Words: Nathan Chadwick | PhotoGRAPHY: Gallery Aaldering
A collection of barn finds from the Netherlands, featuring 230 cars, is due to be auctioned by Gallery Aaldering in partnership with Classic Car Auctions.
The collection, which includes such rarities as an Alfa Romeo 2600 SZ, Lancia Aurelia Spider, Mercedes-Benz 300S Roadster and several Facel Vegas, was discovered in Dordrecht, in the possession of a Mr Palmen. He started collecting cars 40 years ago, storing them in three different buildings – one of which was a church. His first acquisition was a yellow Lancia B20, and he used his knowledge gained as a professional car dealer in the mid-1960s to help guide his collection.
Mr Palmen was a big fan of Italian marques, in particular Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati and Ferrari, but there are Facel Vegas, BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes, NSUs, Jaguars, Aston Martins, Chevrolets, Cadillacs and Fords in the collection as well. There’s also a selection of rarely seen marques such as Tatra, Monica, Moretti, Matra, Alvis, Imperial and Villard. Mr Palmen performed most of the work on the cars himself, starting them on a regular basis to avoid the engines becoming seized.
Mr Palmen, who never sold anything on when he bought yet another vehicle, kept the cars as they were when they first took their place within his collection. As such, the vehicles are in largely original, unrestored condition. According to Gallery Aaldering, his neighbours at the industrial estate where the cars were kept were unaware of the treasures lurking inside the buildings.
Due to Mr Palmen’s age and other circumstances, the collection will now be sold as a co-operation between Gallery Aaldering and Classic Car Auctions in the Netherlands. “This barnfind collection is truly a unique opportunity for car enthusiasts and collectors around the world to expand their collection,” said Gallery Aaldering, which is run by Nico and Nick Aaldering. “We are very pleased to be able to auction these cars through Classic Car Auctions, and look forward to seeing how much interest there is in this wonderful collection.”
The auction starts on Friday, May 19 and will be run in three parts. The first closes at 8pm on Monday, June 5; part two closes at 8pm on Tuesday, June 6; and part three closes on Wednesday, June 7 at 8pm. Viewing days are between Saturday May 27 and Monday May 29 between 10am and 4pm. More details are available here.
The full list of cars is below, beneath this video highlight reel of the collection; there are 280 lots in all, including the non-car aspects of the collection.
The full list of cars as presented by the auctioneer; some details were not available at the time of writing:
1 – Alfa Romeo Sprint 1600
2 – Fiat 1200 TV Spider 1958
3 – Citroën 2CV 1955
4 – Triumph 2000 20TR Convertible 1970
5 – Panhard 24CT 1964
6 – Saab Sonnet III type 97
7 – Facel Vega Facelia coupe
8 – Facel Vega Facelia Convertible
9 – Bond Equipe GT 6 2-litre 2+2 1967
10 – Fiat 124 Spider USA 2000 1981
11 – DAF 66 HAVAS Convertible type 55 1970
12 – Facel Vega FB Convertible 1963
13 – Alfa Romeo Spider Duetto type 10503
14 – Alfa Romeo Zagato 2600SZ 1967
15 – Simca 9 Coupé de Ville S
16 – MGB GT 1971
17 – MG TF 1954
18 – Lamboghini Espada
19 – MGB Tourer 1970
20 – Singer Convertible 1912
21 – Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale
22 – Lancia Montecarlo 1978
23 – Alfa Romeo Spider 2.0 1985
24 – Ford A Roadster 1927
25 – Facel Vega Coupé 1964
26 – Sunbeam Talbot Supreme Convertible
27 – Matra Bonnet 1965
28 – Lancia B24 Spyder America 1955
29 – Alfa Romeo Giulia GTC 1965
30 – Triumph TR3B
31 – Moretti 128 1974
32 – Sunbeam Alpine 1960
33 – MGA
34 – Singer 9 Roadster 1955
35 – Lancia Appia Coupé
36 – Alfa Romeo Spider Giulia 1600
37 – Jensen Healey 1974
38 – Simca Aronde Oceane Convertible
39 – Nash Metropolitan model 542 1956
40 – AC Bristol Aceca 1954
41 – Fiat 1500 Coupé 1960
42 – Lancia Appia sedan 1958
43 – Austin Convertible 1947
44 – Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible 1971
45 – MGA 1961
46 – Daimler Dart 1958
47 – Villard Type 27
48 – Volvo 1800ES 1973
49 – Austin Balanza 1800 MK2 1968
50 – Fiat 1500 Spider 1963
51 – Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.3S 2nd series 1973
52 – BMW 1600GT 1968
53 – Fiat 130 Coupé Automatic 3200 1972
54 – Fiat Dino Coupé Bertone 2.0 1966
55 – Bentley S2 Saloon 1959
56 – Jaguar Mark 10 1963
57 – Lincoln Continental Convertible MkIV 1959
58 – NSU Ro80 1976
59 – Studebaker President 1958
60 – Jaguar XJS 4.0 Convertible 1995
61 – Mazda RX-7 Convertible 1988
62 – Mercury Monterey 2-door coupé 1954
63 – Ferrari 400i Automatic 1984
64 – Facel Vega FVS 1956
65 – Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner 1958
66 – Peugeot 190S 1928
67 – Aston Martin V8 Series 3 1975
68 – Mercedes W188 300S Roadster 1953
69 – Studebaker Avanti Gold R2 1963
70 – Ford Fairlane Victoria 4-door sedan 1955
71 – Chevrolet Corvette C1 283 1958
72 – Maserati Merak 1972
73 – Maserati 3500 GTI S 1962
79 – Buick 8 1937
80 – Bristol 401 2L coupé 1952
81 – Rover P4 100 1959
82 – Jaguar Mk2 3.4 1963
83 – Alvis TD21 Mk2 1963
84 – Rover 16 Saloon 1937
85 – Facel Vega Facel II HK2 1962
86 – Citroën SM 1972
87 – Chevrolet Corvair Convertible S 1964
88 – Jaguar 3 1/2-litre Mark V 1943
89 – Lagonda Drophead Coupé 1953
90 – Daimler Coupé
91 – Chevrolet Corvair Coupe Monza 1964
92 – Ford Mustang 289 Coupe 1965
93 – Ford Mustang 289 Fastback 1968
94 – Chevrolet Corvair Convertible S
95 – Jaguar E-type Convertible 4.2 S1 1966
96 – Mercedes 300SE Coupé (RDW 250 SE) 1965
97 – Ford Thunderbird Landau 1963
98 – MG Midget 1976
99 – Mercedes 450SL Convertible with hardtop
100 – Ford Thunderbird 1962
101 – Rolls-Royce 25/30 HD model 2025 1934
102 – MG TD 1953
103 – Jaguar XJ8 Convertible 1998
104 – Packard Eight de Luxe 1950
105 – Chevrolet Corvette C3
106 – Volvo 66 L 1979
107 – Ford Thunderbird Mk5 Landau 1968
108 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider
109 – Austin A90 Atlantic Coupé 1952
110 – Daimler DB18 53228 1949
111 – Jensen Interceptor III 1975
112 – Sunbeam 20HP
113 – Talbot Lago Record T26 Coupé 1951
114 – Lancia Aurelia B20 1955
115 – Alfa Romeo Montreal 1973
116 – ISO Rivolta IR300 1968
117 – ISO Rivolta Fidia 1971
118 – Fiat 2300 Coupé Ghia
119 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint 1967
120 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider 1962
121 – Lancia Flaminia GTL 3C Coupé Touring 1968
122 – Lancia Flaminia Coupé Pininfarina 1962
123 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Touring 1964
124 – Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Coupé 1950
125 – Maserati Indy AM116 1970
126 – Lincoln Continental Coupé Mk2 1956
127 – Ferrari 365GT 2+2 1967
128 – Datsun 280ZX Turbo 1982
129 – Maserati Mistral Frua AM109 1965
130 – Delahaye 135M Convertible 1950
131 – Facel Vega Facel II 1963
132 – Monica 560 1972
133 – BMW 3200 CS Bertone 1963
134 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider 1964
135 – Ford Thunderbird 1st model 1956
136 – Talbot Lago Record T26 Berline 1949
137 – Talbot Lago Record T26 Berline 1950
138 – Essex (USA) Super Six Roadster 1931
139 – Rolls-Royce Camargue
140 – Imperial M617 MK2 Hardtop Coupe 1959
141 – Panhard PL 17 17B 4-door 1963
142 – Tatra T87 1948
143 – Mercedes 450SLC 1976
144 – Cadillac Eldorado Convertible Mk7 1966
145 – Mercedes 220A Convertible 1955
146 – Jaguar XK150 Fixed-Head 3.4S 1960
147 – Lancia Flaminia 2.8 Touring Convertible 1962
148 – Mercedes 220SE Coupé 1960
149 – Mercedes 300SE Automatic 1964
150 – Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato Series 2 1964
151 – Maserati Bora 4.7 1972
152 – Fiat 130 Coupé Automatic 1974
153 – MGB 1978
154 – Panther J72 1979
155 – Rolls-Royce Camargue
156 – Aston Martin V8
157 – VW Kever
158 – Porsche 928
159 – Ferrari Dino 308GT4
160 – Jaguar MkIX
161 – MGB GT
162 – MGA
163 – Alfa Romeo Duetto
164 – Alfa Romeo GTV
165 – Alfa Romeo 2600 Coupé
166 – Citroën DS
167 – Mercedes SL
168 – Pre-war
169 – Alfa Romeo Spider
170 – Peugeot 504 Convertible
171 – Daimler Sovereign
172 – Tractor
173 – Alfa Romeo GTV
174 – Maserati 3500 GT 1964
175 – Maserati Quattro Porte 4200 Serie 1 1965
176 – Cadillac Eldorado Convertible 1955
177 – Lincoln Continental MkIV 4-door Cabriolet 1964
178 – Ford Edsel SE Citation Cabriolet 1958
179 – Chevrolet Corvette C3 L-82 1978
180 – DeTomaso Deauville Serie 2 1978
181 – Cadillac Eldorado Convertible Mk8 1968
182 – Daimler 250 1967
183 – Messerschmitt KR200 1963
184 – Ford Thunderbird 1957
185 – Bristol 401 2-litre 1950
186 – Triumph TR3 1958
187 – Hillman Minx Tourer Cabriolet 1935
188 – NSU Spider 56 1966
189 – Facel Vega F2 Facelia Coupé 1962
190 – Sunbeam 20HP Tickford 1933
191 – Hillman Minx Saloon 1934
192 – Triumph Renown Mk1 TDB Saloon 1948
193 – Sunbeam Supreme Alpine Mk1 1955
194 – Lancia Aurelia B50 Cabriolet Pininfarina 1951
195 – DAF 600 1960
196 – Morris Cowley Six MC15 2-door 1934
220 – Tomos Moped Quaoro
221 – Germaan Moped
222 – Motor MV Agusta
223 – Moped Kreidler Florett
224 – Moped
225 – Moped Puch
226 – Motor Moto Guzzi
227 – Scooter Vespa
228 – Scooter Vespa
229 – Moped
230 – Moped
231 – Moped
232 – Cola cabinet
233 – Workplace 1
234 – Workplace 2
237 – Alfa Romeo Duetto Rood
253 – Lancia Thema 6V Automaat 1986
254 – Volvo 340 DL 1986
255 – Opel Movano Pick-up 2 2.5 CDTI Drops 2006
256 – Ford Thunderbird 1980
257 – Fiat Ducato 14 2.8D Pick-up 2000
258 – Volvo 480 ES 1987
259 – Steyr 55 1936
260 – Hymer/Vauxhall Mobil camper 1976
261 – Volkswagen T3 Syncro DC 4×4 Pick-up TD51kw 1989
262 – Lancia Zagato Fulvia Sport 1.3S Series 2 1971?
263 – Peugeot 504 Coupé injection 1973
264 – Imperia TA-8 Sport Hotchkiss 1949
266 – BMW 2000 CS 1972
267 – Opel Vectra B 1.6-16v 5-door 1998
268 – DAF 400 auto-ambulance AE04BN 1987
269 – Land Rover Discovery 1997
270 – Winnebago Renault Traffic 1986
271 – Chrysler Imperial 1956?
272 – Studebaker Champion Coupe 1955
273 – Renault Express 1989
274 – Citroën Jumper 1998
275 – Fiat Ducato Camper 15L 2.3JTD 2004
276 – BMW 2000 CS 1969
277 – Mercedes Vito 108CDI 2002
278 – BMW 3 Series 1996
279 – Renault 19 cabriolet Karmann 1992
280 – Master MTD grasmaaier
