Mark your calendars. On May the 19th, over 230 iconic classics will go up for auction after spending decades tucked away in a European barn.
It’s not every day that an impressive barn find collection of some of the rarest and most incredible cars ever made becomes available for purchase. Usually, most collections are hidden away from prying eyes in an effort to either restore them or pass the cars down to subsequent generations, it being left to dedicated explorers to uncover barn finds that are often automotive treasures.
Now, though, the chance to own a piece of automotive history in the form of a classic car has arisen with the discovery and auction of the ‘Palmen Barn Find Collection’. With a large variety of lots going up for sale in May 2023, now is the chance for enthusiasts to grab an appreciating asset, either to restore or to preserve.
But what’s the story behind this car collection? And what can interested buyers expect from this amazing group of automotive icons? In this feature, we shall be answering these questions and will aim to give you an insight into one of the most amazing barn find collections ever to exist.
The Story Behind The Palmen Barn Find Classic Car Collection
Around 40 years ago, car enthusiast Mr. Palmen began to collect cars, the first of which was a stunning Lancia B20; a true classic Italian dream car. Palmen’s collection then began to grow excessively, with a variety of more cars entering dry storage that were of differing styles. From sports cars to luxury grand tourers, Palmen worked to collect them all.
Thankfully, this was not a case of a car collection building in a junkyard or in a neglected space where the vehicles were left to erode. Quite the contrary. Palmen stored his ever-growing collection in a church and 2 warehouses in the Netherlands, and he worked religiously by starting the engines on a regular basis to keep them from seizing. The cars were kept in good condition, and the fact they were dry stored goes a long way to explain their dusty yet immaculate state.
What Kind Of Cars Are In The Barn Find?
After years of gathering some of the most exquisite cars ever produced, Palmen now, sadly, cannot keep the collection going. Not for reasons similar to other collectors, such as near bankruptcy, Palmen simply cannot continue to store the enormous 280 cars out of personal circumstance. And so, beginning on May the 19th, this collection built for kings will go live for the public to inspect and bid upon.
The variety of cars to be purchased is truly staggering. On the one hand, Italian exotics from Lancia to Alfa Romeo, to the raging bulls of Lamborghini and the king of supercars with Ferrari, all of these are available in the collection. If you’re an enthusiast who enjoys British cars, expect to see a plethora or Aston Martins, Jaguars, and Rolls-Royces up for grabs. But if a roaring V8 muscle car is to your liking, the American giants of Ford, Cadillac, and Chevrolet are dotted throughout the barn find itself. It’s safe to say most royal families on the planet own less of a diverse group than the Palmen collection. The full list of the cars in the collection is far too extensive to mention.
How Expensive Will The Barn Find Classics Be?
It’s no secret that barn find collections can often feature truly expensive machines, cars that go up for auctions for millions of dollars. The exact value of the Palmen collection is unknown prior to the auction. However, given the diverse range of classic cars within the barn find, it’s safe to say cars will not be going cheaply. This is especially true given how good of a condition the cars are in, as seen in the official showcase video.
As mentioned previously, they have been dry stored and maintained vigorously for most of their life, meaning buyers will likely not be purchasing a nut-and-bolt restoration project. The best-preserved examples often find their way onto displays and will, no doubt, attract a higher premium. This is to be expected though, given how well maintained the Palmen collection has been.
The Palmen Classic Car Collection Has Been Well Preserved
The Palmen collection of classic cars demonstrates that time and patience can pay off. Cars that most would have consigned to the history books have been preserved and remain in good condition decades after they left the production line. Now, thanks to the amazing skill and talent of both Palmen and the supporting groups to make this auction possible, these cars can be resurrected from their dry-stored homes and can venture out into the world again with new owners. It’s thanks to collectors like Palmen that these amazing classic icons continue to exist and become available for new generations of petrol heads and enthusiasts.
