Looks like the car world is going to end the year with a bang! We have seen some amazing discoveries this past year, but I think it is safe to say that this one takes the cake. Outside of a small village in France there are a couple of unassuming structures that are full of classic cars. These are not just any old cars though. Some of the world’s finest vehicles are housed within these dilapidated garages and collapsing tin sheds. Cars that you may have never even heard of, but many of which are worth unfathomable amounts of money. Cars from the likes of Bugatti, Ferrari, Delahaye, Hispano Suiza, and Talbot Lago are all represented here and although covered in rust and moss they are an astonishing sight to behold.

The owner of this property had originally planned to preserve as many of world’s finest automobiles as he could. His collection focused on the great French marques and coachbuilders of the prewar era. He planned to build a museum to house them all (complete with a train to transport guests!), but unfortunately business went south before he could accomplish his goal. A large part of the collection was sold off in the 70s, but many cars remained and there they sat for 50 years… The dream was forgotten and somehow the cars were considered lost by the hunters who endlessly search for these rare birds. Ironically many of the automotive masterpieces that the owner hoped to preserve ended up suffering a worse fate in his care than they might have otherwise.

Some of the standouts here include a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider (which was previously thought to be lost), a 1956 Maserati A6G Gran Sport Frua, a Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport coupé Saoutchik, a Talbot Lago T26 cabriolet Saoutchik (which was once owned by a king), a Hispano Suiza H6B cabriolet Millon-Guiet, and a Talbot Lago T26 Record coupé Saoutchik. Don’t feel bad if some of these makes and models sound like gibberish to you. Just know that all those fancy words equate to big money. These are the sort of cars that you would expect to see at events like the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of these show up there in the next few years since the cars are all being auctioned off in February. Artcurial is handling the monumental task of digging these all out and presenting them at the Retromobile auction. Boy, would I have loved to have been the guy who got the call to go take a look at this find! There is an interview posted on the auction house’s website where they discuss the experience. Understandably, it was a very emotional day and they even were quoted as saying that “This is surely the last time that such a discovery will be made, anywhere in the world“. Perhaps, but I’m not so sure…

Source: Articurial Motocars