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The Fate of the Sleeping Beauties

Who doesn’t remember the “Sleeping Beauties”? Those astonishing photographs from the book by Hesselmann… rows of former glorious thirties and forties automobiles awaiting better days in the courtyard of a French farm. Thick with dust, some seventy Bugatti’s, Lancia’s, Cord’s and others eager to set one’s imagination in racing mode. Many have tried to figure out what had happened to that collection. Decayed? Destroyed? Sold? Nobody knew. Not until two Dutchmen and one German enthusiast kept on searching where others gave up and wrote an intriguing book about their hunt. Their story starts in 1948 when the owner, Michel Dovaz began his collection. In 1983 when the photo book was published, Dovaz was scorned for neglecting his precious automobiles, however in this new book the writers set the record straight. Instead of neglect, Michel Dovaz treasured his cars and made sure that almost all were saved for the future. (photos courtesy De Alk)
For anyone who is interested in the fate of these Sleeping Beauties, this book titled Het lot van de Slapende Schoonheden is a great read and contains hundreds of period and present day pictures of the cars including all their details.

Unfortunately at this moment the book is only available in the Dutch language, but there are plans for English and German publications.

ISBN: 978 90 6013 302 6
Authors: Ard op de Weegh ? Kay Hottendorff ? Arnoud op de Weegh
Price: 32,50 euro
Published by De Alk

Available at any well-stocked (Dutch) bookshop or direct from the publisher, just send them an \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '>email for price and shipping costs.