Huge stash of 60 classic cars found in farm garage in France
A huge stash of 60 classic cars has been found in a farm garage in France, 50 years after they were put there.
Initial estimates put their value at over £12 million and cars include a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California SWB (one of 36 ever made) and a 1956 Maserati A6G Berlinetta Grand Sport by Frua (one of only three in the world).
The 1961 Ferrari, known as 2935 GT was previously owned by Alain Delon who used it for the filming of 'Les Felins' with Shirley MacLaine and Jane Fonda in 1964. It is expected to fetch around £10million on its own, although it will need some work to get it back on the road.
Also in the collection is a Talbot-Lago T26 Cabriolet once owned by King Farouk of Egypt.
The cars were collected from the 1950s to the 1970s by French entrepreneur Roger Baillon, who dreamt of restoring them to their former glory and displaying them in a museum. However, as his business struggled he was forced to sell some of his collection and the rest of the cars sat dormant in makeshift corrugated iron shelters and outbuildings on the farm.
When Mr Baillon died about 10 years ago, his son Jacques inherited the collection, and after he passed away last year the collection was in turn passed down to his children. They had no idea as to the value of the collection and called in specialists Matthieu Lamoure and Pierre Novikoff from auctioneers Artcurial Motorcars to get an estimate as to its worth. Needless to say, they were rather surprised at the outcome.
Mr Lamoure said: 'These sorts of finds do not happen often. I think you go into this profession for discoveries like this; it really is a treasure trove. No doubt a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.
On entering the gates of this property, we had no idea what we would find. We had to go in through the gardens at the rear of the property, to get a first look. Across three hectares, we could see different makeshift structures. From there, we realised that this was something big. We realised that there were dozens of cars parked underneath. We soon realised that some of these had been put there 50 years earlier and left untouched.
When we discovered the extent of the collection we found ourselves overcome with emotion. Probably much like Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter, on being the first person for centuries to enter Tutankhamun's tomb, it really was a case of waking up sleeping beauty.'
The collection will be sold by Artcurial Motorcars at their Retromobile sale in Paris on February 6 next year.
Here is the full list of the 60 cars found, which will be going under the hammer at the sale:
Amilcar CGS: The 30 horsepower, lightweight car, made in 1924, can reach speeds of up to 75mph.
Ariès Coach:Coach by name, coach by nature, this classy vehicle, manufactured in 1935, was often driven by chauffeurs.
Auto Union Cabriolet: A front-wheel drive saloon car cost £1,259 including taxes during the early 1960s.
Avions Voisin C15: Won the prestigious Concours d'Elegance competition in 2002.
Avions Voisin Limousine C15: The C15's commanding presence was further extended for the limousine model.
Avions Voisin C7 par Gallé: The stylish 93 horsepower C7 can reach speeds of 89mph.
Ballot Limousine: The eight-cylinder car had an open-topped driving compartment, but passengers enjoyed a hard-top roof.
Barré Torpédo: Only five of these cars, built in the village of Niort, western France, are known to exist.
Berliet Coupé Chauffeur: A popular car in the late 1920s, the motor comes with a spare wheel attached to the side of the vehicle.
Berliet Type VIGB Taxi Landaulet: From 1906, this Berliet, with unmissable red leather seats, could reach 40mph.
Bugatti 57 Ventoux: Same model sold for £324,800 at auction in September.
Citroën Trèfle: The three-seat model has room for a single passenger in the rear.
Delage D6: The six cylinder car was produced both before and after the Second World War.
Delage D8 Coach: Parisian manufacturers fitted different elegant bodies over the years the car was produced.
Delahaye 135 Cabriolet Faget Varnet: Regarded as one of the best custom-bodied cars from the immediate post-WWII era.
Delahaye 135 Coach Chapron: The 1947 car could reach 100mph from 125 horse power.
3x Delahaye 235 Coach Chapron: Regarded as two expensive, this car did not perform well on the market in the 1950s.
2x Delahaye Type 43 Coupé Chauffeur: The model was recognisable by its flame-shaped rims.
Delahaye GFA 148 L: Known for being narrower at the rear than the front.
Delaunay Belleville Limousine VL8: The 1908-1910 four cylinder model had just 10 horse power.
Facel Vega Excellence: Luxury saloon was unveiled at the Paris Auto Show in 1956 to rave reviews.
Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider: Only 36 were ever built. This one could sell for £9.5million.
Ferrari 308 GTS: The mid-engined sports car was manufactured by from 1975 to 1985.
Ferrari 400: Released in 1976, it could reach 0-60 in 7.1 seconds.
Ferrari Mondial 3.2L Cabriolet: The only production mid-engined car with four seats that is fully convertible.
Hispano Suiza H6B Cabriolet Millon-Guiet: The 1929 winner of the Course d'Elegance.
Hotchkiss Cabriolet: The two-door luxury car was made between 1950 and 1954.
Innocenti S Cabriolet: Based on the Austin-Healey Sprite, as it used the same suspension, steering, drivetrain, and engine.
Jaguar type S 3.4 L: The Mark 2 was introduced in 1959 and sold throughout most of the 1960s.
La Buire 12 A: The French cars, all made before WWII, are a rare find.
Lagonda LG45 Cabriolet: Models in mint condition can sell for up to £140,000.
Lancia Thema 8.32: While it looks normal from the outside, the Lancia packs a V8 Ferrari engine.
Lorraine Dietrich B3/6 Plateau, Lorraine Dietrich B3/6 Torpédo par Grumman, Lorraine-Dietrich Torpédo: The three Lorraine Dietrichs have been seen in recent years taking part in Le Mans classic car races.
Maserati A6G 2000 Gran Sport Frua: Only three were ever made, making it worth nearly £1million.
Mathis FOH: The short-lived model had a 3l straight-eight-cylinder engine.
Packard Cabriolet Super Eight: 4,250 were made, marking the end of the Super Eight series.
Panhard-Levassor Dynamic Berline X77: Better known as the 140, this car was introduced at the Paris Auto Show in 1936.
Panhard-Levassor Dynamic Coupé X76: The slightly smaller model was better known as the 130,
Panhard-Levassor Limousine X72: The earlier model could reach speeds of 75mph.
Porsche 356 SC ex-Sonauto: The German company's first production car.
Renault AX Torpédo: Mostly used by taxi drivers during the First World War.
Renault Vivastella Cabriolet: Introduced at the 1928 Paris auto show as a more luxurious version of the Renault Vivasix.
Sandford Cyclecar 3 Roues: Despite the name, the three-wheeled car was powered by a 1,098cc engine, not pedal power.
Singer Cabriolet: Made in Coventry by bicycle makers Singer.
Talbot-Lago 11/6 Cabriolet: Similar to other Talbot-Lagos, but with a shorter chassis.
2x Talbot-Lago Baby Cabriolet: The car was commonly sold as a four-door sedan, but a two-door cabriolet was also offered.
Talbot Lago Cadette 11: The 6-cylinder 2,696cc car was revealed in 1937.
2x Talbot Lago Coach: A coachbuilt special of the T26.
Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport Coupé Saoutchik: The sport edition of the T26 was re-released throughout the 1950s.
Talbot Lago T26 Record Coupé Saoutchik: Regarded as one of manufacturer Saoutchik's finest designs.
Talbot Lago T26 Cabriolet Saoutchik: The smaller cabriolet version was produced from 1946-1955.