Veteran barn-finds uncovered for the Antwerp Concours d'Elegance

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A fixture of the historic motoring calendar since 2005, the Antwerp Concours d'Elegance is now widely renowned as one of Belgium's leading concours events. Cars of the very highest quality are brought together and arranged on the elegant lawns before Kasteel Belvédère, a historic palace, in what is among the finest vehicular displays not only in Belgium but across all of Europe.

This year's Antwerp Concours, held on 10th September, is set to feature a special exhibition of Barn Find & Preservation Cars, with two cars in particular looking like they might steal the show. Some readers will recall the excitement which surrounded the discovery of three veteran cars in late 2021 which had belonged to the same Belgian family from new and were unearthed in an exceptional state of preservation.

Of those, two are set to make an appearance at Belvédère Castle. The 1903 De Dion Bouton 6hp Type N wears two-seater bodywork by Gamette et Fils of Liège with metal armrests, which distinguish it from the factory bodies. The vermilion paint and metal trunk are later alterations, but are clearly very historic in themselves.

The magnificent 1904 Pipe Series E 15hp tonneau by Lucien Snutsel of Brussels has rather an aristocratic presence and is an extremely rare survivor, the model having been in production for just one year. Presented in a dark blue-green with the chassis, wheels and bonnet in the same vermilion as the De Dion, it is thought to have only been in use for about five years before it was superseded by a Renault, which would account for its extraordinary condition.

Both cars have been restored to running order but have otherwise been left completely untouched as exemplars of the preservation philosophy.

Other concours classes will include Pre-War Style & Luxe, Pre-War Sport & Competition, Electric Past & Present, Racing Barchetta & Monoposto 1935-1960 and FN Motorcycles 1902-1965.

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