The path is defined (from Rétromobile 2022)
Most barn finds are restored as quickly as possible, usually even completely over-restored. Wrinkles and patina, which represent the car's long life, are made worse rather than better by cosmetic surgery, as is the case with certain people.
The end result is a car that shows only the art of restoration, but no history whatsoever. The Bugatti Type 73 currently on display at the Rétromobile Paris is a good example of this.
On February 11, 2015, a good seven years ago, I photographed an unrestored Bugatti Type 57 from 1937 as the flagship of the special "Barn Finds" show taking place at the Pantheon.
Now, after seven long years, the car is back in France in exactly the same condition, probably even with the same dirt on the paintwork, at the Retromobile in Paris on the stand of Christoph Grohe (picture above).
In our report on the Bugatti seven years ago, we wrote : "Around 40 to 50 years ago, automobile enthusiast Walter Grell was driving through France and spotted a familiar radiator shape between the bushes. He didn't have time to take a closer look at the find, but later he returned, identified the parked car as a Bugatti Type 57 and convinced the owner to sell it to him for a few French francs. As found, the Bugatti is placed in a dry place and survives the next 40 years undamaged and, above all, complete, albeit weathered and somewhat dull in color."
It has now survived almost 50 years in this condition and who knows how much longer it will stay that way. I just hope that it won't fall victim to another over-restoration and lose all its charm as a result.
P.S. Our extensive coverage of the Rétromobile Paris 2022 will follow shortly.
