The barn find to end all barn finds?
All classic car collectors dream of the barn find – an unadulterated automotive icon, long forgotten on a farm somewhere and unearthed to a rapturous reception from the collector community.
But very few people, even in their wildest dreams, would countenance a treasure trove like this one. Unearthed in France, this collection spans some 60 rare and classic vehicles that have been lying untouched for 50 years.
According to Classic Driver, who sent their photographer along to document the find, the family that owns the collection traces its roots to the grandfather, Roger Baillon, who in the 1950s wanted to conserve pre-war vehicles. Focusing on French brands and coach-built cars, he built up an extensive collection until his businesses went south in the 1970s. The collection lay dormant until today.
Among the collection is a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, owned by French comedian Gérard Blain and then actor Alain Delon. It’s part of a 60-strong collection that will be auction by Artcurial in February as part of the Retromobile Salon in Paris. Other cars include a Bugatti 57 Ventoux, a range of Delahayes, several Talbot-Lago T26s and one of only three Maserati A6G 2000 Berlinettas with coachwork by Frua.
Surely there can’t be any more collections like this yet to be found? This may well be the last one of its size.
Source: Classic Driver
