Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

Beau Projet Voitures: Massive French Auction

There’s a lot of interesting vintage tin coming up for auction in France, where some 250 cars across a wide range of years and makes are up for grabs. The auction is set for this Saturday and will include models like this Mercedes 220 sedan here on the auctioneer’s website that’s described as being a parts car, but still looks sharp with European-market glass headlights and vintage driving lamps. Find this and tons more in the full catalog via this link. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Quentin Dickinson for the find.

One of my favorites in the sale is this 1964 Ford Taunus, which you check out here on the auction website. The Taunus is rarely seen in the United States, and this one looks reasonably complete despite missing a windshield and having some sort of fuel-related issue based on the translation. I know where a wagon version of one of these is hiding out and I still think about trying to rescue it.

This Peugeot police van retains its original livery and is said to be powered by a diesel engine. I’m sure parts availability is next to zero, but these former municipal-use vehicles are always intriguing whether from a French police department or a California brush fighting brigade. Find the Peugeot here with bidding information included.

Here’s one I didn’t expect to see: a Pontiac Transport van in full Euro-market configuration. Note the H4 headlights and headlight washer squirters on the nose panel – these things are virtually extinct in the U.S., yet there appear to be at least two up for grabs here on the auction website. There’s a bit of something for everyone here, but I’m taking the Taunus – what about you?

Comments

  1. Avatar Will Fox

    That early Benz W112 sedan looks interesting! No telling for sure, but I’m estimating this to possibly be a `62-`63 model maybe? I’ve wanted a 1960 model 220, as IMHO, the original is always the best.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Ken Tilly UK Member

      I had a W 111 1959 MB 220b and it was a brilliant car. I bought it as a club event car but loved it so much that I used as my daily runabout until I was offered a price that I just couldn’t afford to pass up. Pure luxury for small money.

      Like 1
    • Avatar Audifan

      If it were a W112, it would indeed be a very interesting car.
      But it’s a W111 and there are quite a few around here in the states.

      Like 1
  2. Avatar Brakeservo

    Jeff – when you wrote that you’re taking the “Taunus” I read it as Tetnus and figured yeah, that’s a good idea!

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Skorzeny

    That Taunus is so ugly, I love it! Anyone know what year? Wikipedia doesn’t show one like that.

    Like 0
    • Avatar local_sheriff

      That’d be a Taunus P3, produced between ’60-’64. There is indeed a Wiki article on it and there are also links to other Taunus models there.

      According to Wiki this would be the first European car with non-circular headlights which could possibly explain why there are so few in the US

      Like 0
  4. Avatar PDXBryan

    Hey cool, there’s a trashed Volvo 240 wagon. Hey wait, I could buy 5 of them just like it within 10 mile of my house…..I’m good.

    Like 3
  5. Avatar leiniedude Member

    My first car was a Taunus wagon. I think it was a 64 also, brush painted black, 5 on the tree if I remember. Before I had my D/L. I will never forget that car, Wish i could remember what happend to it!

    Like 2
    • Avatar KEN TILLY UK Member

      @leiniedude. A friend of mine had a Ford Taunus station wagon when he lived in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and he and his wife and two kiddies came to visit me in Durban, South Africa for a holiday. As he was renovating his kitchen back in Bulawayo, and materials were cheap in Durban, he decided to buy all the fittings and wall tiles to take back. Well, when they left on the 550 mile trip the tyres were pumped to about 40 psi but the wagon still looked like a speedboat with it’s nose in the air rather than a car but, without any fuss it drove back to Zimbabwe without trouble of any kind. He was so happy with it’s performance that two months later they were back again for another load! Great German vehicles. I also think they were only 3 on the tree.

      Like 4
      • Avatar leiniedude Member

        Great story Ken! Thanks, Mike.

        Like 0
  6. Avatar chrlsful

    “…I’m taking the Taunus…” sure 8 – 1200 francs in Bordeaux? Triple to my door? Jeff? Y do U guys do this 2 us? Now I want that white police van (mig over the windows, do some hauls’n have a wkend camper, both…

    Adam shows the fantastic waggys frm the 70s (holdens lookin like a GM on steroids – 4 WD, hopped’n jacked up oem!) from OZ.

    Stop already!

    Like 0
    • Avatar Jeff Lavery Staff

      If I’m going to drain my bank accounts on never-ending projects, I’m taking a few of you with me.

      Like 2
  7. Avatar Bill McCoskey Member

    For a short time the Pontiac Transport van was actually fairly popular in Europe, but most of the European auto manufacturers came out with similar vehicles within a year or 2.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar ken tilly UK Member

    Funny how coincidences happen. For those of you that read my previous comment re my friend with the overloaded Ford Taunus driving from Durban to Bulawayo, well today who should come knocking on my door accompanied by his daughter, who I have kept in touch with, but the same friend whom I haven’t seen, or heard from, since 1984! On telling him my story re Barn Finds he did confirm that it had 3 on the tree gearbox, 1600cc, 4 cylinder engine, and one thing I never knew was that it had 6 volt electrics, which were absolutely terrible as the lights were useless and the starter regularly gave up the ghost and the family ended up push starting the thing.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Terry R Melvin

    Hmm…so in France, motorcycles are actually collectible automobiles? That’s where I found this page!

    Like 0

Leave a Reply to Ken Tilly UK Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.