[imagesource:creativerides]

A remote corner of South Africa has just become the unlikely stage for a remarkable discovery – Oom Louis Coetzer’s Lost Barn Collection.

“Surreal and staggering” is how Joff van Reenen, Lead Auctioneer at Creative Rides, describes the moment he first stepped into the barn in the Eastern Cape filled to the brim with classic cars collecting dust for decades.

Oom Louis Coetzer’s illustrious 50-year automotive journey culminated in this truly astonishing find, with approximately 200 cars – spanning an array of iconic brands such as Mercedes Benz, Chevrolet, Ford, Cadillac, Porsche, and BMW – all blanketed in decades of dust, waiting to be rediscovered.

It all began with an estate sale initiated by the children of the late Oom Louis Coetzer, who was known as South Africa’s most avid and prolific car collector.

But what started as a routine estate disposal in this nondescript part of our country soon evolved into an extraordinary revelation, uncovering around 600 cars hidden within the shadows of the barn and across several farms near Barkly East.

The real magnitude of Oom Louis’ Lost Barn Collection only became apparent as the meticulous cataloguing process unfolded, per IOL:

Louis and his wife Hermien were tragically killed in a car accident on a remote mountain pass in the Eastern Cape in early 2020. Hundreds of his cars were auctioned later that year, and in 2021, his three children reluctantly let a large portion of them go due to the sheer magnitude of the task of preserving them.

The latest barn find brings Oom Louis’ car collection up to a total of more than 600 vehicles, making it South Africa’s biggest car collection ever.

Image: Creative Rides

Beyond the cars themselves, the collection encompasses a treasure trove of automobilia, engines, classic car spares, original manuals, and body parts, offering enthusiasts a rare glimpse into automotive history.

“It’s difficult to put into words the emotion I felt taking those first steps over the threshold into the dim expanse of a barn at least the size of three tennis courts, and seeing row after row of cars disappearing into the distance like a slumbering regiment awaiting a call to arms,” Van Reenen exclaimed.

“It literally took my breath away stepping over the threshold, sunlight behind me and ahead disappearing into the gloom row after row of cars; all coated in decades of undisturbed dust,” Van Reenen added.

The auctioneer added that on the first day, the dust lay so thick that they couldn’t even begin to guess the paint colours, never mind the makes or models.

“What was clear, though, was the historic importance of the stunning find. Little did we know at the time, that this was just the first secret the barn would reveal.”

Image: Creative Rides

The Sandton Times emphasises the global significance of the find, with the rarity of such an extensive and undiscovered collection outside the United States being heralded as “tremendous”.

“I’d struggle to name a single undiscovered, completely unknown barn collection of this size ever found outside of the United States. It’s crazy; more than 200 cars! Collectors don’t know about any of them; they’ve never been on public display,” Creative Rides CEO Kevin Derrick said.

All the rare classics and vintage gems will soon go under the hammer in a monumental 10-day online-only auction hosted by Creative Rides. Derrick revealed that bidding for the awe-inspiring Lost Barn Collection is set to commence on 25 March 2024.

The cars are being sold very much “as is” and numerous engines and other components discovered in the same barn are also up for sale.

You can sense the anticipation mounting as collectors and enthusiasts prepare to vie for a piece of this sterling automotive history.

[source:sandtontimes&iol]