Huge 230-car barn-find collection set to be auctioned

A staggering collection, secretly stored in a church and gathered over 40 years, is set to be auctioned in the Netherlands

Can you ever have too many cars?

Apparently not, according to a gentleman known only as Mr Palmen, who secretly amassed a huge collection of over 230 cars and other vehicles over the past four decades. Due to his age, he is no longer able to sustain the collection, which is set to be auctioned in May.

According to the auction website, Palmen was a classic vehicle dealer who specialised in 1960s-era cars and had a particular affinity for Italian marques. His collection started with a yellow, 1955 Lancia B20 and grew from there.

Over 230 cars, some mopeds and other equipment are represented in the auction. The cars were stored in two warehouses and a church and kept secret from neighbouring tenants and even friends.

A total of 84 marques are represented, with 20 Alfa Romeos, 13 Lancias, 10 Fiats and a couple of Ferraris supporting Palmen’s Italian tastes. There are other European brands, like Jaguar, Peugeot and Mercedes-Benz, as well as American manufacturers like Ford, Cadillac and Chevrolet.

While many of the cars are ‘eclectic’ classics, like the 1963 Messerschmitt KR200 ‘bubble car’ and the Saab Sonnet III of the early 1970s, there are a number of very valuable machines in the mix, including a pair of 1960s Maserati 3500 coupes, worth well over $500,000 each.

The auctioneer notes that all the cars were kept in ‘as arrived’ condition from when they were added to the collection and that Palmen added but never sold any cars. From the photos and video, it is clear that not all cars are in great condition, but given the rarity and originality of many models, collectors and investors are sure to take a strong interest.

The auction starts on May 19 and runs until June 7 2023.

Here are all the cars as noted in the barn-find collection.

1 – Alfa Romeo Sprint 1600	84 – Rover 16 Saloon 1937	162 – MG A
2 – Fiat 1200 TV Spider 1958	85 – Facel Vega Facel II HK2 1962	163 – Alfa Romeo Duetto
3 – Citroën 2CV 1955	86 – Citroën SM 1972	164 – Alfa Romeo GTV
4 – Triumph 2000 20TR Convertible 1970	87 – Chevrolet Corvair Convertible S 1964	165 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Coupé
5 – Panhard 24CT 1964	88 – Jaguar 3 1/2 liter Mark V 1943	166 – Citroën DS
6 – Saab Sonnet III type 97	89 – Lagonda Drophead Coupe 1953	167 – Mercedes SL
7 – Facel Vega Facellia coupe	90 – Daimler Coupe	168 – Pre war
8 – Facel Vega Facellia Convertible	91 – Chevrolet Corvair Coupe Monza 1964	169 – Alfa Romeo Spider
9 – Bond Equipe GT 6 2 liter 2+2 1967	92 – Ford Mustang 289 Coupe 1965	170 – Peugeot 504 Convertible
10 – Fiat 124 Spider USA 2000 1981	93 – Ford Mustang 289 Fastback 1968	171 – Daimler Sovreign
11 – Daf 66 HAVAS Convertible type 55 1970	94 – Chevrolet Corvair Convertible S	172 – Tractor
12 – Facel Vega FB Convertible 1963	95 – Jaguar E-type Convertible 4.2 S1 1966	173 – Alfa Romeo GTV
13 – Alfa Romeo Spider Duetto type 10503	96 – Mercedes 300 SE Coupe (RDW 250 SE) 1965	174 – Maserati 3500 GT 1964
14 – Alfa Romeo Zagato 2600SZ 1967	97 – Ford Thunderbird Landau 1963	175 – Maserati Quattro Porte 4200 Serie 1 1965
15 – Simca 9 Coupe de ville S	98 – MG Midget 1976	176 – Cadillac Eldorado Convertible MK7 1955
16 – MG B GT 1971	99 – Mercedes 450 SL Convertible with hardtop	177 – Lincoln Continental MKIV 4 drs Cabriolet 1964
17 – MG TF 1954	100 – Ford Thunderbird 1962	178 – Ford Edsel SE Citation Cabriolet 1958
18 – Lamboghini Espada	101 – Rolls Royce 25/30 HD model 2025 1934	179 – Chevrolet Corvette C3 L-82 1978
19 – MG B Tourer 1970	102 – MG TD 1953	180 – DeTomaso Deauville Serie 2 1978
20 – Singer Convertible 1912	103 – Jaguar XJ8 Convertible 1998	181 – Cadillac Eldorado Convertible MK8 1968
21 – Alfa Romeo Guilietta Srint Speciale	104 – Packard Eight de Luxe 1950	182 – Daimler 250 1967
22 – Lancia Montecarlo 1978	105 – Chevrolet Corvette C3	183 – Messerschmitt KR200 1963
23 – Alfa Romeo Spider 2.0 1985	106 – Volvo 66 L 1979	184 – Ford Thunderbird 1957
24 – Ford A Roadster 1927	107 – Ford Thunderbird MK5 Landau 1968	185 – Bristol 401 2 Litre 1950
25 – Facel Vega Coupe 1964	108 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider	186 – Triumph TR3 1958
26 – Sunbeam Talbot Supreme Convertible	109 – Austin A90 Atlantic Coupe 1952	187 – Hillman Minx Tourer Cabriolet 1935
27 – Matra Bonnet 1965	110 – Daimler DB18 53228 1949	188 – NSU Spider 56 1966
28 – Lancia B24 Spyder America 1955	111 – Jensen Interceptor III 1975	189 – Facel Vega F2 Facellia Coupe 1962
29 – Alfa Romeo Guilia GTC 1965	112 – Sunbeam 20 HP	190 – Sunbeam 20HP Tickford 1933
30 – Triumph TR3B	113 – Talbot Lago Record T26 Coupe 1951	191 – Hillman Minx Saloon 1934
31 – Moretti 128 1974	114 – Lancia Aurelia B20 1955	192 – Triumph Renown MK1 TDB Saloon 1948
32 – Sunbeam Alpine 1960	115 – Alfa Romeo Montreal 1973	193 – Sunbeam Supreme Alpine MK1 1955
33 – MG A	116 – ISO Rivolta IR300 1968	194 – Lancia Aurelia B50 Cabriolet Pininfarina 1951
34 – Singer 9 Roadster 1955	117 – ISO Rivolta Fidia 1971	195 – Daf 600 1960
35 – Lancia Appia Coupe	118 – Fiat 2300 Coupe Ghia	196 – Morris Cowley Six MC15 2-door 1934
36 – Alfa Romeo Spider Guilia 1600	119 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint 1967	220 – Tomos Moped Quaoro
37 – Jensen Healey 1974	120 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider 1962	221 – Germaan Moped
38 – Simca Aronde Oceane Convertible	121 – Lancia Flaminia GTL 3C Coupe Touring 1968	222 – Motor MV Agusta
39 – Nash Metropolitan model 542 1956	122 – Lancia Flaminia Coupe Pininfarina 1962	223 – Moped Kreidler Florett
40 – AC Bristol Aceca 1954	123 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Touring 1964	224 – Moped
41 – Fiat 1500 Coupe 1960	124 – Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Coupe 1950	225 – Moped Puch
42 – Lancia Appia sedan 1958	125 – Maserati Indy AM116 1970	226 – Motor Moto Guzzi
43 – Austin Convertible 1947	126 – Lincoln Continental Coupe MK2 1956	227 – Scooter Vespa
44 – Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible 1971	127 – Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 1967	228 – Scooter Vespa
45 – MG MGA 1961	128 – Datsun 280ZX Turbo 1982	229 – Moped
46 – Daimler Dart 1958	129 – Maserati Mistral Frua AM109 1965	230 – Moped
47 – Villard Type 27	130 – Delahaye 135M Convertible 1950	231 – Moped
48 – Volvo 1800ES 1973	131 – Facel Vega Facel II 1963	232 – Cola cabinet
49 – Austin Balanza 1800 MK2 1968	132 – Monica 560 1972	233 – Workplace 1
50 – Fiat 1500 Spider 1963	133 – BMW 3200 CS Bertone 1963	234 – Workplace 2
51 – Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1,3S 2e serie 1973	134 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider 1964	237 – Alfa Romeo Duetto Rood
52 – BMW 1600 GT 1968	135 – Ford Thunderbird 1ste model 1956	253 – Lancia Thema 6V Automaat 1986
53 – Fiat 130 Coupe Automatic 3200 1972	136 – Talbot Lago Record T26 Berline 1949	254 – Volvo 340 DL 1986
54 – Fiat Dino Coupe Bertone 2.0 1966	137 – Talbot Lago Record T26 Berline 1950	255 – Opel Movano Pick-up 2 2.5 CDTI Drops 2006
55 – Bentley S2 Saloon 1959	138 – Essex (USA) Super Six Roadster 4 zits 1931	256 – Ford Thunderbird 1980
56 – Jaguar Mark 10 1963	139 – Rolls Royce Camargue	257 – Fiat Ducato 14 2.8D Pick-up 2000
57 – Lincoln Continental Convertible MKIV 1959	140 – Imperial M617 MK2 Hardtop Coupe 1959	258 – Volvo 480 ES 1987
58 – NSU RO80 1976	141 – Panhard PL 17 17B 4 doors 1963	259 – Steyr 55 1936
59 – Studebaker President 1958	142 – Tatra T87 1948	260 – Hymer/Vauxha Mobil camper 1976
60 – Jaguar XJ-S 4.0 Convertible 1995	143 – Mercedes 450 SLC 1976	261 – Volkswagen  T3 Syncro DC 4×4 Pick up TD51kw 1989
61 – Mazda RX-7 Convertible 1988	144 – Cadillac Eldorado Convertible MK7 1966	262 – Lancia Zagato Fulvia Sport 1.3S series 2 1971?
62 – Mercury Monterey 2 door coupe 1954	145 – Mercedes 220 A Convertible 1955	263 – Peugeot 504 Coupe injection automaat 1973
63 – Ferrari 400i Automaat 1984	146 – Jaguar XK150 Fixed Head 3.4S 1960	264 – Imperia TA-8 Sport Hotchkiss 1949
64 – Facel Vega FVS 1956	147 – Lancia Flaminia 2.8 Touring Convertible 1962	266 – BMW 2000 CS 1972
65 – Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner 1958	148 – Mercedes 220 SE Coupe 1960	267 – Opel Vectra B 1.6-16v 5 deurs 1998
66 – Peugeot 190S 1928	149 – Mercedes 300 SE Automatic 1964	268 – DAF 400 autoambulance AE04BN 1987
67 – Aston Martin V8 Series 3 1975	150 – Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato Series 2 1964	269 – Land Rover Discovery 1997
68 – Mercedes W188 300 S Roadster 1953	151 – Maserati Bora 4.7 1972	270 – Winnebago Renault Traffic Lesharo 2e serie 1986
69 – Studebaker Avanti Gold R2 1963	152 – Fiat 130 Coupe Automatic 1974	271 – Chrysler Imperial 1956?
70 – Ford Fairlane Victoria 4 door sedan 1955	153 – MG B 1978	272 – Studebaker Champion Coupe 4e generatie 1955
71 – Chevrolet Corvette C1 283 1958	154 – Panther J 72 1979	273 – Renault Express 1989
72 – Maserati Merak 1972	155 – Rolls Royce Camargue	274 – Citroën Jumper 1998
73 – Maserati 3500 GTI S 1962	156 – Aston Martin V8	275 – Fiat Ducato Camper 15L 2.3JTD 2004
79 – Buick 8 1937	157 – VW Kever	276 – BMW 2000 CS 1969
80 – Bristol 401 2L coupe 1952	158 – Porsche 928	277 – Mercedes Vito 108CDI 2002
81 – Rover P4 100 1959	159 – Ferrari Dino 308 GT4	278 – BMW 3 serie 1996
82 – Jaguar MKII 3.4 1963	160 – Jaguar MK9	279 – Renault 19 cabriolet Karmann 1992
83 – Alvis TD21 MK2 1963	161 – MG B Coupé	280 – Master MTD grasmaaier

View the listing here.

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