Now where did I park my 60 cars? Incredible treasure trove of rusting classics worth £12MILLION is found languishing in a French farm garage after 50 years
A £12million treasure trove of 60 rusting classic cars left languishing on a French farm for 50 years has gone up for auction. The haul of motors, which includes dozens of vintage sports cars, was found gathering dust under piles of newspapers in garages and barns on a farm in western France. Among the vehicles up for sale are a Ferrari once sat in by Jane Fonda and a Talbot-Lago previously owned by extravagant Egyptian King Farouk. Scroll down for the full list of cars and video +17 The Ferrari (left), once sat in by Jane Fonda, was found under newspapers in an outbuilding on the French farm, alongside a Maserati A6G 200 Berlinetta Grand Sport Frua - one of only three in the world +17 The £12million treasure trove of cars, including this Ferrari 250 GT California SWB, was left languishing on a French farm for 50 years before its discovery +17 The collection has sat dormant in makeshift corrugated iron shelters and outbuildings on the farm since the 1970s. Pictured: Facel Vega (left) and a Talbot-Lago (right) +17 Some of the vehicles may be too rusted to be restored, but many of the cars are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds +17 The Ferrari 250 during the filming of Les Felins in 1964 which starred Shirley MacLaine and Jane Fonda (right), as well as Alain Delon (left) +17 Chris Evans bought one of the Ferraris in 2008 and is believed to have paid up to £5.5million for the classic sports car The cars were collected from the 1950s to the 1970s by entrepreneur Roger Baillon, who dreamt of restoring them to their former glory and displaying them in a museum. However, his plans were dashed as his business struggled, forcing Mr Baillon to sell about 50 of the vehicles. Since then his collection has sat dormant in makeshift corrugated iron shelters and outbuildings on the farm. Mr Baillon died about 10 years ago and his son, Jacques, who inherited the collection, died last year. Mr Baillon's grandchildren had no idea of the extent of the collection, calling in car specialists Matthieu Lamoure and Pierre Novikoff of auctioneers Artcurial Motorcars to estimate its value. They found a 1956 Maserati A6G Gran Sports with coachwork by prominent designer Frua, one of just three in the world, which is estimated to sell for just under £1million. But the auctioneers' greatest discovery was that of a 1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spider with covered headlights, which was hidden beneath piles of newspapers. The car was previously owned by French actors Gerard Blain and Alain Delon, who was photographed in it with Jane Fonda and Shirley MacLaine, and is expected to attract attention from Ferrari collectors with an estimate of £9.5million. Only 36 of the particular model of Ferrari were ever made, including the one in the barn and another bought by Chris Evans in 2008 for an estimated £5.5million. +17 The cars were collected from the 1950s to the 1970s by entrepreneur Roger Baillon, who wanted to restore and display them in a museum +17 A Talbot-Lago T26 Cabriolet owned by Egyptian King Farouk is also among the vast haul of classic cars found on the farm +17 King Farouk was known for his extravagant lifestyle, which included owning dozens of expensive cars such as the Talbot-Lago +17 Mr Baillon's grandchildren had no idea of the extent of the collection, calling in car specialists Matthieu Lamoure and Pierre Novikoff of auctioneers Artcurial Motorcars to estimate its value +17 The family of Mr Baillon, who died around 10 years ago, had no idea the collection was worth so much. Pictured: Hispano Suiza H6B Cabriolet Millio +17 Mr Baillon's grandchildren had no idea of the extent of the collection, calling in car specialists Matthieu Lamoure and Pierre Novikoff of auctioneers Artcurial Motorcars to estimate its value John Collins, from Ferrari dealer Talacrest in Ascot, has spent the last 12 months trying to find the car, which hen thinks could sell for £10million. He said: 'I have known about the car for years and I was gutted when I found out about three weeks ago that an auction house had got it. 'Apart from a few people, not many knew the Ferrari still existed. It is a phenomenal car and the best barn find in more than 20 years. 'I am sure it will go for an eight-figure sum and I will be one of several people looking to buy it. It is really great - people are going to be fighting over it.' A Talbot-Lago T26 Cabriolet once owned by King Farouk of Egypt was also found. The Egyptian King's extravagant lifestyle included owning hundreds of prestigious cars. While some of the cars are in a rusty and decrepit state, others have been well-preserved. Mr Lamoure said: 'These sorts of finds do not happen often. I think you go into this profession for discoveries like this; it really is a treasure trove. No doubt a once-in-a-lifetime discovery. 'We speak about 'barn finds' as cars that are intact, that have remained untouched for years, and are found again. 'On entering the gates of this property, we had no idea what we would find. We had to go in through the gardens at the rear of the property, to get a first look. Across three hectares, we could see different makeshift structures. From there, we realised that this was something big. 'We realised that there were dozens of cars parked underneath. We soon realised that some of these had been put there 50 years earlier and left untouched. 'Wooden posts, between the cars, supported the fragile roofs. The sides were open to the elements. We still didn't realise exactly what we were faced with; the number of cars, the marques, their condition. 'When we discovered the extent of the collection we found ourselves overcome with emotion. 'Probably much like Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter, on being the first person for centuries to enter Tutankhamun's tomb, it really was a case of waking up sleeping beauty.' +17 Some of the cars were bought by Mr Baillon, an entrepreneur, in the 1950s and have been parked on the farm since +17 The collection will be sold by Artcurial Motorcars in Paris on February 6 next year, with hopes of raising more than £12million +17 While many of the vehicles are rusty and covered in moss, they could still be worth £500,000 each on average +17 Mr Baillon, a transport and truck company owner from western France, bought most of his cars from the 1950s to the 1970s +17 Auctioneers and classic car experts Matthieu Lamoure (left) and Pierre Novikoff (right) found the haul of motorcars Speaking of the rare Ferrari, Mr Lamoure added: 'Ferrari is a legendary name in the automobile world. And this car is unique. Only 37 examples of this model were built making it extremely rare. 'Every example has been carefully documented by historians and this one was thought to be lost. We have found it.' Mr Novikoff said: 'I'm not sure I have ever seen so many exceptional cars together in one collection; Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, Talbot-Lago, Panhard-Levassor, Maserati, Ferrari, Delahaye, Delage. Roger Baillon saved these cars and succeeded in his task - to trace the history of the automobile through the finest examples. 'A collection like this can't fail to arouse the passions of those who love automobiles, as well as art and history enthusiasts. Never again, anywhere in the world, will such a treasure be unearthed.' The collection will be sold by Artcurial Motorcars in Paris on February 6 next year. TAKE YOUR PICK: FULL LIST OF THE 60 CLASSIC CARS FOUND ON THE FARM THAT ARE NOW FOR SALEAmilcar C6 Berline: An open-top classic, this car, built in 1927, sells for up to £40,000 in good condition.Amilcar CGS: The 30 horsepower, lightweight car, made in 1924, can reach speeds of up to 75mph. Ariès Coach:Coach by name, coach by nature, this classy vehicle, manufactured in 1935, was often driven by chauffeurs. Auto Union Cabriolet: A front-wheel drive saloon car cost £1,259 including taxes during the early 1960s. Avions Voisin C15: Won the prestigious Concours d'Elegance competition in 2002. Avions Voisin Limousine C15: The C15's commanding presence was further extended for the limousine model. Avions Voisin C7 par Gallé: The stylish 93 horsepower C7 can reach speeds of 89mph. Ballot Limousine: The eight-cylinder car had an open-topped driving compartment, but passengers enjoyed a hard-top roof. Barré Torpédo: Only five of these cars, built in the village of Niort, western France, are known to exist. Berliet Coupé Chauffeur: A popular car in the late 1920s, the motor comes with a spare wheel attached to the side of the vehicle. Berliet Type VIGB Taxi Landaulet: From 1906, this Berliet, with unmissable red leather seats, could reach 40mph. Bugatti 57 Ventoux: Same model sold for £324,800 at auction in September. Citroën Trèfle: The three-seat model has room for a single passenger in the rear. Delage D6: The six cylinder car was produced both before and after the Second World War. Delage D8 Coach: Parisian manufacturers fitted different elegant bodies over the years the car was produced. Delahaye 135 Cabriolet Faget Varnet: Regarded as one of the best custom-bodied cars from the immediate post-WWII era. Delahaye 135 Coach Chapron: The 1947 car could reach 100mph from 125 horse power. 3x Delahaye 235 Coach Chapron: Regarded as two expensive, this car did not perform well on the market in the 1950s.
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As the saying goes a man's home is his castle but in this case, it really is true. House prices in Spain and France remain dangerously over-priced, based on their historical average versus rents.This is a good measure to start with. It gauges fair value for properties in the same way that a price-to-earnings ratio does for a share on the stock market. In short, you divide the price by the annual earnings of a property then compare this against the average for the past 20 years....AMOR PATRIAE
MORE HIT SONGS OF THE SIXTIES
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Ultimate getaway house on its own remote Scottish island and only accessible by a 125 ft footbridge goes on sale for £250,000
- The unique house, called 'Tigh Na Sith', which translates to 'House of Peace', is on the market for £250,000
- The three-bedroom house comes an endless pool, sauna, gym room and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean
- The spectacular cottage is so remote that the owner can only access it by walking across a 125ft footbridge
A cottage on an island which is so remote it can only be accessed by a 125ft footbridge has gone on the market for £250,000.
The house, called 'Tigh Na Sith', which is Gaelic for 'House of Peace', is situated on the western coast of Great Bernera, in the Outer Hebrides.
With a price tag of a quarter-of-a-million pounds, the three-bedroom house offers panoramic seas views of the Atlantic Ocean as well the added extra of an endless pool and sauna.
Part of the Outer Hebridean Island of Lewis, the house sits across from a sheltered lagoon and dates back to 1910, with beautiful gardens in a tranquil setting.
The property (highlighted by the red arrow) is so remote that it can only be accessed by a 125ft footbridge which connects it to the mainland
The unique three-bedroom property (pictured) comes with modern decking and offers spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean
The home, called 'Tigh Na Sith', which is Gaelic for 'House of Peace', comes with an endless pool, sauna and gym (pictured)
The large kitchen inside the stunning cottage has room for a large oven and two sinks and there are regular flights from the island to Inverness and Glasgow
The house has recently been updated and extended by the current owners with a modern kitchen and bathroom and includes a 'spa style' relaxation suite for the ultimate recluse experience, as well as garden decking to take in the isolated views.
There are regular flights from the island to Inverness, Glasgow and Stornoway, the largest town in the Hebrides, meaning it wouldn't be too hard to rejoin civilisation.
For those more fond of animals than humans, the island is a perfect for spotting seas bird and wildlife such as otters, deer and eagles as well as a sandy beaches.
For those looking to get away from the rat race and de-stress this property could be in the perfect location as the nearest shop is over a mile away with a daily bus to Stornoway, except on Sundays.
There is a small bridge in the back garden and the property is located on the western coast of Great Bernera, in the Outer Hebride
The estate agent said: 'From the first floor is a lovely deck offering superb sea views. The property is surrounded by a delightful garden with a choice of 'areas' to sit and relax'
This is the 125ft footbridge which is the only way to access the detached cottage, which is called The House of Peace
According to Visit Scotland, the island was once owned by a former Queen's Herald, Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees, who is said to have been the inspiration for Ian Fleming's James Bond.
Nicky Archibald, from Galbraith Estate Agents, said: 'This is a delightful property offering the ultimate get away from it all experience.
'As well as a pretty house, there is a stunning health suite complete with an endless pool, sauna and gym area suitable for a running machine or exercise bike.
'From the first floor is a lovely deck offering superb sea views. The property is surrounded by a delightful garden with a choice of 'areas' to sit and relax.
'The garden is encircled by a mix of hedging and wall providing an ideal shelter for more windy days. The beach is close by.
'Access to the property is via a small bridge enhancing the uniqueness of the location and sense of seclusion.'
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Historic Grade II castle known as Wales' 'Downton Abbey' with nine luxury apartments, a servants' flat and eight acres of land is on sale for a 'bargain' £1.5m - after owners are slashed the asking price from £5m
- The 200-year-old castle is made up of a mansion house, servants' flat and luxury apartments in its west wing
- Grade II listed property in Flintshire, North Wales, once the ancestral home of the aristocratic Mostyn family
- It has a State Dining Room and a Morning Room used to receive guests before they were seated for the lunch
- The castle is split between a wedding and holiday-let venue and nine self-contained residential apartments
An historic castle described as the Welsh Downton Abbey is up for sale for a knockdown price.
Westbury Castle has had its price tag slashed from £5million to just £1.5million after it failed to sell in previous years.
The 200-year-old Grade II listed property in Flintshire, North Wales, is made up of a mansion house, servants' flat and nine luxury apartments in its west wing.
It failed to sell at auction five years ago when the £5million-valued sale also included a 16th century dovecote building, a three bedroomed lodge, and eight acres of land on its estate.
But the sale has now been stripped back to include just the former castle, and its market price scaled back to £1.5million.
Westbury Castle (pictured) has had its price tag slashed from £5million to £1.5million after it failed to sell in previous years
The historic Welsh castle has gone on the market and offers the perfect hideaway for anyone seeking solitude and privacy - and glamour
The historic castle, described as the Welsh Downton Abbey, is up for sale for less than a three-bedroom house in London
The 200-year-old Grade II listed property in Flintshire, North Wales, is made up of a mansion house, servants' flat and nine luxury apartments in its west wing (shown to the left)
Piece of history: original features, including wooden panelling, have been polished and restored ahead of its possible re-sale
Old and new: Thick curtains, ornate mirror, old-style bathtub, striped wallpaper and a chandelier, as well as a modern walk-in shower unit
The castle failed to sell at auction five years ago when the £5million-valued sale also included a 16th century dovecote building, a three bedroomed lodge, and eight acres of land on its estate (shown)
The estate agents say the castle would make a superb home for a celebrity looking for a hideaway in the Welsh hills
The mock-Gothic castle's original features have been preserved including heraldic medallions and a decorative fireplace in the hallway.
It has a State Dining Room and a Morning Room which would have been used as an area to receive guests before they were seated for lunch.
The Drawing Room is split into two areas, one for ladies and the other for gentleman after dinner.
The castle - which is split between a wedding and holiday-let venue and nine self-contained residential apartments - currently earns its owners £68,340-a-year. Auctioneers Strutt and Parker say it would appeal more to property investors rather than a family wishing to live like the fictional Crawley family in Downton Abbey.
Alastair Summerfield, associate partner at the auctioneers, said: 'Ultimately it's going to appeal to someone who is wanting to actually invest in property and see a return from it.
'I don't see it being bought by someone who wants to live in the whole castle, partly because it's been split up into the wedding and holiday let venue and nine apartments.
'It could be quite a good return, depending on what price it goes for in the auction.'
Westbury Castle will be put to auction on February 15 at The Intercontinental Hotel on Park Lane, London.
The castle's kitchen area includes a central island, offering plenty of space for preparing food, as well as all the necessary appliances needed for preparing a banquet dinner
The castle - which is split between a wedding and holiday-let venue and nine self-contained residential apartments - currently earns its owners £68,340-a-year
It has a State Dining Room (pictured) and a Morning Room which would have been used as an area to receive guests before they were seated for lunch
Auctioneers Strutt and Parker say it would appeal more to property investors rather than a family wishing to live like the fictional Crawley family in Downton Abbey
The mock-Gothic castle's original features have been preserved including heraldic medallions and a decorative fireplace in the hallway
Back in time: The historic castle retains many original features as seen in this magnificent staircase and landing (pictured)
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