
The stunning selection of classics discovered in France at the end of last year, including the ex-Alain Delon Ferrari California Spider, will go under the hammer at Artcurial's Retromobilé sale on 6 February.
The Roger Baillon Collection comprises 60 classic cars, many of which have remained untouched for the past 50 years. The group was amassed by the transport magnate to fill a museum that was never built, and the majority of the would-be exhibits were thought to be lost following the collapse of his business in the 1970s.
The greatest European marques are well represented, from Delahaye and Delage through to Ferrari and Bugatti, with many examples expected to achieved huge sums when they cross the block.
The star of the sale is undoubtedly the ex-Delon California Spider, which is expected to fetch between €9.5-12m when it's sold in Paris. The car is one of just 37 examples to be finished with covered headlights and was instantly recognisable when it was discovered, despite sitting under hundreds of old newspapers.
Gerard Blain became the first owner of the Ferrari after spotting it at a motor show in 1961, registering it for the road just six days later. He kept the car for two years before selling it to Delon, who shipped it to Los Angeles after he and his wife, Nathalie, moved to California in 1964.