The mystery of barn finds: A very special Bugatti trio in Belgium

Passion and artistry are the ingredients of the story featuring three Bugatti cars – and one Citroën – discovered hidden in a Belgian barn in 2019, all of which belonged to a sculptor and designer. His name? August Thomassen, and his life story reads like a script from a movie.

Born in Maastricht in 1923, Thomassen overcame health challenges during his childhood and developed a passion for engines, ultimately becoming a local motorcycle champion. He left school at the age of 15 to pursue a career in automotive design.

The 1929 Bugatti Type 40 was sold for €190,720 at the Artcurial auction at Retromobile 2019 despite the conditions.

After the outbreak of the Second World War, he was captured by the Nazis but managed to escape, and once the conflict was resolved, he redirected his creative energy towards sculpture. Using his earnings, he acquired three Bugatti cars in the 1950s, which were of little value at the time. Rather than utilizing them for practical transportation, he viewed them as works of art, studying the purity and elegance of their lines.

The 1932 Bugatti Type 49 Berline was sold for €196,680.

However, rising insurance costs eventually became prohibitive. So, Thomassen decided to hide the three cars, along with a 1925 Citroën Torpedo, in a nearby barn close to his studio. To ensure their safety, he even barricaded the doors with sandbags.

The cars remained buried for decades until the family decided it was time to share this forgotten treasure with the world. Similar to the renowned Roger Baillon collection (click here to read the article https://roarington.com/media-house/stories/the-mystery-of-barn-finds-alain-delons-ferrari-250-california-and-more), the sale was entrusted to Artcurial, this time at the Rétromobile 2019 event.

The 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet is the most valuable piece in the collection. Sold for €500,640.

The 1929 Bugatti Type 40, despite its less-than-stellar condition and missing bodywork that was damaged in an accident and subsequently partially rebuilt by Thomassen, was sold for €190,720. The 1932 Bugatti Type 49 Berline fetched €196,680, while the highlight was the 1937 Type 57 Cabriolet, which sold for €500,640. Nearly a million Euros for three cars that have been resurrected and expertly restored and, as a result, have seen their value soar.

And what about the Citroën? It found a new owner for €21,456.

The 1925 Citroën 5 HP Cabriolet was sold for €21,456.