Seven rare pre-war cars found in dusty barn sell for $137,000

By Nathan Pynn

An ultra-rare classic car left gathering dust in a barn for 40 years has sold for $77,500.

A 1934 "Crossley Streamline" car — one of only two in existence — was unearthed in a barn in Cambridgeshire.

Despite its battered condition and lack of two wheels, the stunning motor sparked a global bidding war when it went under the hammer.

It eventually sold for $77,500 at online auctioneers Humbert & Ellis Ltd.

Auctioneer Jonathan Humbert said: "This car has attracted worldwide interest for sheer rarity value.

“There is something of the airship of this car being a teardrop design and over 18 feet long.”

Bids opened at $625, but rapidly rose with more than 100 bids from eight international buyers.

Humbert added: “It just goes to show the perennial value people put in rare and historic cars.

“The end of the time online auction was particularly exciting as every time somebody put another bid on, the lot extended by five minutes.

“We kept thinking that the car was about to sell for a certain price and then another bid comes out of nowhere and the price goes up — it was pure excitement.”

The Crossley Streamline — complete with original license plate ANB 487 — was a vintage concept car designed by Sir Denniston Burney, who helped design the R100 airship.

The only other known survivor is owned by Lord Montague of Beaulieu.

It was one of a collection of seven rare prewar cars discovered in the barn which had been collected over many decades.

A 1925 "Alcyon Cyclecar" sold for $24,725 and a rare Françon Voiturette Cyclecar fetched $17,500.

Meanwhile, a 1932 Alvis 12/50 with rumble seat sold for $15,813.

Altogether, the seven cars sold for a combined total of $137,500.