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All the cars of the monster Baillon Collection barn find are headed to auction [w/video]

Automotive barn finds are exciting for the thrill and surprise of the hunt. Of course, you're far more likely to find a rusting Chevy under a tarp, but there's always that chance to scoop up a forgotten Porsche or Shelby for a song. That aspect makes the massive Roger Baillon Collection so bittersweet. There were so many great classics sitting under an open shed in France, but they were there so long that many of them became just bare husks. Ahead of the February 6 auction in Paris, auction house Artcurial has released descriptions and images of the entire 59-car hoard. While the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider and 1956 Maserati A6G 2000 Gran Sport Berlinetta Frua remain the stars, there are a few surprises among the bunch. The original announcement makes no mention of several modern Ferraris – at least compared to the rest of the collection – among the lots. They include a thoroughly beat 1982 308 GTSi without headlights and portions of the paint gone. There's also a 1988 Mondial Cabriolet that looks good on the outside, but Artcurial says needs a mechanical overhaul. A rather attractive gray 1978 400 GT is in similar condition. Scroll through the gallery above for the names and price estimates for all of the vehicles in the collection. If there's one you're particularly interested in there are even more photos and full descriptions in Artcurial's auction catalog. Also check out the video below to see what some of these classics looked like before they were hauled out of Baillon's lean-to after years of sitting in decrepitude. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery Roger Baillon Collection Auction View 59 Photos News Source: Artcurial, Artcurial Briest - Poulain - F. Tajan via YouTube Ferrari Maserati Auctions Classics ferrari 250 retromobile artcurial

Bonhams auction at Quail Lodge led by 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Competizione

It doesn't take too much knowledge of the classic car market to figure out that, when it comes to values, Ferrari leads the pack. Bonhams 2015 Quail Lodge Auction did absolutely nothing to buck that trend with four of the five top sellers bearing the Prancing Horse. While none came near the auction house's sale of a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO for $38.115 million last year, there were still beauties in the bunch. The leader among these thoroughbreds was a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Competizione Alloy Berlinetta (pictured above) that went for $8.525 million, including the buyer's premium. It was one of just seven vehicles made to this specification and raced extensively when new, scoring a win in competition at Watkins Glen. A classic 1971 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider brought $2.64 million, and a somewhat more modern 1985 288 GTO had the hammer drop at $2.365 million. The final Prancing Horse in the top five was a 1951 212 Inter Cabriolet with a body by Vignale for $2.2 million. It scored second-in-class at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Overturning the Ferrari trend, a 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America rounded out the top five with a sale price of $1,952,500. While these are the most expensive vehicles to cross the block, you can check Bonhams' website for the results on all 111 lots. It's a wonderful array of largely European sports cars that are all in top shape.

Leno drives Henry Ford II's all-original '52 Ferrari 212 Barchetta

The story of the relationship between Henry Ford II and Enzo Ferrari is absolutely fascinating. The two great men of the auto industry had what appeared to be a burgeoning friendship until Ferrari pulled out of a deal to sell his company to Ford in the '60s. The latest car featured in Jay Leno's Garage is a 1952 Ferrari 212 Barchetta that tells the very beginnings of that story.
This Prancing Horse was a gift to Ford from Enzo when the two companies were first thinking about merging, according to the curator of the Petersen Automotive Museum. Ferrari really wanted to show off its best so instead of the 212's normal V12, this car was fitted with the larger 2.7-liter unit from a Ferrari 225. The car has been almost unaltered since then. It still wears its original paint, and it's tires date back to 1954.
The great thing about the Petersen is that unlike a lot of auto museums, the people there actually drive the cars and keep them in working order. Once on the road with Leno behind the wheel, this Ferrari really sings. Unfortunately, he can't open it up too much because the 60-year-old tires really hold things back. Scroll down to watch this amazing piece of automotive history and learn it's possible effect on the styling of the original Ford Thunderbird.