Massive barn-find car collection in South Africa to go under the hammer

Well-known car collector Louis Coetzer was a highly respected and renowned collector in South Africa. Unfortunately, at the start of 2020, Louis and his wife, Hermein, died in a car accident. 

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Following the loss of the fantastic car collector, the children and inheritors to the estate reluctantly sold off a significant portion of the Coetzer car collection. While much of it was sold in the 2021 auction, it wasn't until 2024 that the Coetzer family showed off the less-known part of Louis' collection hidden in several barns on an Eastern Cape farm. 

This discovery of over 200 cars brings the Coetzer collection from the initial figure, believed to have been around 450 cars, to well over 600 vehicles. 

Around 140 cars were sold in the first auction in early 2021, before an additional 60 went under the hammer later that year. Most of these cars were immaculate examples. However, this new auction is run a little differently. Most of the cars that are going under the hammer are projects, unrestored, or just in parts. 

The Coetzer collection is best characterised by Louis' love for Mercedes-Benz. A large portion of the original running collection and 70 out of the 200 in the barn-find collection are wearing the famous three-pointed star. 

It's also apparent Coetzer had a soft spot for utes. The number of cars that are either a rare optioned ute, known as a Bakkie in South Africa, or have been converted into a Bakkie, is remarkable. 

Perhaps some of the most interesting cars and parts going to auction later this month are some Holden Belmonts with straight-six Holden engines, a Nissan Skyline R31 four-door built exclusively for Oceania and South Africa, a few insanely rare Toyota Corona Bakkies, two Opel Olympia Bakkies, multiple Chevrolet Impalas, and, of course, an astounding assortment of Mercedes-Benz. 

Joff van Reenen, Lead Auctioneer of Creative Rides Classic & Collectibles Auctions, told South African Media source IOL that cataloguing the collection into 334 lots has taken eight months. 

"It's difficult to put into words the emotion I felt taking those first steps over the threshold into the dim expanse of a barn at least the size of three tennis courts and seeing row after row of cars disappearing into the distance like a slumbering regiment awaiting a call to arms," said Mr Van Reenen

"As it turned out, more than 200 cars were hidden in the shadows of that barn and subsequently also across several farms near Barkly East in the Eastern Cape – a discovery made more than three years after the untimely passing of Oom Louis and his beloved wife, Hermie."

The 334 lots are currently being uploaded to Creative Rides' auction site. Plenty of parts, incomplete cars, and even a few complete cars will go under the hammer from March 25 until April 4. 

While the auction house has yet to upload all the lots completely, you can check out those that have been uploaded so far here…