Incredible treasure trove of rusting classics

 

 

 

Now where did I park my 60 cars? Incredible treasure trove of rusting classics worth £12MILLION is found languishing in a French farm garage after 50 years Ferrari and a rare Maserati are among dozens of rusting classic cars found on farm in western France The astonishing collection, left on the farm since the 1970s, is thought to be worth up to £12million Classic cars owned by Egyptian King Farouk and sat in by Jane Fonda and Shirley MacLaine are for sale Collection includes Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California SWB, one of 36 ever made including one owned by Chris Evans Owner of the collection Roger Baillon died more than 10 years ago, passing the cars on to his family They did not realise the classic cars were worth so much, calling in auctioneers who delivered the surprise A £12million treasure trove of 60 rusting classic cars left languishing on a French farm for 50 years has gone up for auction. The haul of motors, which includes dozens of vintage sports cars, was found gathering dust under piles of newspapers in garages and barns on a farm in western France. Among the vehicles up for sale are a Ferrari once sat in by Jane Fonda and a Talbot-Lago previously owned by extravagant Egyptian King Farouk.  Scroll down for the full list of cars and video +17 The Ferrari (left), once sat in by Jane Fonda, was found under newspapers in an outbuilding on the French farm, alongside a Maserati A6G 200 Berlinetta Grand Sport Frua - one of only three in the world +17 The £12million treasure trove of cars, including this Ferrari 250 GT California SWB, was left languishing on a French farm for 50 years before its discovery +17 The collection has sat dormant in makeshift corrugated iron shelters and outbuildings on the farm since the 1970s. Pictured: Facel Vega (left) and a Talbot-Lago (right) +17 Some of the vehicles may be too rusted to be restored, but many of the cars are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds +17 The Ferrari 250 during the filming of Les Felins in 1964 which starred Shirley MacLaine and Jane Fonda (right), as well as Alain Delon (left) +17 Chris Evans bought one of the Ferraris in 2008 and is believed to have paid up to £5.5million for the classic sports car   The cars were collected from the 1950s to the 1970s by entrepreneur Roger Baillon, who dreamt of restoring them to their former glory and displaying them in a museum.  However, his plans were dashed as his business struggled, forcing Mr Baillon to sell about 50 of the vehicles. Since then his collection has sat dormant in makeshift corrugated iron shelters and outbuildings on the farm.  Mr Baillon died about 10 years ago and his son, Jacques, who inherited the collection, died last year. Mr Baillon's grandchildren had no idea of the extent of the collection, calling in car specialists Matthieu Lamoure and Pierre Novikoff of auctioneers Artcurial Motorcars to estimate its value.  They found a 1956 Maserati A6G Gran Sports with coachwork by prominent designer Frua, one of just three in the world, which is estimated to sell for just under £1million. But the auctioneers' greatest discovery was that of a 1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spider with covered headlights, which was hidden beneath piles of newspapers. The car was previously owned by French actors Gerard Blain and Alain Delon, who was photographed in it with Jane Fonda and Shirley MacLaine, and is expected to attract attention from Ferrari collectors with an estimate of £9.5million.  Only 36 of the particular model of Ferrari were ever made, including the one in the barn and another bought by Chris Evans in 2008 for an estimated £5.5million.  +17 The cars were collected from the 1950s to the 1970s by entrepreneur Roger Baillon, who wanted to restore and display them in a museum +17 A Talbot-Lago T26 Cabriolet owned by Egyptian King Farouk is also among the vast haul of classic cars found on the farm +17 King Farouk was known for his extravagant lifestyle, which included owning dozens of expensive cars such as the Talbot-Lago +17 Mr Baillon's grandchildren had no idea of the extent of the collection, calling in car specialists Matthieu Lamoure and Pierre Novikoff of auctioneers Artcurial Motorcars to estimate its value +17 The family of Mr Baillon, who died around 10 years ago, had no idea the collection was worth so much. Pictured: Hispano Suiza H6B Cabriolet Millio +17 Mr Baillon's grandchildren had no idea of the extent of the collection, calling in car specialists Matthieu Lamoure and Pierre Novikoff of auctioneers Artcurial Motorcars to estimate its value John Collins, from Ferrari dealer Talacrest in Ascot, has spent the last 12 months trying to find the car, which hen thinks could sell for £10million. He said: 'I have known about the car for years and I was gutted when I found out about three weeks ago that an auction house had got it. 'Apart from a few people, not many knew the Ferrari still existed. It is a phenomenal car and the best barn find in more than 20 years. 'I am sure it will go for an eight-figure sum and I will be one of several people looking to buy it. It is really great - people are going to be fighting over it.' A Talbot-Lago T26 Cabriolet once owned by King Farouk of Egypt was also found. The Egyptian King's extravagant lifestyle included owning hundreds of prestigious cars. While some of the cars are in a rusty and decrepit state, others have been well-preserved. Mr Lamoure said: 'These sorts of finds do not happen often. I think you go into this profession for discoveries like this; it really is a treasure trove. No doubt a once-in-a-lifetime discovery. 'We speak about 'barn finds' as cars that are intact, that have remained untouched for years, and are found again. 'On entering the gates of this property, we had no idea what we would find. We had to go in through the gardens at the rear of the property, to get a first look. Across three hectares, we could see different makeshift structures. From there, we realised that this was something big. 'We realised that there were dozens of cars parked underneath. We soon realised that some of these had been put there 50 years earlier and left untouched. 'Wooden posts, between the cars, supported the fragile roofs. The sides were open to the elements. We still didn't realise exactly what we were faced with; the number of cars, the marques, their condition. 'When we discovered the extent of the collection we found ourselves overcome with emotion. 'Probably much like Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter, on being the first person for centuries to enter Tutankhamun's tomb, it really was a case of waking up sleeping beauty.' +17 Some of the cars were bought by Mr Baillon, an entrepreneur, in the 1950s and have been parked on the farm since +17 The collection will be sold by Artcurial Motorcars in Paris on February 6 next year, with hopes of raising more than £12million +17 While many of the vehicles are rusty and covered in moss, they could still be worth £500,000 each on average +17 Mr Baillon, a transport and truck company owner from western France, bought most of his cars from the 1950s to the 1970s +17 Auctioneers and classic car experts Matthieu Lamoure (left) and Pierre Novikoff (right) found the haul of motorcars Speaking of the rare Ferrari, Mr Lamoure added: 'Ferrari is a legendary name in the automobile world. And this car is unique. Only 37 examples of this model were built making it extremely rare. 'Every example has been carefully documented by historians and this one was thought to be lost. We have found it.' Mr Novikoff said: 'I'm not sure I have ever seen so many exceptional cars together in one collection; Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, Talbot-Lago, Panhard-Levassor, Maserati, Ferrari, Delahaye, Delage. Roger Baillon saved these cars and succeeded in his task - to trace the history of the automobile through the finest examples. 'A collection like this can't fail to arouse the passions of those who love automobiles, as well as art and history enthusiasts. Never again, anywhere in the world, will such a treasure be unearthed.' The collection will be sold by Artcurial Motorcars in Paris on February 6 next year.  TAKE YOUR PICK: FULL LIST OF THE 60 CLASSIC CARS FOUND ON THE FARM THAT ARE NOW FOR SALE Amilcar C6 Berline: An open-top classic, this car, built in 1927, sells for up to £40,000 in good condition. Amilcar CGS: The 30 horsepower, lightweight car, made in 1924, can reach speeds of up to 75mph. Ariès Coach:Coach by name, coach by nature, this classy vehicle, manufactured in 1935, was often driven by chauffeurs.  Auto Union Cabriolet: A front-wheel drive saloon car cost £1,259 including taxes during the early 1960s. Avions Voisin C15: Won the prestigious Concours d'Elegance competition in 2002. Avions Voisin Limousine C15: The C15's commanding presence was further extended for the limousine model. Avions Voisin C7 par Gallé: The stylish 93 horsepower C7 can reach speeds of 89mph. Ballot Limousine: The eight-cylinder car had an open-topped driving compartment, but passengers enjoyed a hard-top roof. Barré Torpédo: Only five of these cars, built in the village of Niort, western France, are known to exist. Berliet Coupé Chauffeur: A popular car in the late 1920s, the motor comes with a spare wheel attached to the side of the vehicle. Berliet Type VIGB Taxi Landaulet: From 1906, this Berliet, with unmissable red leather seats, could reach 40mph. Bugatti 57 Ventoux: Same model sold for £324,800 at auction in September. Citroën Trèfle: The three-seat model has room for a single passenger in the rear. Delage D6: The six cylinder car was produced both before and after the Second World War. Delage D8 Coach: Parisian manufacturers fitted different elegant bodies over the years the car was produced. Delahaye 135 Cabriolet Faget Varnet: Regarded as one of the best custom-bodied cars from the immediate post-WWII era. Delahaye 135 Coach Chapron: The 1947 car could reach 100mph from 125 horse power. 3x Delahaye 235 Coach Chapron: Regarded as two expensive, this car did not perform well on the market in the 1950s. Long road ahead: Restoration work begins after treasure trove of THIRTY-SIX Corvettes found collecting dust in a garage after 25 years The most valuable car in the collection is a 1953 Corvette, which is one of only 300 ever made Adam Heller who owns the fleet of cars said 'well over six figures' was being put into the restoration of just one car Some of the cars were expected to only take two weeks to restore, while others would take more than a year  A rare collection of 36 classic Corvettes that were hidden away for 25 years is being prepared for sale - and one model alone is expected to sell for half a million dollars. The classic American muscle cars were originally won in a competition organised by music channel VH1 and were then sold to German-born graphic artist Peter Max who wanted to incorporate them in his work. The collection consists of every model of Corvette released between 1953 and 1989.   +9 A rare collection of 36 classic Corvettes that were hidden away for more than 20 years are being prepared for sale - and one model alone is expected to sell for half a million dollars; pictured above is the co-owner of the collection, Adam Heller +9 The classic American muscle cars were originally won in a competition organised by music channel VH1 and were then sold to German-born graphic artist Peter Max. The cars were all released consecutively between 1953 and 1989 +9 Mr Heller had reportedly offered to work with Mr Max to restore the cars for sale and then split the proceeds, something the artist declined. However, Mr Max was then said to have asked Mr Heller if he wanted to buy the collection outright Though Mr Max started to carry out his plan for the cars, issues such as a tax fraud case forced them on the backburner and he eventually sold the fleet to members of the Heller family. Real estate broker Adam Heller said the family now has a 'museum of Corvettes'. The 32-year-old said: 'We can go back in time with these cars. We started off by picking up cars from the mid 1970s and now we have one from 1958. 'It's covered in dust but it's in very good condition considering its age.' The most valuable car in the collection is a 1953 Corvette - one of only 300 ever made. Another vehicle in the collection was produced in 1955, and was one of only 700 ever made.     +9 The thick layer of dust covering the cars was said to have protected the paintwork, with some of the vehicles only needing minor restoration +9 While some of the cars would only take a matters of weeks to restore, others would take up to a year, a Corvette expert said +9 Chris Mazzilli, a Corvette expert and owner of Dream Cars Consulting on Long Island, USA, poses next to a 1969 Corvette Stingray +9 Mr Mazzilli said one of the cars, a 1953 Corvette would undergo a full frame one restoration, meaning that the body would be removed from the chassis and 'everything will be refurbished and gone through'; the vehicle is expected to become the most valuable 1953 Corvette in the world +9 One of the most valuable cars in the collection, a 1955 Corvette - one of only 700 ever made - gets a good working over at the garage +9 The Vintage Auto Restoration Garage in Hickville, where the collection of Corvettes is being restored before being offered for sale Mr Heller said: 'We're putting a substantial amount of money that's well over six figures into just one of the individual cars. 'I think that by the time we get done on this restoration we will have the most valuable 1953 Corvette in the world.' Chris Mazzilli, a Corvette expert and owner of Dream Cars Consulting on Long Island, USA said the car will be worth around half a million dollars when it is fully restored. The 49-year-old added: 'It's number 291 of 300 and will be getting a full frame one restoration which means that the body will be removed from the chassis and everything will be refurbished and gone through.' He said the thick layer of dust that covered the cars had protected the paintwork, and some vehicles would need little in the way of restoration. Some would take around two weeks, and would simply need a few hoses and belts changed, while others would require 'more than a years worth of work'.    When the restorations are complete Mr Heller, who lives and works in New York City, will attempt to sell the collection in its entirety to one lucky bidder. Mr Heller had reportedly offered to work with Mr Max to restore the cars for sale and then split the proceeds, something the artists declined. However, Mr Max was then said to have asked Mr Heller if he wanted to buy the collection outright.        Britain's biggest private car collection of 543 classic motors sells the entire fleet to Jaguar Dr James Hull spent tens of millions of pounds filling numerous warehouses in Hertfordshire with classic motors Stunning collection consists of 543 cars, ranging from multi-million pound Jaguars and Bentleys to Morris Minors Also includes Lord Mountbatten's Mini Traveller, Winston Churchill's Austin and Bentley owned by Sir Elton John Originally put up for sale for £100million in May; Jaguar Land Rover has refused to disclose how much firm paid A dentist who amassed Britain’s biggest private car collection has sold the entire £100million fleet to Jaguar Land Rover. Dr James Hull, 53, spent tens of millions of pounds filling a number of warehouses in Hertfordshire with classic motors from the past 80 years. His impressive collection consists of 543 cars - ranging from multi-million pound Jaguars and Bentleys to Morris Minors. It also includes Lord Mountbatten’s Mini Traveller, Winston Churchill’s Austin and a Bentley owned by singer Elton John. Scroll down for video +20 Impressive collection: Dr James Hull, 53, spent tens of millions of pounds filling a number of warehouses (including this one, above) in Hertfordshire with classic motors +20 Luxury car: His collection consists of 543 cars - ranging from multi-million pound Jaguars and Bentleys (such as this classic black Bentley, above) to Morris Minors +20 Classic: It also includes Lord Mountbatten's Mini Traveller, Winston Churchill's Austin and a Bentley owned by singer Elton John. Above, the dentist's classic Alvis +20 Old-fashioned: Dr Hull's stunning collection, which is worth an estimated £100million, features cars from every decade since 1930, including this classic green Morris     +20   +20 Expensive: Two of the vehicles are a blue classic Triumph (left) and a red Jaguar E type roadster (right). They are stored in a number of warehouses in Hertfordshire The collection features cars from every decade since 1930, including a super-rare 1950s Jaguar XKSS and a Jaguar D-Type worth more than £4million. It was originally put up for sale for a staggering £100million in May and today, it was revealed that it has been bought by Jaguar Land Rover. John Edwards, managing director of Jaguar's Special Vehicle Operations, refused to disclose the sum the firm has paid for the one-of-a-kind collection. But he said: 'We are delighted that Jaguar Land Rover has come to an agreement with James Hull to secure the future of this very significant collection of Jaguar and British cars. 'We share the same objective as James to keep this unique collection in British hands and we are delighted this agreement secures their custody for the future.   +20 Car-obsessed: Dr James Hull - the owner of Britain's biggest private car collection - is pictured posing with a silver trophy and one of his 543 classic motors +20 Packed: The collection was originally put up for sale for a staggering £100million in May and today, it was revealed that it has been bought by Jaguar Land Rover +20 Another warehouse: John Edwards, managing director of Jaguar's Special Vehicle Operations, refused to disclose the sum the car company has paid for the collection +20 Valuable: But he said: 'We are delighted that Jaguar Land Rover has come to an agreement to secure the future of this very significant collection.' Above, a Jaguar E Type +20 Shiny: Dr Hull spent tens of millions of pounds filling a number of warehouses in Hertfordshire with classic motors from the past 80 years. Above, one of his warehouses +20 Owned by an Earl: Lord Mountbatten's red Mini traveller (pictured) is one of 543 cars that have been sold to Jaguar Land Rover by car enthusiast, Dr James Hull 'We look forward to continuing to work with James going forward as we develop our heritage activities. Heritage is becoming an ever more important differentiating factor when it comes to experiential customer marketing and in developing our brands in new and emerging markets. 'Jaguar and Land Rover have a combined "back catalogue" of over 140 years to draw upon and some of the most iconic vehicles in the industry. 'In addition with the explosive growth and interest in classic car events worldwide and the increase in the size and value of the market, there is a strong brand and business rationale underpinning this agreement.' Dr Hull, who sold the collection because of health issues, today described Jaguar Land Rover as the perfect custodians for the fleet. +20 Multi-million pound: Dr Hull, who sold the collection due to health issues, today described Jaguar Land Rover as the perfect custodians for the fleet. Above, a Jaguar +20 Soft-top: Travelling all over the world to build the collection over the years has been a labour of love and a life¿s work, so my primary motivation was not to get the maximum price but rather to secure the future of the collection in this country with the right custodian,' said Dr Hull. Above, a classic Jaguar XK +20 Proud: Dr Hull is pictured possing with a large silver plate alongside a classic black Bentley. He has sold his entire £100million fleet of motors to Jaguar Land Rover   Drawing a crowd: Sir Stirling Moss (left) is seen in a car from Dr Hull's collection, while the Dr Hull poses (right, in the striped shirt) with his award winning Jaguar SS1 'Travelling all over the world to build the collection over the years has been a labour of love and a life’s work, so my primary motivation was not to get the maximum price but rather to secure the future of the collection in this country with the right custodian,' he said. 'I have got to know Jaguar Land Rover well in recent years and they have borrowed cars from the collection for events such as the Mille Miglia and supporting Jaguar in China. 'They are the perfect custodians to take the collection forward and I know it is in safe hands.' Dr Hull's stunning collection also includes a Humber which was owned by the judge presiding over the Profumo Affair and a 1961 Jaguar E-Type, which belonged to Britain’s world motorcycle champion Mike Hailwood. +20 Extensive: Dr Hull's stunning collection also includes a Humber which was owned by the judge presiding over the Profumo Affair and a 1961 Jaguar E-Type which belonged to Britain¿s world motorcycle champion Mike Hailwood +20 Storage: There are also a number of British campervans from the 40s, 50s and 60s, and within the 4x4 section, early Land Rovers and pristine classic Range Rovers +20 Rare: Dr Hull has travelled extensively around the world tracking down some of the rarest, original British models. Above, one of his classic motors, a red Jaguar E Type There are also a number of British campervans from the 40s, 50s and 60s, and within the 4x4 section, early Land Rovers and pristine classic Range Rovers. A Sinclair C5 from the 1980s is also in the collection. Dr Hull has travelled extensively around the world tracking down some of the rarest, original British models. In 2006, he was left devastated when vandals broke into a warehouse housing a number of them, before hotwiring the Jaguars and crashing them. At the time, police said the criminals had 'treated the cars like dodgems'.   Late motoring fan’s collection of historic vehicles including buses, emergency vehicles and delivery wagons goes on sale for £3million Collector Michael Banfield of Kent who died last year began buying classic cars in 1959 - his first was a 1927 Bentley Since then he bought dozens of vintage vehicles and more than a thousand pieces of motoring memorabilia After his death, his family organised a special auction at Bonhams in London where almost 98% of the lots sold Sale included a 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost which sold for £418,140 and a trio of buses that went for in excess of £500,000 The collection of a lifetime of cars and vehicle memorabilia has sold at auction for £3million. Michael Banfield, a founder member of the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society, spent more than 50 years collecting buses, emergency vehicles and cars. His interest was sparked in 1959 when he bought his first classic car, a 1927 Bentley. +24 Michael Banfield with the Merryweather fire engine. The company Merryweather was founded in the 19th Century and is still family owned. The founder was Moses Merryweather (1791-1872) of Clapham, who was joined by his son Richard Moses (1839-1877). Appliances were available in small sizes suitable for a country house, pumping about 100 gallons per minute, through to large dockyard models, that could eject 2,000 gallons per minute. +24 The same 1913 Merryweather fire engine as it appears today. The company that made it still exists and is based in Tuesnoad Grange, a Grade II. listed, 15th Century Elizabethean Yeoman's House at Tuesnoad, Kent. +24 Michael Banfield sitting in the Merryweather appliance receiving a trophy Over the next 50 years, the collection encompassed dozens of cars and more than 1,200 items of automobilia. Mr Banfield, from Staplehurst, Kent, died last year and his family sold his collection in a special auction with Bonhams. It included a 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost which sold for £418,140 and a trio of buses sold for in excess of £500,000. This included a 1922 AEC S-Type open-top double-deck bus which sold for a world record £281,500 - three times more than expected. A collection of fire engines further heated up the bidding, with a 1913 Merryweather Fire Engine selling for £74,300, and a 1910 Delahaye Fire Engine chassis selling at £13,225, more than doubling its top estimate. The final total was more than £3m and 99.7 per cent of the lots were sold. Malcolm Barber, Bonhams co-chairman and auctioneer at the sale, said: ‘For more than 50 years Michael Banfield dedicated himself to the restoration and preservation of these fantastic vehicles. ‘I’m delighted we were able to celebrate Michael and his collection with the weekend’s event, honouring his life’s passion with his friends, family, and automotive enthusiasts. ‘Bidders came from all over the world including several from the southern hemisphere, with clients from both Australia and New Zealand not only bidding in the room, but also watching via Bonhams online bidding platform. ‘Customers registered from Japan, the Mid-West of America, Miami, across Europe and even Hong Kong - this was a highly sought after collection with many of Bonhams international clients taking an intense interest.’ After founding the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society, Michael Banfield became chairman in 1965, a role he remained in until 1993 when the society became a charity. He then stayed on as CEO until his retirement in 2011. His efforts were rewarded when, in 2007, he was made an Honorary Life President of the VCC and was given a Lifetime achievement award by the Transport Trust. +24 All aboard, plenty of room on top: This is a 1922 AEC S-Type open top double decker bus. This bus was built between 1920 and 1927. This particular vehicle went into service on October 2, 1922 with the Metropolitan Stage Carriage plate No 2635. Among the routes that it plied from Nunhead Lane was No 12, which ran from The Plough at Dulwich to the Princess Victoria at Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush, a journey of 13.3-miles for which the full fare was 8d (3.5p). Its driver would have been paid £4 a week, his conductor £3 15s (£3.75) +24 The AECS Type bus in the late 1960s. When it was auctioned at Bonhams it went for £281,500 +24 Get that bus out: Mr Banfield makes some repairs to the AECS Type bus in the 1960s   Mr Banfield with his Renault AX, when he first bought it in the 1970s (left) and after spending hours on its restoration (right) +24 A 1915 Peerless TC4 open back lorry. In 1914 the British Government hired Gaston, Williams & Wigmore to supply American chassis to be fitted with bodies in England. A leading supplier was Peerless of Cleveland, Ohio, a firm that began when Queen Victoria was on the throne and started off making mangles before turning to bicycle manufacture. From 1915 until 1918 the Government bought 12,000 Peerless truck chassis, which were imported via Liverpool. This lorry sold for £42,550. +24 Michael Banfield with the Peerless lorry during restoration in London +24 Michael Banfield with the Peerless lorry during restoration in London +24 Pierce-Arrow R8 open back lorry. Like its contemporary Peerless, Pierce-Arrow of Buffalo, New York, who made this lorry, began by manufacturing domestic items. In the case of Pierce-Arrow they made fridges and birdcage. They started making lorries in June 1911 and this R8, which is dated 1917 by the Veteran Car Club, was bought by Michael Banfield in June 1973. +24 This 1929 Chevrolet LQ International 14-seater coach was manufactured at the General Motors factory at Hendon. The bus was the forerunner of the Bedford commercial vehicle range and was powered by a six-cylinder 2.9-litre petrol engine with overhead valves. It has a four-speed gearbox and sold for £40,250 +24 1922 Tilling Stevens double deciker bus. The company behind the bus was founded in 1847 by Thomas Tilling and started a horse-drawn omnibus service three years later. By 1897 the company had 4,000 horses. Tilling¿s is thought to have been the first company to run a regular service over a regular route. They bought the first electric buses in 1904 and by 1921 they had a fleet of 150 running in London. Thios bus began its working life in Catford, south London, in June 1922 and Mr Banfield bought this from a scrapyard on February 17 1970. It sold for £216,540. +24 1906 Minerva Roi Des Belges. The Minerva was created by Sylvain de Jong who in 1889 began a Belgian company importing English bicycles. He began manufacturing cars in 1902 and the following year founded the Société Anonyme Minerva Motors. This car sold for £177,340 +24 Boy racer: Michael Banfield, aged 5, with his first car although he did not buy his first classic until 1959, many years later +24 1904 Mors Roi des Belges: The Mors company was founded by Emile Mors, one of France's leading electrical engineers, heading one of the country's biggest telegraph, telephone and electrical equipment factories. He began racing cars and in 1897 finished in seventh place in the 106-mile Paris Dieppe Race in a car with an average speed of 19.6 mph +24 1916 Crossley RF Van: On the outbreak of war in August 1914 Crossley of Manchester changed its production line to almost entirely to producing vehicles for military service. By the Armistice, there were more than 6,000 being used and for 25 years Crossley was the preferred supplier to the RAF. This one sold for £52,900 +24 1935 Austin Taxi. One of the last vehicular additions to Mr Banfield's collection, he bought this in 2011 from Dr Peter McWilliam of Yorkshire, who had owned it for 20 years. The model was introduced in 1930 and this particular car went into service in March 1935. It was a reliable cab and the last left service in the 1960s, although this one stopped its working life in the previous decade. It sold for £67,580 +24 Michael Banfield raises a glass to the Fiat country bus. The vehicle was introduced in 1910 with a 2.6-litre engine and a four-speed gearbox. The Italian army used this as its main way of moving troops around during the Italo-Libyan war of 1911-1912. Mr Banfield's vehicle was registered in Hampshire but its body was later replaced by a bus chassis and the Fiat worked in the Reading area as a station bus +24 Michael Banfield with his Wolseley lorry at Iden Grange. In 1912, buyers who purchased a certain type of lorry were paid an annual subsidy of £110 to keep them in good order, the rationale being that they would be taken into Army service should war arise. This particular lorry was powered by an 8522cc bi-block four-cylinder engine. Michael Banfield bought it in the 1980s and maintained the lorry so that it is still in good working order. It sold for £23,000 +24 Michael Banfield with the Garford in the 1970s +24 Michael Banfield with the Leyland Titan at Brighton having won the Concours d'Elegance +24 Michael Banfield with the Leyland Titan at Brighton having won the Concours d'Elegance. The expression comes from the 17th Century French aristocracy, who paraded horse-drawn carriages in the parks of Paris during Summer weekends and holidays