Back in 2004,
a barn roof near Kissimmee,
Florida collapsed due to Hurricane Charley. Inside that barn lay a trove of exquisite classic Ferraris, many of which suffered significant damage. This entire untouched
collection is
now set to be included in the
RM Sotheby’s auction during the prestigious 2023 Monterey Car Week in August.
The renowned collection belonged to Walter Medlin, a prosperous real estate broker who fell out of favor with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the 1990s. Twenty striking Ferraris were tucked away in the barn until the catastrophic roof collapse during the hurricane, resulting in severe damage to some cars and exposing the rest to the harsh elements.
Following the barn collapse in Florida, the
Ferrari collection was later transported to Indianapolis, where it has remained ever since in the same untouched state from the Hurricane aftermath. A few of these vintage cars exhibit faded paint and considerable patina; one is beyond repair, and most, if not all, are non-operational. Noteworthy is the plan by RM Sothebys to recreate the demolished barn for their exhibit in Monterey.
Some of these vintage cars have weathered the passage of time quite gracefully, with only weathered tires and slightly faded paint serving as tokens of their tumultuous past. The 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS by Pininfarina remains charming, both Ferrari Daytonas exude exceptional beauty, and the 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti continues to captivate.
Conversely, several others are in a far worse state. The 1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2’s original Azzurro blue paint is barely discernible under layers of patina, and its interior is in shambles. The 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale by Pininfarina is nearly engulfed in patina, lacking a substantial rear window, and its interior is extensively damaged. Most distressing of all is the 1954 Ferrari Mondial Spider Series I, now a corroded, distorted frame that appears to bear the brunt of Hurricane’s wrath.
Despite their dilapidated state, even the wrecked cars carry value due to the notoriety of this “Lost and Found” collection. RM Sothebys estimates the entire collection to fetch a sum of $15 million.
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