About full barns and deep pockets (Update: Sold at Euro 54,832 )

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Tim Gunn: I was recently asked a question, which I'm sure, has been asked at every gathering of old vehicle enthusiasts, around the globe these past few of months. "Money no object, what would you buy from the barn find collection in France?" If for some reason you have been locked in your own barn waiting to be discovered, then the collection of 60 rare cars found last year will come as a shock to you. The remarkable collection of Roger Baillon is to be offered by French auction house, Artcurial at Retromobile in Paris on February 6th. Widely publicised as the 'last barn find' and the 'automotive find of the century'. But I would like to point out, we still have 85 years till the end of the century and although not as large, I'm sure; more 'barn find' collections will be un-earthed in the years to come. The collection ranges from a basket case in the form of a Delahaye Type 43 camion-plateau from 1911, to the sublime, Ferrari 250 GT SWB California of 1961. What is clear though; most of the cars will either need a deep pocket to buy and others will need a barn full of money to restore.

So what if money was no object and you had the chance to own a piece of the Baillon legacy? To be honest, my personal thought, would be to go for a car with great character, but requires simple work to get back on the road. One such car in the collection would be Lot 44, the Lorraine-Dietrich B3-6 pick-up. With some fresh tyres, a mechanical overhaul and a good dose of oily rag, you'd feel like a French farmer on his way to market every time you drove it. The Bugatti T57 from 1937 is going to be one of those cars in the collection which will probably require both a deep pocket to buy; and to restore. But if I owned the project, I'd make it respectable and use it, while enjoying the previous history of this wonderful car.

Lastly, if money really was no problem, my wife would like me to bring home the 1961 Ferrari 250 SWB California, but in a different colour, so I won't be doing that, instead, it's going to have to be Lot 26, the Amilcar CGSs from 1927. Definitely needing 'a bit or work', but it would fit in my garage just nicely. 

editorial addition: what's your gamble on the final price for the Amilcar with a Euro 3000-5000 estimate? We'll offer a PreWarCar brass plate to whom comes closest to the final result, including buyer's costs.

UPDATE by Editor: all your guesses were defeated by reality! Even the highest guess by Ace Zenek of Euro 51,000 was passed with a few more thousands... Still Ace is the winner being the closest and will receive the PreWarCar brass plate. Ace, please send us your address at office#prewarcar.com
     

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