“The Epic Barn Find: 230 Dusty Classic Cars Discovered in the Netherlands”

Imagine finding up to 230 dusty classic cars in spaces where perhaps only their owner has visited in recent decades. An incredible collection of vintage cars built up by a rare car dealer over the past four decades has been discovered in the Netherlands. He is now known as “Mr. Palmen” in the world’s vintage car community and has been in the unique car business since the 1960s. And when he subsequently started creating his own collection, he made it literally epic.

It all started with a yellow Lancia B20, and over the next forty years he parked legendary cars of various brands and countries of origin in two old warehouses and a former church in Dordrecht, the Netherlands. Italian Alfa Romeos, Lancias, Maserati and Ferraris, British Jaguars, Aston Martins and Rolls-Royces, German BMWs, Mercedes and NSUs or American Chevrolets, Cadillacs and Fords stand side by side there. They are also kept company by Tatra and machines by the now-forgotten manufacturers Alvis, Imperia, Matra, Monica, Moretti or Villard.

And if you look at today’s examples of one of the most secret collections until recently, you will realize that Mr. Palmen was a connoisseur with good taste. He bought most of them in their original original condition, and although they are now shelved and dusty, he took good care of them as long as he could. He maintained them all by himself and started them regularly so that the old technology did not get stuck. At the same time, he chose areas for storage where, although there are tons of dust, they are unexpectedly dry.

None of the closest neighbors knew about the presence of so many veterans. The reclusive Mr. Palmen never showed them to anyone, never rode them outside and just enjoyed their presence. When he bought other cars in front of his hall, he always took them inside after the salesman had left. It was his signature way of acquiring cars for his collection, and it was the same with his latest car – the Chevrolet Corvette C3. After the collection was revealed, one of the neighbors even added that he had lived in the area for 15 years, and when he occasionally cautiously asked if he could look into the warehouses, he never had such luck.

And why did a unique large collection suddenly appear in the world? The reclusive Mr. Palmen is now an old man and has no family or friends. When he can no longer manage his property alone due to health problems and other circumstances, he is forced to sell off the collection. For this, the largest and most famous Dutch classic car dealer, the specialist Gallery Aaldering in Brummen, owned by Nico and Nick Aaldering, is invited.

For car enthusiasts and vintage collectors from all over the world, this will be an ideal opportunity to get more original cars into their garages. Seller Gallery Aaldering will sell the collection through a major online auction, and the auction of this unique barn find will begin in May.