Amazing French barn-find haul for sale

French fare reappears

French auction house Artcurial has stumbled across an incredible haul of untouched Gallic classics, stored in a small village in the Mayenne département.

The collection was discovered by specialist Antoine Mahé, with cars spread all over the site in buildings in various states of repair, with some left exposed to the elements.

But before Artcurial offers them for sale at its Le Mans Classic auction on 2 July 2022, we had to take a closer look.

Hidden gems

About 24 cars are to be sold from the collection of engineering company owner Pierre Héron, following his recent passing. He owned a total of 30-35 cars, with several in a small museum at castle belonging to a friend of his.

The cars consist mainly of Hotchkiss-Grégoire, Talbot-Lago and Delahaye models, true French grand routiers, but because Héron was a very private person, few people were aware of the cars that he had tucked away.

Front-drive pioneer

Collector Héron was a great admirer of the engineer Jean-Albert Grégoire, which explains why his collection contains an amazing seven examples of the front-wheel-drive Hotchkiss-Grégoire, the forward-thinking luxury saloon that Grégoire designed for the usually staid Hotchkiss firm.

Last of the line

Launched in 1953, the 2300 S coupé would be the final car produced by the famous Boulogne-based Salmson firm, before it was absorbed by Renault in 1957.

This is one of two examples in the collection, and looks to have suffered a fair amount during its time in storage.

A full set of Talbots

Among the selection are almost all of the original Talbot-Lago T26 factory models – saloon, Surprofilé, Cabriolet and Coupé – in various states of disrepair. 

With eight examples in total, this is the most common marque to be found in Héron’s eclectic stable.

A tantalising glimpse

While travelling around Europe for work in the 1960s and ’70s, collector Héron discovered a number of rare vehicles and by the early ’70s he had gathered together more than 30 cars.

That left him with the problem of where to store them all, and he came up with a rather novel solution…

Taking top billing

When a cinema in his village came up for sale in the 1980s, Héron decided to buy it and strip out the seats and interior to provide additional storage for his cars, which were already spilling out of the sheds, barns and carports on his property.

Drophead gorgeous

Most of the cars in the collection are complete and original, but in the former cinema there are two on which restoration work has begun.

The first of these is this handsome Talbot-Lago T26 Cabriolet.

Drophead gorgeous (cont.)

While restoration of the exterior of the Talbot-Lago T26 Cabriolet is well under way, the handsome burgundy leather interior appears to be largely untouched.

Note the selector quadrant for company boss Antonio ‘Tony’ Lago’s preferred Wilson preselector transmission to the right of the big four-spoke steering wheel.

Gallic aristocracy

The other car in the collection that is mid-restoration is a Talbot-Lago T26 berline (saloon), pictured here alongside another of Héron’s beloved Hotchkiss-Gregoire saloons.

Remarkably, over the years the enthusiast owned more than 10 of the production run of fewer than 250 of these innovative machines.

A sense of déjà vu?

Behind the Talbot-Lago saloon and Hotchkiss-Grégoire in the former cinema are… another Talbot-Lago and another Hotchkiss-Grégoire, albeit the former this time a rakish coupé with low-set headlights.

Inside the innovator

Produced from 1950-’54, the Hotchkiss-Grégoire was a large luxury car. With its front-wheel-drive layout meaning that there was no need for a transmission tunnel, it resulted in a hugely generous passenger compartment.

Although hardly ostentatious compared to period British rivals, the cabin offers a typically French chic austerity.

A second Salmson

Adding interest in the old cinema is a second Salmson 2300 Sport Coupé, this time a black car in rather better condition. 

The crisp swage lines in the car’s flanks can clearly be seen here, and it looks a tempting project. Once restored, its 2.3-litre twin-cam four-cylinder engine should push it to 110mph – enough in period to make it a regular competitor at Le Mans.

Four wheels replace film

The remnants of the cinema’s old mezzanine floor and projection room can just be seen, while on the floor below there are four Hotchkiss-Grégoire saloons, Talbot-Lago T26 coupé, saloon and cabriolet, and the intriguing little Salmson.

Returning to nature

Not all of the cars have been lucky enough to find their way into snug, warm buildings, however.

Several are outside in open-fronted carports, being rapidly overtaken by the undergrowth.

Exposed to the elements

Surprisingly, some of the most glamorous machines are in the least protected storage.

Here names such as Delahaye and Hispano-Suiza join the by now expected Talbot-Lagos and Hotchkiss-Grégoires. 

Paris when it sizzles

This fabulous drophead is a Delahaye 135M, featuring the larger 3557cc version of the Parisian firm’s overhead-valve straight-six engine.

This particular car wears an elegant body by famed carrossier Henri Chapron, who was also based in the French capital.

Coachbuilt glamour

Just a few cars along from the 135M you’ll find another Chapron-bodied Delahaye, this time a longer-wheelbase 148L Cabriolet.

More upright and less sporting than the short-chassis versions, these 148s were nonetheless imposing and elegant machines.

Coachbuilt glamour (cont.)

Although it appears to be largely complete apart from the odd broken light, the Delahaye 148L Chapron Cabriolet is in a sorry state, with its white hood in tatters, its chrome corroded and its orange-over-red paint heavily crazed. 

Once restored, however, it should make a magnificent touring car.

The Spanish connection

One of the oldest cars in the collection is this magnificent Hispano-Suiza T49 coupé, the Spanish version of the French-built H6. Powered by an enormous straight-six engine, it could reportedly top 100mph in coachbuilt luxury.

This particular car features modifications including indicator lights and a makeshift rack for carrying cases on its short roof.

Forlorn gran turismo

Not all of the Talbots are the upright early examples from Tony Lago’s early custodianship of the marque. This low-slung and sexy GT is a rare Grand Sport Lago.

Estimates vary as to how many of these Carlo Delaisse-styled coupés were built. It is thought that between 15 and 21 were produced, with an elegant steel and aluminium body wrapping an ash frame over a separate steel chassis.

Forlorn gran turismo (cont.)

The Talbot-Lago T26 GSL had its roots in the early post-war Type 26 Record, but by the time the Grand Sport Lago was launched in 1953 the company was suffering from French government legislation making its cars hugely expensive.

Unlike earlier cars, the shorter-wheelbase GSL featured a factory-built body with a wraparound Plexiglas rear windscreen and discreet tailfins.

Forlorn gran turismo (cont.)

Under the bonnet of the Grand Sport Lago you’ll find the familiar Talbot-Lago 4882cc ‘high-camshaft’ straight-six, but with triple downdraught Solex carburettors, higher compression and more aggressive timing producing 210bhp at a relatively low 4500rpm.

That was enough to propel the GSL from 0-60mph in 12 secs and on to a top speed of 122mph.

Forlorn gran turismo (cont.)

The T26 GSL was undoubtedly a luxurious gran turismo, but its rich, leather-lined cabin was classy rather than ostentatious.

The flat dashboard features a selection of Jaeger dials and behind the large four-spoke wheel there’s the usual Tony Lago signature of a Wilson preselector gear quadrant.

Last tango for Talbot

At first glance this looks like another Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Lago, but judging by the bonnet vent and the rather upright windscreen, we think it’s a later Lago America, the last attempt at survival for the ailing French firm as the 1950s came to a close.

Instead of the traditional Talbot straight-six engine, early cars featured a BMW-sourced V8, while later examples used the aged sidevalve Ford V8 from the Simca Vedette.

It was also the first Talbot to be offered with left-hand drive.

Fall from grace

Once a highly prestigious machine, this handsome Delahaye 148L saloon has sadly been left outside in all weathers.

We can only hope it finds a new home in Artcurial’s sale and can be brought back to its beautiful best.

Glamorous garage

Moving back under cover, the barn doors of this elegant outhouse offer a tantalising glimpse of yet more products from Emile Delahaye’s famous Tours manufacturer.

Former show queen

The voluptuous bodywork and swooping wings of this Delahaye 135MS Cabriolet mark it out as the work of famed Parisian coachbuilder Figoni et Falaschi.

This particular car is thought to have been the example that featured on the Delahaye stand at the 1948 Paris motor show.

Former show queen (cont.)

By the extrovert standards of Figoni et Falaschi, this drophead coupé is relatively restrained but the interior bears the Art Deco hallmarks of Delahayes of the era.

Note the fabulous dials and, like the Talbots, the use of a preselector gearbox – this time a French-made Cotal unit.

Former show queen (cont.)

Beneath the piano-hinged bonnet, the Delahaye 135MS featured the most potent version of the marque’s renowned 3.6-litre overhead-valve straight-six engine.

Fitted with a trio of Solex downdraught carburettors it was capable of producing 120-145bhp depending on the state of tune – although from the cobwebs it doesn’t look as if this one has done so for some time.

French rivals united

Alongside the elegant Figoni 135MS there is a more austere Hotchkiss coupé, apparently in very fine order and more representative of the traditional designs for which the Paris firm was well known prior to the arrival of the Grégoire, and another Delahaye, this time sporting Coupe des Alpes-style two-door coachwork.

Subtle style

Finished in black with a contrasting green stripe, the Delahaye 135 Special coupé looks to be in good order beneath its layer of dust, albeit with its front bumper removed.

Parked alongside is what appears to be an old fire tender from the town of Lamorlaye in the northern Hauts-de-France region.

One of one

As well as a number of Hotchkiss-Grégoire saloons, owner Héron’s passion for Jean-Albert Grégoire’s designs led him to acquire the unique Tracta-Grégoire sports coupé.

This can be found tucked away in an open-fronted lean-to on the estate, and appears to be in fine order.

One of one (cont.)

Like the Hotchkiss-Grégoires, the elegant Tracta-Grégoire features a flat-four engine driving the front wheels, this time fitted with a Constantin supercharger.

One of one (cont.)

The interior of the Tracta-Grégoire coupé is more luxuriously appointed than that of its saloon siblings, as befits a costlier sports model.

This particular car was pictured in period with French playwright Françoise Sagan, who was reputedly friends with Grégoire’s father. 

Looks can be deceiving

Parked behind the sole surviving Tracta-Grégoire in the lean-to is this mouldering Talbot-Lago T26 ‘Coach’ Surprofilé. 

From the outside it appears to be in rough order, but don’t judge a book by its cover…

Looks can be deceiving (cont.)

Peer through the window of the Talbot-Lago T26 ‘Coach’ Surprofilé and you’ll see that, despite its apparently tatty exterior, its cabin has been wonderfully preserved. 

Work in progress

Open the doors to yet another garage and you’ll find yet another Hotchkiss-Grégoire. This one has been partially stripped, presumably with plans for restoration.

Just 247 of these saloons were produced from 1950 to 1954.

Up for grabs

And what else would there be alongside that Hotchkiss-Grégoire, but… you’ve guessed it, another couple of Talbot-Lagos. 

These two cars, along with the rest of this incredible haul, will go under the hammer at Artcurial’s Le Mans Classic sale on 2 July 2022 – yet another reason to visit this fantastic historic race meeting.

For further details, click here.