Biggest barnfind of all time

COLLECTING beautiful cars can easily become an obsession, especially if you have the means to acquire them – and a place to keep them.

That’s what happened to Dutch businessman Ad Palmen, who bought classic cars that he found appealing over a period of more than 40 years.

During that time, he acquired no fewer than 280 cars, everything from Aston-Martin to Panhard and  a Bristol 401 to a Moretti 128 as well as the occasional moped and scooter. There’s even a rare grass cutter in the mix.

The vast collection was carefully stored in three buildings, two warehouses and an abandoned church in Dordrecht, the one in Holland — not its namesake in South Africa.

Now his secret collection has been unveiled and they’ll all go under the auctioneer’s gavel next month (May) during an online sale run by Classic Car Auctions.

The cars are so rare and so well-preserved that “it is unlikely that anyone will ever see a collection of this calibre and condition again in their lifetime,” the auction house said. 

Ad Palmen began to hone his taste for classic cars in the mid-1960s while working as a professional dealer. 

The first rare vehicle he bought was a yellow Lancia B20, with many other models and brands following over the years. 

For many years Ad maintained on the vehicles by himself for many years, starting one up in turn to ensure the engines did not rust or seize up.

Unfortunately Ad, now 82, recently became ill and could no longer maintain his beloved vehicles, so he disposed of the whole lot to well known Dutch classic car dealership, Gallery Aaldering for an undisclosed sum. 

Now, Gallery Aaldering has decided to offer up “one of the best-kept secret car collections of Europe,” to the public, as Classic Car Auctions puts it.

Most of the cars have not been restored but Nico Aalderling says they were a little dusty but otherwise in great shape.

“This barnfind collection is truly a unique opportunity for car enthusiasts and collectors around the world to expand their collection,” he said.

Among the rarest—and probably the most expensive—vehicles in the lot is a 1955 Lancia B24 Spider America, reports CNN’s Toyin Owoseje. 

Because few were made, it is expected to fetch US $660,000 to $770,000. Other vehicles in the collection include a blue Ferrari 365 and a white Mercedes 300 S convertible.

Most car collectors focus on a particular brand,  but Mr Palmen simply bought everything he thought was beautiful.

He seldom showed the collection to anyone, so very few people knew of its existence. 

He loved Italian cars like Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati and Ferrari. 

But there are also French Facel Vegas and German BMWs, Mercedes, and NSUs. 

The British are well represented with Jaguars, Aston Martins, and Rolls-Royces, while American classics include Chevrolets, Cadillacs, and Fords, the latter including one of its Edsels. 

The collection also features Tatra, Monica, Moretti, Matra, Alvis, Imperia, and Villard.

The grasscutter? It’s a Master MTD.

The auction starts on Friday, May 19, finishes on June 7. 

 

The lots comprise:

1 – Alfa Romeo Sprint 1600

2 – Fiat 1200 TV Spider 1958

3 – Citroën 2CV 1955

4 – Triumph 2000 20TR Convertible 1970

5 – Panhard 24CT 1964

6 – Saab Sonnet III type 97

7 – Facel Vega Facellia coupe

8 – Facel Vega Facellia Convertible

9 – Bond Equipe GT 6 2 liter 2+2 1967

10 – Fiat 124 Spider USA 2000 1981

11 – Daf 66 HAVAS Convertible type 55 1970

12 – Facel Vega FB Convertible 1963

13 – Alfa Romeo Spider Duetto type 10503

14 – Alfa Romeo Zagato 2600SZ 1967

15 – Simca 9 Coupe de ville S

16 – MG B GT 1971

17 – MG TF 1954

18 – Lamboghini Espada

19 – MG B Tourer 1970

20 – Singer Convertible 1912

21 – Alfa Romeo Giulietta Srint Speciale

22 – Lancia Montecarlo 1978

23 – Alfa Romeo Spider 2.0 1985

24 – Ford A Roadster 1927

25 – Facel Vega Coupe 1964

26 – Sunbeam Talbot Supreme Convertible

27 – Matra Bonnet 1965

28 – Lancia B24 Spyder America 1955

29 – Alfa Romeo Giulia GTC 1965

30 – Triumph TR3B

31 – Moretti 128 1974

32 – Sunbeam Alpine 1960

33 – MG A

34 – Singer 9 Roadster 1955

35 – Lancia Appia Coupe

36 – Alfa Romeo Spider Giulia 1600

37 – Jensen Healey 1974

38 – Simca Aronde Oceane Convertible

39 – Nash Metropolitan model 542 1956

40 – AC Bristol Aceca 1954

41 – Fiat 1500 Coupe 1960

42 – Lancia Appia sedan 1958

43 – Austin Convertible 1947

44 – Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible 1971

45 – MG MGA 1961

46 – Daimler Dart 1958

47 – Villard Type 27

48 – Volvo 1800ES 1973

49 – Austin Balanza 1800 MK2 1968

50 – Fiat 1500 Spider 1963

51 – Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1,3S 2e serie 1973

52 – BMW 1600 GT 1968

53 – Fiat 130 Coupe Automatic 3200 1972

54 – Fiat Dino Coupe Bertone 2.0 1966

55 – Bentley S2 Saloon 1959

56 – Jaguar Mark 10 1963

57 – Lincoln Continental Convertible MKIV 1959

58 – NSU RO80 1976

59 – Studebaker President 1958

60 – Jaguar XJ-S 4.0 Convertible 1995

61 – Mazda RX-7 Convertible 1988

62 – Mercury Monterey 2 door coupe 1954

63 – Ferrari 400i Automaat 1984

64 – Facel Vega FVS 1956

65 – Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner 1958

66 – Peugeot 190S 1928

67 – Aston Martin V8 Series 3 1975

68 – Mercedes W188 300 S Roadster 1953

69 – Studebaker Avanti Gold R2 1963

70 – Ford Fairlane Victoria 4 door sedan 1955

71 – Chevrolet Corvette C1 283 1958

72 – Maserati Merak 1972

73 – Maserati 3500 GTI S 1962

79 – Buick 8 1937

80 – Bristol 401 2L coupe 1952

81 – Rover P4 100 1959

82 – Jaguar MKII 3.4 1963

83 – Alvis TD21 MK2 1963

84 – Rover 16 Saloon 1937

85 – Facel Vega Facel II HK2 1962

86 – Citroën SM 1972

87 – Chevrolet Corvair Convertible S 1964

88 – Jaguar 3 1/2 liter Mark V 1943

89 – Lagonda Drophead Coupe 1953

90 – Daimler Coupe 

91 – Chevrolet Corvair Coupe Monza 1964

92 – Ford Mustang 289 Coupe 1965

93 – Ford Mustang 289 Fastback 1968

94 – Chevrolet Corvair Convertible S 

95 – Jaguar E-type Convertible 4.2 S1 1966

96 – Mercedes 300 SE Coupe (RDW 250 SE) 1965

97 – Ford Thunderbird Landau 1963

98 – MG Midget 1976

99 – Mercedes 450 SL Convertible with hardtop 

100 – Ford Thunderbird 1962

101 – Rolls Royce 25/30 HD model 2025 1934

102 – MG TD 1953

103 – Jaguar XJ8 Convertible 1998

104 – Packard Eight de Luxe 1950

105 – Chevrolet Corvette C3 

106 – Volvo 66 L 1979

107 – Ford Thunderbird MK5 Landau 1968

108 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider 

109 – Austin A90 Atlantic Coupe 1952

110 – Daimler DB18 53228 1949

111 – Jensen Interceptor III 1975

112 – Sunbeam 20 HP 

113 – Talbot Lago Record T26 Coupe 1951

114 – Lancia Aurelia B20 1955

115 – Alfa Romeo Montreal 1973

116 – ISO Rivolta IR300 1968

117 – ISO Rivolta Fidia 1971

118 – Fiat 2300 Coupe Ghia 

119 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint 1967

120 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider 1962

121 – Lancia Flaminia GTL 3C Coupe Touring 1968

122 – Lancia Flaminia Coupe Pininfarina 1962

123 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Touring 1964

124 – Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Coupe 1950

125 – Maserati Indy AM116 1970

126 – Lincoln Continental Coupe MK2 1956

127 – Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 1967

128 – Datsun 280ZX Turbo 1982

129 – Maserati Mistral Frua AM109 1965

130 – Delahaye 135M Convertible 1950

131 – Facel Vega Facel II 1963

132 – Monica 560 1972

133 – BMW 3200 CS Bertone 1963

134 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider 1964

135 – Ford Thunderbird 1ste model 1956

136 – Talbot Lago Record T26 Berline 1949

137 – Talbot Lago Record T26 Berline 1950

138 – Essex (USA) Super Six Roadster 4 zits 1931

139 – Rolls Royce Camargue 

140 – Imperial M617 MK2 Hardtop Coupe 1959

141 – Panhard PL 17 17B 4 doors 1963

142 – Tatra T87 1948

143 – Mercedes 450 SLC 1976

144 – Cadillac Eldorado Convertible MK7 1966

145 – Mercedes 220 A Convertible 1955

146 – Jaguar XK150 Fixed Head 3.4S 1960

147 – Lancia Flaminia 2.8 Touring Convertible 1962

148 – Mercedes 220 SE Coupe 1960

149 – Mercedes 300 SE Automatic 1964

150 – Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato Series 2 1964

151 – Maserati Bora 4.7 1972

152 – Fiat 130 Coupe Automatic 1974

153 – MG B 1978

154 – Panther J 72 1979

155 – Rolls Royce Camargue 

156 – Aston Martin V8 

157 – VW Kever 

158 – Porsche 928 

159 – Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 

160 – Jaguar MK9 

161 – MG B Coupé 

162 – MG A 

163 – Alfa Romeo Duetto 

164 – Alfa Romeo GTV 

165 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Coupé 

166 – Citroën DS 

167 – Mercedes SL 

168 – Pre war 

169 – Alfa Romeo Spider 

170 – Peugeot 504 Convertible

171 – Daimler Sovreign 

172 – Tractor 

173 – Alfa Romeo GTV 

174 – Maserati 3500 GT 1964

175 – Maserati Quattro Porte 4200 Serie 1 1965

176 – Cadillac Eldorado Convertible MK7 1955

177 – Lincoln Continental MKIV 4 drs Cabriolet 1964

178 – Ford Edsel SE Citation Cabriolet 1958

179 – Chevrolet Corvette C3 L-82 1978

180 – DeTomaso Deauville Serie 2 1978

181 – Cadillac Eldorado Convertible MK8 1968

182 – Daimler 250 1967

183 – Messerschmitt KR200 1963

184 – Ford Thunderbird 1957

185 – Bristol 401 2 Litre 1950

186 – Triumph TR3 1958

187 – Hillman Minx Tourer Cabriolet 1935

188 – NSU Spider 56 1966

189 – Facel Vega F2 Facellia Coupe 1962

190 – Sunbeam 20HP Tickford 1933

191 – Hillman Minx Saloon 1934

192 – Triumph Renown MK1 TDB Saloon 1948

193 – Sunbeam Supreme Alpine MK1 1955

194 – Lancia Aurelia B50 Cabriolet Pininfarina 1951

195 – Daf 600 1960

196 – Morris Cowley Six MC15 2-door 1934

220 – Tomos Moped Quaoro 

221 – Germaan Moped 

222 – Motor MV Agusta 

223 – Moped Kreidler Florett 

224 – Moped 

225 – Moped Puch 

226 – Motor Moto Guzzi 

227 – Scooter Vespa 

228 – Scooter Vespa 

229 – Moped 

230 – Moped 

231 – Moped 

232 – Cola cabinet 

233 – Workplace 1 

234 – Workplace 2 

237 – Alfa Romeo Duetto Rood 

253 – Lancia Thema 6V Automaat 1986

254 – Volvo 340 DL 1986

255 – Opel Movano Pick-up 2 2.5 CDTI Drops 2006

256 – Ford Thunderbird 1980

257 – Fiat Ducato 14 2.8D Pick-up 2000

258 – Volvo 480 ES 1987

259 – Steyr 55 1936

260 – Hymer/Vauxha Mobil camper 1976

261 – Volkswagen  T3 Syncro DC 4×4 Pick up TD51kw 1989

262 – Lancia Zagato Fulvia Sport 1.3S series 2 1971?

263 – Peugeot 504 Coupe injection automaat 1973

264 – Imperia TA-8 Sport Hotchkiss 1949

266 – BMW 2000 CS 1972

267 – Opel Vectra B 1.6-16v 5 deurs 1998

268 – DAF 400 autoambulance AE04BN 1987

269 – Land Rover Discovery 1997

270 – Winnebago Renault Traffic Lesharo 2e serie 1986

271 – Chrysler Imperial 1956?

272 – Studebaker Champion Coupe 4e generatie 1955

273 – Renault Express 1989

274 – Citroën Jumper 1998

275 – Fiat Ducato Camper 15L 2.3JTD 2004

276 – BMW 2000 CS 1969

277 – Mercedes Vito 108CDI 2002

278 – BMW 3 serie 1996

279 – Renault 19 cabriolet Karmann 1992

280 – Master MTD grasmaaier (that’s Dutch for a grass cutter)

 

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