There are barn finds then there are barn finds. Three months ago this amazing collection of 100 cars including a Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder, a Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux, a Maserati A6G 2000 by Frua, and Talbot Lago T26 Saoutchik cabriolet that had at one point been the property of King Farouk of Egypt was discovered in France.
The report first appeared in The Telegraph who interviewed Pierre Novikoff of Artcurial, he told them that the collection was the owned by a French shipping magnate.
The collection was due to be auctioned by Artcurial at the 2015 Retromobile on the 6th of February 2015. With reports from the weekend stating the 1961 FERRARI 250 GT SWB CALIFORNIA SPIDER sold for 16.3 M€ / 12.1 M£ / 18.5 M$
"The discovery of these cars is actually due to a friend of the [selling] family. The crazy thing is it [the collection] was unknown by motor car specialists," Novikoff told The Telegraph.
“The California is a very important car because it was unknown. Some people knew a rare Ferrari existed, but no one knew it was a California," Novikoff told The Telegraph.
"The collector bought it in 1971 and it was actually the car that [French actor] Alain Delon bought in 1963. There are photographs of him in the car with Jane Fonda and Shirley Maclaine."
"Some cars from the 1920s and '30s still have the original paint. Many of the most interesting cars are from the 1930s, '40s and '50s, most are coachbuilt by French firms," Novikoff told The Telegraph.
Of the 100 cars up for sale 60 cars will be in good enough condition to preserve or restore and the other 40 will be perfect for people looking for spare parts.
Enjoy the gallery and the video of this amazing collection.
