Tired of hearing about so-called barn finds? This looks like the real thing: a Jaguar XK120 just awakened from a 40-year sleep in a Georgia barn. Here’s the story and a big photo gallery.   –Auctions America photo

Barn Find must be the most overworked term in the collector car world today. You know: Guy parks his car in the barn one morning, finds it parked in the same spot that evening. Bingo, “barn find.”

Well, this one appears to be the real deal. This 1954 Jaguar XK120 SE (SE stands for Special Equipment) was hauled out of an actual Georgia barn, where it’s been collecting layers of dirt and grime since the mid-1970s. The Jag will find a new owner at the Auctions America 2014 Auburn Spring Sale on May 10, where it’s expected to fetch $60,000 to $80,000.

Now showing around 60,000 miles on the odometer, the old Jag is factory equipped with steel wheels and rear fender spats, suspension upgrades, dual exhausts, and high-performance carbs and engine tune. Paint and interior are the correct Jaguar Red and dark brown leather, though the paint is possibly a respray, reportedly.

Either way, the Jaguar certainly has patina in spades. However, the car’s running gear has seen some attention since its rediscovery, apparently. Quoting from the Auctions America description: “The car has layers of dust and dirt intact, but the car has been gone through mechanically and it runs and drives.” For a close examination of the car’s cosmetic condition, check out the gallery below.  -Auction America photos