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60 Vintage Cars Found After 50 Years Of Neglect On French Farm Are Worth At Least £12 Million
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60 Vintage Cars Found After 50 Years Of Neglect On French Farm Are Worth At Least £12 Million

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Even today, when the whole world has been mapped by GPS, there are still valuable hidden treasures left to discover. After calling in auctioneers, the grandchildren of entrepreneur Roger Baillon discovered that the collection of 60 vintage cars from the 1930s to the 1950s left to rust in sheds on the family’s farm in western France could be worth £12 million or more at auction.

These aren’t your run-of-the-mill 1930s old cars, either (if such a thing exists). One Talbot-Lago in the collection had previously been owned by Egyptian King Farouk and a Ferrari had been used in the filming of a movie with Jane Fonda. Along with the rare cars such as the Maserati in this collection, Baillon had intended to build a museum with his classic car collection. When things didn’t go as expected, however, he had to sell 50 of these supercars, and the rest of the collection was forgotten.

The car collection will be put up for auction in Paris on February 6th, 2015. Any of the cool cars unfit for restoration will be sold for spare parts.

More info: artcurial.com (h/t: dailymail)

This sort of thing doesn’t happen often enough! I think, above all, you go into this profession for discoveries like this. Yes, this really is a treasure,” said Artcurial Motorcars manager Matthieu Lamoure

I have to say that when we arrived here, we found ourselves overcome with emotion. Probably much like Lord Carrington 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

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Facel Vega (left) and a Talbot-Lago (right)

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Pierre Novikoff, a senior specialist at Artcurial, said, “this was somewhere between a metallic graveyard and a museum. Nature had taken a hold, over the years. Ivy had invaded a car and entirely covered its wheel, while weeds had taken root in a passenger compartment as easily as in a greenhouse

We were standing in front of the Baillon collection. It was thought that everything had been sold, and its existence had been forgotten about. And here, we had just found the lost collection!

Certain cars, much like paintings or sculptures, are works of art, created by artists! Not only the engineering, but their styling reflects the history of design

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A vintage Ferrari (left), once sat in by Jane Fonda, and a Maserati A6G 200 Berlinetta Grand Sport Frua (right), one of only three in the world.

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Ferrari 250 GT California SWB. “Ferrari is a legendary name in the automobile world. And this car is unique. Only 37 examples of this model were built making it extremely rare. Every example has been carefully documented by historians and this one was thought to be lost. We have found it!” explained Lamoure.

A Talbot-Lago T26 Cabriolet once owned by Egyptian King Farouk

Hispano Suiza H6B Cabriolet Millio

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Matthieu Lamoure (left) and Pierre Novikoff (right), the auctioneers and classic car experts who found the collection

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ladislav_schimpl avatar
LadislavSchimpl
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unbelievable, beautiful cars history....you must save them, please.

ronald.d.fry avatar
RonaldFry
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my thinking is what a shame of a waste of a past era that cant be replaced.

arekczub avatar
ArekCzub
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

holy s**t! beauties <3 More than sure that someone will save them...

RJazz909 avatar
RJazz909
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SAVE AS MANY AS YOU CAN!!! THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL!! A lot of them will be unsaveable but you MUST try to save as many as possible!!!!!!!!!!!

profagbaje avatar
DadaEyo
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

damn, if only my folks had a collection such as these, heck! I'd not have to hustle one single minute of the rest of my life! ever!!

susanhagarty avatar
SusanHagarty
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ashes to ashes, dust to dust; you can't take it with you, and now it's just a pile of rust. What a waste of money, time and life.

scott_kuhn_31 avatar
ScottKuhn
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The find of the Century? More like the crime of the Century, what a shame!

classic_car_357 avatar
Classic Car
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh s**t! Quick action needs to take care of all these amazing cars. More history hides behind these cars. http://www.classiccarbase.com/

heidi_b_schofield avatar
HeidiSchofield
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow they definitely need saving they would look amazing done back up to the way they should look.

bob3561 avatar
Robert Webb
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My lifelong dream, just sitting there neglected, I looked after a collection of Bentleys and Rolls Royce saloons for a guy - heaven.

james_hansen_3591 avatar
JamesHansen
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, talk about a challenge for the resto people who might their hands on these. Sadly most will cost more to restore than they are worth.

GlyniCT avatar
GlynisLailann
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The poor darlings! What a shame no-one looked after them. Now at least they will be brought back to their beauty.

jeanmichelmost avatar
JeanMichelMost
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Devant une telle merveille on ne dira plus que les français ne sont pas conservateurs!!

richard_petch_94 avatar
RichardPetch
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably collected off the streets after WW2, I would love to spend a few hours looking around them though.

tommiller avatar
Tom Miller
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

now I know where these guys http://softchamp.com/news/car-made-3d-printer/ have got the inspiration to create the first 3d printer car :D

donacedillon avatar
Donace Dillon
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow - fascinating....Great music choice on the video. Sad to see such beautiful cars left to sit for so long - glad they were found.

donacedillon avatar
DonaceDillon
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow...fascinating . all those cars just sitting there - beautiful at one time....I agree, what a sad waste

booker_burley avatar
Booker Burley
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Reatta not in class with these beauties. Never was, not now nor ever

wren_solares avatar
WrenSolares
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Better late than never. What a beautiful find to now share with the world... Ta

tamara_sachs_73 avatar
TamaraSachs
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes me both so very happy and sad. I really hope someone follows what happens to the ones bought and restored. I would LOVE to see that

christe_arul avatar
ChrisArul
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where is the auction will be held? Please send the address to christe.arul@gmail.com Thank you

garvance avatar
GarVance
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's so sad to see how ANYONE could let such an amazing collection of cars rust and rot! Rich idiots! Hopefully they'll be resurrected!

john_hendrusson avatar
JohnHendrusson
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These pictures really upset me. Some of these wonderful cars are beyond just being cars, but are automotive sculpture. They must be saved.

roby_montellano_5 avatar
Roby Montellano
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a marvelous discovery of the century....I really love those vintage cars....It has a history of art and culture in its auto heritage

fkbaumann avatar
F Kay Baumann
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How Aweful. Hoarding and then allowing them to go to rot...so so sad.

clancycavnar avatar
Clancy Cavnar
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is a hoax, should check this out before posting it unless you are only after clickbait

tiger_billis avatar
Tiger Billis
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The caption for the second picture mentions Lord Carrington. Shouldn't that be Lord Carnarvon?

tiger_billis avatar
TigerBillis
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The caption for the second picture mentions Lord Carrington. Shouldn't that be Lord Carnarvon?

phidoladmin avatar
PhidolAdmin
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I Think they were had a party on the castle when they were been murdered, and left their cars. :D

tomasz_chmielowski_3 avatar
Tomasz Chmielowski
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

http://www.fakt.pl/200-wrakow-spoczywa-w-lesie-,artykuly,58552,1.html

tomasz_chmielowski_3 avatar
TomaszChmielowski
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On Poland we have sompthing like that, on forest. But none of this will do nothing. http://www.fakt.pl/200-wrakow-spoczywa-w-lesie-,artykuly

shaun_morris_5095 avatar
ShaunMorris
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to laugh at the Ford Taunus sat amongst all those treasures! I'd give that one a home.

rahman_vlad avatar
Vlad Stefan
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

90% rust,nothing to save from most of them. You cannot sell as original. not even spares 80% of the cars.

rahman_vlad avatar
VladStefan
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what to save? 90% rust? no,it will no longer be original.peace.

ladislav_schimpl avatar
LadislavSchimpl
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unbelievable, beautiful cars history....you must save them, please.

ronald.d.fry avatar
RonaldFry
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my thinking is what a shame of a waste of a past era that cant be replaced.

arekczub avatar
ArekCzub
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

holy s**t! beauties <3 More than sure that someone will save them...

RJazz909 avatar
RJazz909
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SAVE AS MANY AS YOU CAN!!! THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL!! A lot of them will be unsaveable but you MUST try to save as many as possible!!!!!!!!!!!

profagbaje avatar
DadaEyo
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

damn, if only my folks had a collection such as these, heck! I'd not have to hustle one single minute of the rest of my life! ever!!

susanhagarty avatar
SusanHagarty
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ashes to ashes, dust to dust; you can't take it with you, and now it's just a pile of rust. What a waste of money, time and life.

scott_kuhn_31 avatar
ScottKuhn
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The find of the Century? More like the crime of the Century, what a shame!

classic_car_357 avatar
Classic Car
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh s**t! Quick action needs to take care of all these amazing cars. More history hides behind these cars. http://www.classiccarbase.com/

heidi_b_schofield avatar
HeidiSchofield
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow they definitely need saving they would look amazing done back up to the way they should look.

bob3561 avatar
Robert Webb
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My lifelong dream, just sitting there neglected, I looked after a collection of Bentleys and Rolls Royce saloons for a guy - heaven.

james_hansen_3591 avatar
JamesHansen
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, talk about a challenge for the resto people who might their hands on these. Sadly most will cost more to restore than they are worth.

GlyniCT avatar
GlynisLailann
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The poor darlings! What a shame no-one looked after them. Now at least they will be brought back to their beauty.

jeanmichelmost avatar
JeanMichelMost
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Devant une telle merveille on ne dira plus que les français ne sont pas conservateurs!!

richard_petch_94 avatar
RichardPetch
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably collected off the streets after WW2, I would love to spend a few hours looking around them though.

tommiller avatar
Tom Miller
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

now I know where these guys http://softchamp.com/news/car-made-3d-printer/ have got the inspiration to create the first 3d printer car :D

donacedillon avatar
Donace Dillon
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow - fascinating....Great music choice on the video. Sad to see such beautiful cars left to sit for so long - glad they were found.

donacedillon avatar
DonaceDillon
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow...fascinating . all those cars just sitting there - beautiful at one time....I agree, what a sad waste

booker_burley avatar
Booker Burley
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Reatta not in class with these beauties. Never was, not now nor ever

wren_solares avatar
WrenSolares
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Better late than never. What a beautiful find to now share with the world... Ta

tamara_sachs_73 avatar
TamaraSachs
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes me both so very happy and sad. I really hope someone follows what happens to the ones bought and restored. I would LOVE to see that

christe_arul avatar
ChrisArul
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where is the auction will be held? Please send the address to christe.arul@gmail.com Thank you

garvance avatar
GarVance
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's so sad to see how ANYONE could let such an amazing collection of cars rust and rot! Rich idiots! Hopefully they'll be resurrected!

john_hendrusson avatar
JohnHendrusson
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These pictures really upset me. Some of these wonderful cars are beyond just being cars, but are automotive sculpture. They must be saved.

roby_montellano_5 avatar
Roby Montellano
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a marvelous discovery of the century....I really love those vintage cars....It has a history of art and culture in its auto heritage

fkbaumann avatar
F Kay Baumann
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How Aweful. Hoarding and then allowing them to go to rot...so so sad.

clancycavnar avatar
Clancy Cavnar
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is a hoax, should check this out before posting it unless you are only after clickbait

tiger_billis avatar
Tiger Billis
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The caption for the second picture mentions Lord Carrington. Shouldn't that be Lord Carnarvon?

tiger_billis avatar
TigerBillis
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The caption for the second picture mentions Lord Carrington. Shouldn't that be Lord Carnarvon?

phidoladmin avatar
PhidolAdmin
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I Think they were had a party on the castle when they were been murdered, and left their cars. :D

tomasz_chmielowski_3 avatar
Tomasz Chmielowski
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

http://www.fakt.pl/200-wrakow-spoczywa-w-lesie-,artykuly,58552,1.html

tomasz_chmielowski_3 avatar
TomaszChmielowski
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On Poland we have sompthing like that, on forest. But none of this will do nothing. http://www.fakt.pl/200-wrakow-spoczywa-w-lesie-,artykuly

shaun_morris_5095 avatar
ShaunMorris
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to laugh at the Ford Taunus sat amongst all those treasures! I'd give that one a home.

rahman_vlad avatar
Vlad Stefan
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

90% rust,nothing to save from most of them. You cannot sell as original. not even spares 80% of the cars.

rahman_vlad avatar
VladStefan
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what to save? 90% rust? no,it will no longer be original.peace.

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