A couple of years ago I went to see a chap who had an example of a rare Maserati I was researching for a book. On arriving at his modest bungalow set in farmland on the continent I was surprised to see 20 classics in various states of repair parked round the side. We had a chat, I got the info I wanted, then I was invited to see his little workshop which had an E Type with it’s guts hanging out being rewired. From there, through a wooden door that was slightly ajar, I glimpsed what you see here. After quite a long discussion (in a language I’m crap at) I was briefly allowed to see inside. This must be Europe’s biggest barnfind; 850 classics that hadn’t been seen in years parked in orchid greenhouses. Hot, cluttered and utterly spectacular. With the owner’s very kind permission some of these pictures and some ded gud werdz by me later appeared in Classic and Sportscar and Practical Performance Car Magazines. I thought I should now share them online with fellow MotorPunks.

The pictures are poor. Sorry. It was humid, I only had a modest camera as I only went to get some notes on a Mistral and wasn’t granted much time. The owner told me there were 600 cars in one greenhouse and 250 in another nearby. I lost count. I’m not going to attempt to list them here, some I can’t even identify anyway, the owner told me he had a list “in my head”. I can’t tell you where this is. I’m not sure I could find it again anyway. Sadly everything you see here has recently been moved to a modern, secure factory unit, perhaps a better site to get more of these beauties back on the road but I think there’s a real charm in the glorious rusting beauties in the greenhouse you see here.

 

Which would you save? Pick three and leave us a comment! Here’s a book we like on a related subject; The Man Cave Book

About The Author

Rich Duisberg

Rich's drivel regularly appears in Practical Performance Car and GT Porsche magazines. He has also written for Classic & Sportscar, MogMag, Classic Performance and Retro, Banzai, Evo, and Modern Mini. He also did a book no-one bought. His hungover fizzog also often appears on CBS’s Carfection channel enthusing about historic motoring. Le Mans winner Derek Bell once refused to get in Rich's Morgan Three Wheeler with him at the wheel. Currently amongst the detritus in his garage is a 1972 Fiat 500 Abarth, a fat BMW and a Lotus Elise. Previous machinery includes a Porsche 968, an Alfa GTV V6 and a dreadful Sinclair C5. He also owns a vintage Royal Enfield pushbike.

16 Responses

    • Robert Ernst

      I know I am very late, but was amazed about the Amount of Cars collected and the widespread Range of known and exotic Brands.

      I would like to translate this Article in to German and use it with all the Sources mentioned for an Article in our Swiss TR Club Newsletter, but from were to get the Permission?

      Robert

      Reply
      • Rich Duisberg
        Rich Duisberg

        Please email rich (at) motorpunk.co.uk , should be OK, but email contact details first pls. Besten dank in voraus!

  6. Steve

    How? Why? 850 is a big number, the time it must have taken, the cost of importing some alone. I’m befuddled. simply astonishing. wow. Please keep us posted if these start to hit the market

    Reply
      • Rich Duisberg
        Rich Duisberg

        Thanks for the message Rik, yes and no. The photographs are from his old place, since emptied, sadly. We preferred the old rusty, dusty classics in a greenhouse that few people got to see to the new shiny showroom. 🙂

  9. Rik Spaargaren

    Hi Rich,

    I understand what you mean, I visited the old glasshouses several times and to my opinion there were a lot of old rusty cars. But that was 2 years ago……….

    Reply

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