There are barn finds, and then there is the Palmen Collection. This mother of all barn finds is a collection of over 230 rare cars, trucks, motorcycles, and scooters that is unrivaled the world over. While this barn find collection has been whispered about in private, dark corners of pubs and oil-stained garages for years, its contents were secretive and private and most definitely not for sale. Now, all of that is changing. 

The Palmen collection is the greatest barn find of all time

It’s hard to even begin describing the Palmen collection. It is everything you’ve ever wanted to see in a barn find. It’s a collection of what must be most of the cool European and American cars ever made. The collection has 280 pieces in it. While the majority of them are cars, it also includes many motorcycles, scooters, RVs, vans, and other vehicles. The list is long and lovely. Let’s get into it. 

What cars are in the Palmen collection?

Silodrome explains that the list of carmakers represented in this collection is too many to name, but we’ll give it a go. Silodrome has already outlined a few of the more notable ones, although a list this short truly doesn’t even begin to highlight even the rarest of the collection: Alfa Romeo Zagato 2600 SZ, a Lancia B24 Spyder America, a Ferrari 365 GT 2+2, a Rolls-Royce Camargue, a Ferrari Dino 308 GT4, a Lancia Aurelia B50 Cabriolet Pininfarina, a Jensen Interceptor III, an Iso Rivolta IR300, a Delahaye 135M, a Talbot Lago Record T26 Berline, a Fiat Dino Coupe, an AC Bristol Aceca, a Lancia B24 Spyder America, and literally hundreds more.

What’s really crazy is despite the sheer number of insanely rare and valuable cars, there are still plenty of more normal models like the humble MGB and MGA, a Citroën 2CV, and even a cute little Volkswagen Karmin Ghia. 

Mr. Palmen had these many wonderful cars stored in an old church and two auxiliary warehouses. Silodrome reports that Mr. Palmen started his outstanding collection over 40 years ago with a humble little Lancia B20. 

Where is this barn find collection? 

This vintage car wonderland is located in Dordrecht, the fifth-largest city in the Netherlands. While the collection has spent decades in shadow, the collection is being sold off in an auction. Interested parties are even allowed to come to visit the collection; however, it requires coordination with the auction house. 

How much is the Palmen collection worth? 

At this time, it is impossible to know. You can rest assured that the contents are valued well into the many many millions. There are multiple million-dollar cars in the photos that we can see – like the  Lancia B24 Spyder America – not to mention the many others that will certainly go in the six-figure range. 

Due to the size of the collection, Silodrome reports that the auction will last for weeks, starting on May 19th and incorporating viewing days on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of May, which will allow prospective bidders to see the cars in person.

The auction closes in early June. Visit the link here to get more information on the auction.