[Auto] 230 classic collector cars go up for auction after a surprising find

[Draeno]

 

We have hundreds of questions about why he started collecting," Te Lintelo said. "There's a lot of mystery around the cars because he can't answer. [It is very sad".

But one thing Te Lintelo believes to be true: Cars were Palmen's passion.

"He lived in the warehouse and not in a luxurious way. Cars were his life," he said. "We want to respect his legacy. This was his whole life." Gallery Aaldering brought the cars, but we chose to name the collection after him to honor him."

Car aficionados will be able to get their hands on a rare Lancia B24 Spider America next month, when an impressive fleet of 230 classic cars discovered in warehouses and an abandoned church in the Netherlands go up for auction.

According to the auction organizers, the hoard of classic vehicles, valued at millions of euros, belonged to Ad Palmen, an 82-year-old businessman from Dordrecht, the Netherlands, who began collecting them 40 years ago.

Due to his health problems, Palmen was no longer able to keep the vehicles, which were recently purchased by Gallery Aaldering, a car dealership run by Nico and Nick Aaldering, for an undisclosed amount.

The "Palmen Barnfind Collection" will be auctioned in the Netherlands on May 19 at an auction organized by Gallery Aaldering and Classic Car Auctions.

"This collection of finds is truly a unique opportunity for car enthusiasts and collectors from around the world to add to their collection," Nico and Nick Aaldering state in a press release.

"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."

 

 

Carlo Te Lintelo, head of marketing for Gallery Aaderling, told CNN on Friday that Palmen's treasure, which includes a white Mercedes 300 S convertible, a blue Ferrari 365 and a modest Alfa Romeo Spider, was a closely guarded secret until last year a fire broke out in its largest warehouse. The rapid intervention of the fire brigade prevented the cars from catching fire.

Palmen is believed to have a deep appreciation for cars, rather than a passion for particular brands. Many of the models, such as Maserati, Jaguar, Aston Martin, BMW and Facel Vegas, are in mint condition, according to Te Lintelo.

"These cars are in very good condition and are immensely diverse. What you often see is that people focus on one brand when they collect cars like Mercedes Benz, Jaguar or BMW. Mr. Palmen did not collect only expensive or exclusive cars , he bought everything that seemed pretty to him," said Te Lintelo.

And he added: "This collection includes very special cars. Like the Lancia B24 Spider America. To give you an idea, that car alone will sell for between 600,000 and 700,000 euros (between US$660,000 and US$770,000). They are very rare, only a couple of them were made. If they are in perfect condition, they can sell for up to 1 million euros ($1.1 million)."

 

https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2023/04/14/subasta-230-autos-clasicos-coleccion-paises-bajos-trax/