the Find Includes

The stock of cars that were found are of all makes and a variety of models. There were several 1930s Model A Roadsters from Ford. According to records, there were also several classic VW Beetles from the 60s and 70s and possible earlier. Several older Mercedes-Benz models were also discovered. There’s also a row of pre-1920s Ford Model T cars.

The keys are still in the ignition of this 1928 Ford A.

If you’re a fan of vintage British cars, you’re in luck as a 1953 MG TD as well as a 1959 Austin-Healey 3000 were also found. Reports say that there was also a significant amount of loose car parts that were found as well. Looking at the photos of some of the cars that were found, car lovers/restorers would say they were found in what is often referred to as “barn find condition.” Although there aren’t photos of all the cars available, reports say that some are in “junk-scrap” condition.

Neighbors of the man, George Willits, state that he was a quiet and unassuming man and that they never saw any of the cars that were found. He was always seen driving his Saturn. The only way it became known that he might have been a plumber in younger years is through some signage that was found on several of the vehicles in the collection. Willits is also reported to have owned three other pieces of property in the LA area, all of which have been auctioned off.

Most of the cars were in “barn find condition.” Able to be restored but not driven immediately.