Since we are off-topic (aircraft), I would like to mention here the exploits of Herbert W. Hesselmann, a German author and (erotic)photographer who, many years ago, discovered an intruiging eccentric man living on a secluded estate somewhere in France. In the barns he kept an unbelievable collection of automobiles from roughly the 30’s to the 50’s. All of them unrestored and slowly decaying. Kind of Soplata, but with cars instead of aircraft. He kept everyone away from his estate and had no intention of restoring them.
Hesselmann wrote a book about the collection, with beautiful and tasteful photographs: ‘Sleeping Beauties’. He never disclosed the identity of the owner and the location of the estate, but since the book was published the hunt was open, and I understand that some, if not all, of the cars are now in the custody of collectors who are restoring them.
Some pictures of this collection:
http://www.hesselmann-foto.de/aktuell/index_en.htm (Click on sleeping beauties and keep the other one for later tonight 😮 )
http://www.amazon.de/Sleeping-Beauties-Schlafende-Sch%C3%B6nheiten-Hesselmann/dp/3283005494/ref=sr_1_2/303-9851325-1276249?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190841270&sr=1-2 (click on Mehr Bilder ansehen ).
I understand that the majority of people want to see these gems restored back to their former glory, but I for myself really like the atmosphere which is depicted in such untouched-for-years collections. It’s the ultimate time-capsule.
Tillerman.
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