Rare vintage car that sat gathering dust in barn for 40 YEARS hits auction for eye-watering fee
A ONE-hundred-year-old classic car dumped in a garage for four decades has sold for a whopping price.
The pre-WW2 Talbot-Darracq 16hp open tourer was stored in a barn by its owner who was a British Army officer serving in Germany.
The leaf-green motor was made in 1921 and it has been likened to the car in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
It was bought in 1967 for £750 and was used frequently at first.
It had its last MoT in 1982 and was then taken off road and stored in an open but dry barn, in Suffolk.
The engine was turned over from time to time to keep it free as reported by Luxury Auto News.
Elton Murphy who runs UK Barn Finds was there when the motor was finally removed from the barn.
He said: “Look how solid it looks.
“In the nicest way it looks like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with the big roof.
“There can’t be many in the world with a roof in this condition.
“It’s an amazing vehicle,” he added.
It is now being sold by Reeman Dansie auctioneers.
A spokesperson said: “This splendid high quality French vintage open tourer which was made for the English market is based on a 1913 design.
“Which was discontinued for the duration of the First World War while the factory engaged in aircraft production and was then re-introduced after the war when the production of motorcars commenced again.
“The powerful three litre four cylinder engine allows a cruising speed of 45 miles an hour and was highly regarded when it was new.
“The car has lovely green and black coachwork with a black buttoned leather upholstered interior with canvas hood all of which have a wonderful patina and appear in very sound condition for their age.
“It is equipped with good quality CAV electrical fittings, including the headlamps, side lamps and instruments.
“This delightful ‘oily rag’ large vintage tourer represents a rare opportunity to obtain a highly original vintage car that will require some restoration and recommissioning that has a wonderful history file.
“Including a V5C logbook, old logbooks, bills for work carried out in 1970s and 80s and related ephemera including old photographs.
It is also supplied with several boxes of spares and fittings.
It is being sold on November 16 with a guide price of £6,000 to £8,000.