Provençal Vehicle Collection

On an estate in Cassis, some forty classic cars, assembled by a discerning collector, have remained hidden from view for nearly three decades. Following the collector’s passing, this private collection is now set to be unveiled and sold at auction by Maison Pline.

For nearly thirty years, the cars remained there.

Sheltered on an estate in Cassis, far from car shows and auction houses, some forty classic cars have weathered the years in silence.

Behind this collection stood a discerning collector—a man who had patiently assembled a collection of French automobiles chosen for their history, their mechanical excellence, and their uniqueness.

Then time stood still. The engines fell silent. The doors remained closed. And the collection remained that way for nearly three decades.

Today, an inheritance is bringing this collection back to life.

FORTY CARS AND A CHAPTER OF FRENCH HISTORY

The collection offers a journey through the history of the French automobile and notably includes aPanhard Dyna convertible, a Peugeot 402 B Légère—a version now particularly sought-after among 402 sedans—a Citroën Traction, and several Hotchkiss 864s.

HOTCHKISS-GRÉGOIRE AND PANHARD DYNA X86: TWO CARS TO REMEMBER

The Hotchkiss-Grégoireis one of the collection’s centerpieces. Thanks to its design—which was particularly innovative for its time—and its limited production run, it holds a unique place in the history of the French automobile.

Opposite it, the two-doorPanhard Dyna X86 Cabrioletoffers a completely different perspective on the postwar era: lightweight, original, and now rare in this body style.

Two very different cars, yet both perfectly illustrate the vision of the man who brought them together: that of an enthusiast who collected not just brands, but cars with character.

The dispersal of this collection will thus allow vehicles from the same source—preserved for several decades on the same estate—to reappear on the market.

Brought together by one man’s passion and left unused for nearly thirty years, these cars are now poised to hit the road once again—and continue their story.