This wild 230-car barn find hoard is up for grabs
We’ve all been there. You buy a yellow Lancia B20, then, 40 years later, you find yourself with a collection of 230 cars. It’s like popping into a supermarket for a pint of milk, only to leave with enough groceries to feed a family of four for a week.
Granted, Ad Palmen’s story isn’t typical—the Dutchman’s collection even manages to overshadow Paul Cowland’s—but many of us of dream of owning an assemblage of classics. It’s like owning a grown-up version of the box of toy cars you had as a kid.
For four decades, Palmen lived the dream, introducing new cars to his fleet, slowly amassing one of the largest private collections in Europe.
Palmen maintained the cars, but rarely showed the collection to anyone beyond a circle of trusted friends and family. Due to his age and what the auction house calls “various circumstances,” the collection will now be sold, with the cars going under the hammer in May.
In chronological terms, the collection spans everything from a 1912 Singer to a 2006 Opel Movano pickup, but the list warrants close scrutiny. Take a look at the list on the Classic Car Auctions website and let us know what you’d like to take home from the Netherlands.
It’s an eclectic mix, featuring the likes of a Simca Aronde Oceane, Alfa Romeo Zagato 2600 SZ, Lancia Aurelia B50 Cabriolet Pininfarina, Delahaye 135M, Tatra T87, Rolls-Royce Camargue, AC Bristol Aceca, Studebaker President and no fewer than seven Facel Vegas.
Fancy a modern classic? The collection includes a Renault 19 Cabriolet, Land Rover Discovery, Jaguar XJS 4.0 Convertible, Mazda RX-7 (FC3C), Volvo 480 and Lancia Thema.
Add several motorcycles, mopeds, items of furniture, a tractor and a Hymer motorhome, and the collection hits 280 lots.
According to the Classic Car Auctions website, “It is unlikely that anyone will ever see a collection of this calibre and condition again in their lifetime.”
The team in the Netherlands now has the unenviable task of documenting and photographing every car, listing them on the website and dealing with the hundreds, if not thousands, of requests for more info.
We’ll bring you details of the star lots in due course, but in the meantime, just revel in the pics and raise a glass of Advocaat to a chap who had the Dutch courage to amass such a wonderful collection.
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Via Hagerty UK
I would hope that a benefactor would buy the entire lot, do some basic cleanup of the cars, and then put them in a museum for all to enjoy, patina included. I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen an exclusively european car museum, and this appears to be a pretty good snapshot of that history.
A great big THANK YOU for saving all these cars!!! (does he have a red 75 Gremlin for me??)
Probably not, but he should, Gremlins are so cool…
Howdy Classic car lovers,
In Europe there are more collections like this. I have been to several, and some of the owners have been friends for over 50 years. Going back for a garage owner’s birthday party in his garage with over 100 American antique cars, he started buying American cars during the 60s during the Vietnam war as our military and other Americans involved had their cars shipped to Europe. I would say his entire collection and garages is worth over 50 million now, he started with one old American car worth $400 and that was all the money he had.
HA
Great…..although….not one CITROEN…..///??? OR A SALMSON…..///??
I would give $100 just to walk through the barn for a day!
At 1st I thought what a messy collection. Not many got to view them. But it is great they are exactly as purchased. No doubt some great originals. I wouldn’t mind viewing them filthy as is! Mmmm….
Whoa! I actually saw a black Volvo Hearse with a wood chipper trailer hooked behind. Wonder if someone was doing a quick disposal? Maybe a movie like “Fargo”………
Whoa! I actually saw a picture of a black Volvo Hearse with a wood chipper trailer hooked behind.. I wonder if someone was doing a quick disposal? Maybe a movie like “Fargo”………
His collection was better than money sitting in a bank. I only have one old car and it is better than money in the bank. I think the old guy was pretty smart.
This is a fantastic collection that I’ll never get to see in person, however, I still appreciate it. That the cars are all in original condition is even better. To me the dust on these classics is like the dust you find on a well aged fine wine. The photography shown are great. I hope the auction company provides a print catalog of the lots for sale – it’d make a great coffee table book!
Hopefully James will expand his horizons, and is not easily offended. I, however, am a little offended about the lack of “care” this collector seems to have given each one of his prizes. I wonder if he DROVE most of them INTO that dreamy, two-level, storage barn/warehouse we are all now surely lusting after, (expcept maybe for Mr. Leno) but didn’t drain the gas, prop them up on blocks, throw a few mothballs inside? Anything that would show he cherished or respected any of these vehicles at one time?? Seems like none of the cars in the pics will now drive out under their own power. Many might not even roll out of there. The best anyone is saying is that he saved them from the crusher and some of nature’s wrath.
Comes down to, do you want to own a petting zoo or do you want to ride a tiger?
I applaud both.
I have not the money, but love the stories and to dream, I am a back yard mechanic that has restored an American Muscle car and 28 year old jeep , and I drive them, I would love to learn the story of Mr Palmer and what moved him to buy those cars, that would be truly fascinating. And yes if I could I would buy one in a heartbeat, for the pure joy of fixing and driving it
He outdid me. My collection currently stands at over 150 near pristine. The difference is, that I collect 1880– 1930 antique fishing lures and their boxes. They’re all in nice wooden display cases and all cases fit in my safe. I get to enjoy them every day. Also when I’m in a bad state or worse, my wife will have a much easier time turning them back into $$$. At the end of the day we’re all just temporary caretakers, until the next owner comes along. I’m glad he saved them all.
Car covers, people – INSIDE the garage. It’s just not that complicated, or expensive. My gosh.