Remarkable Collection Of Barn-Find Classics Head To Auction In France

Amongst dilapidated barns and overgrown foliage in quaint, rural France you likely wouldn’t expect to find 81 classic vehicles huddled together that, between them, represent over a century of British, European and American motoring–especially when they include a Lamborghini P400 Miura and a 1961 Series 1 Jaguar E-Type. The collection is due to go to auction later this week on Sunday January 20, courtesy of French auctioneers Interencheres. In all, there are 179 lots of cars and parts, with the highlight being the 1968 Lamborghini P400 Miura. With an estimate of €400,000-€600,000 ($458,000-$688,000), this left-hand drive Miura is the most expensive listing of the sale and justifiably so, despite significant paint damage, a rusted subframe, a rotten, moldy interior and flat tires. Originally sold new in Belgium, it was last purchased in 1996 and was parked up with 77,886km on the odometer. Apart from Ferrari wheel nuts and a broken crank handle, the five-speed, V12 Miura remains complete. 

Or how about this 1961 Series 1 Jaguar E-type? This flat-floor coupe, finished in gold metallic, is expected to fetch between €40,000 – €60,000 ($46,000 – $69,000) at the auction. Sold new in France by the garage Royal Elysees, the left-hand Jaguar has only driven 58,631km since. It’s on wire wheels and has a black interior, complete with leather seats. A little worse for wear but well worth consideration is a left-hand drive 1953 ‘bent window’ Porsche 356 Pre-A, which is guaranteed to have the Porsche collectors chomping at the bit thanks to its sheer rarity.  This once yellow but now red 356 comes with a proportionally low estimate of €10,000 – €15,000 ($11,400 – $17,000) thanks to long-term outdoor storage having caused significant corrosion to the body and damage to the primarily fabric interior. It comes with original paperwork and is fitted with a later Type 616/1 356B T-5 engine running two Zenith twin-barrel carburettors. 

The oldest vehicle for sale in the auction, a full century old, is a 1919 Citroen 10HP Type A. Although incomplete, this right-hand drive Citroen was once a four-door roadster. The 8/10hp B2 engine is on display thanks to missing body panels, but the three-speed manual gearbox, drum brakes and some paperwork are still with it. It’s sitting at the low estimate of €700 – €1000 ($800 – $1142). How brave are you feeling?

Images courtesy of Interenchères