The Musée Automobile du Château de Vernon collection of Jean-Pierre Nylin will be put up for sale via an Artcurial auction in September 2025. Around 50 lots will be offered from the Nylin collection at no reserve, and more cars from other collections will be available at the same event.
Nylin acquired his collection – spanning from the 1920s to the late 1990s – over many years, beginning his odyssey with an MG and a Bentley Type R. In 2008, Artcurial’s Hervé Poulain and rally driver Ari Vatanen helped to open the museum to the public.
The sale, which takes place at the Le Château de Bizy in Vernon, France, on Sunday September 28, will also feature non-collection cars. Other than a brief mention of a 1923 Bentley 3 Litre Tourer (est €120k-€160k) and a 1926 Lancia Lambda (est €79k-€100k), these cars haven’t yet been announced. However, the majority of the Nylin collection has been revealed, and here are ten of our favourites, plus something a little odd with an Ayrton Senna connection… Which do you fancy?
This 1963 Porsche 356 B 1600 Super Cabriolet leads the collection. Its history really begins in the early 1990s, when it was registered in Italy’s Bergamo region. It was then bought by Jean-Pierre Nylin in March 2002. Originally finished in Smyrna Green (ref 6210), it underwent an earlier restoration during which it was repainted in a deeper green. The beige leather interior was also refurbished at that time. The soft-top is described as remaining in one piece, although it shows some signs of moisture staining. The engine is the correct type (616/1) and its serial number matches the 1963 production year. It’s estimated at between €80k and €120k.
This 1959 Facel Vega HK 500 was originally finished in black with a red leather interior, manual gearbox, Rudge wheels and disc brakes all round. Originally registered to the firm Allainguillaume & Patin, a coal supplier, it later passed to Jean Berthier, who registered it in Paris in May 1961. In 1974 it was sold to a resident of Nancy, before being acquired by a garage owner in Viroflay who placed it into storage in 1979.
The next owner purchased the car from him in 1995 and commenced a restoration that continued through to the end of 1997. The auctioneer notes that according to this previous owner, the original TY7 engine was replaced with a 7.4-litre unit, although this cannot be verified as the engine block bears no identifying number. At the Facel Vega’s most recent technical inspection, the odometer recorded 64,607 kilometres. It now reads 64,675, and the car is estimated at between €80k and €120k.
The auction also contains a 1960 Facel Vega Facellia Cabriolet, estimated at between €35k and €45k.
On the subject of Facel, this 1956 Simca Plein Ciel features rare coupé bodywork designed and produced by Facel-Métallon over Aronde 1300 (90A) mechanicals. This example, incorrectly listed as first registered in 1955 on its registration document, was acquired by Jean-Pierre Nylin at an Artcurial auction in 2002 to join his Facel Vega collection. It is described as having had restoration work in the past, to both its bodywork and its interior.
Under the bonnet sits a Flash engine built to original specification, despite being topped with a Rush rocker cover. Period accessories include finely detailed spoked wheel trims, a Cristal Grandin radio and a pair of long-range driving lamps. At the car’s most recent roadworthiness inspection in 2012 the odometer showed 36,591km. It now reads 36,624; the Simca is estimated at between €12k and €18k.
Fittingly, there are many French fancies up for sale, including the above 1939 Peugeot 202 Berline, a Luxe edition with a sunroof. Between 1957 and 1978 the car was registered in the Yonne region before passing to a collector in the Eure in 1989. Jean-Pierre Nylin became its next custodian in 1995. Although the Berline underwent restoration at some point in its past, the work now requires continuation. Having covered just 52km in the past 30 years, it will need a full service and careful recommissioning before returning to use. It’s estimated at between €4k and €6k.
Other French highlights include a very dusty 1939 Panhard Dynamic X81 Saloon (est €4k-€6k), a 1974 Citroën Méhari 2-seater (est €6k-€10k), a 1939 Simca 8 (est €8k-€12k), a 1982 Renault 5 1100 Société (est €2k-€5k) and a 1921 Delahaye Type 87 Torpedo modified by Kelsch formerly of the Dubec Collection (est €6k-€10k).
This 1962 Maserati Sebring 3500 GTi left the factory on November 17, 1962 and was originally supplied new in Rome. Originally finished in Grigio Inglewood with a red leather interior, the Maserati resurfaced in 1977, registered in the Cantal. In 1983 it was purchased by a collector based in L’Haÿ-les-Roses, who commissioned an engine rebuild in 1987. The car changed hands once more in 1988, passing to an enthusiast in Paris who undertook a full restoration of the bodywork. A file of invoices documents the work carried out, which included dismantling the body, stripping it to bare metal then treating and repainting it. At the same time, the mechanical elements were entrusted to Jacques Zuliani, who reconditioned the gearbox. The original fuel-injection system was replaced with three Weber 40 carburettors, and the original red leather interior was preserved.
Acquired at auction in 2001 for the collection at the Château de Vernon, it came equipped with optional air-conditioning, although the compressor is now missing. Since entering the collection it has seen very little use. In 2008, at 26,875km, it underwent a full service carried out by Jacques Bourgoin at a cost exceeding €12,000. At the car’s most recent roadworthiness inspection in 2014, the odometer showed 27,792km. It now reads 27,811km. The car will therefore require recommissioning and a comprehensive service before returning to the road. It’s estimated at between €70k and €90k.
Other Italian highlights include a 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce (est €60k-€80k) and a 1961 Lancia Flaminia Cabriolet 2.5-litre (est €60k-€80k).
This 1971 Dinalpin A110 1100 VA is one of just 200 built by Mexican firm DINA, who obtained the licence to build Alpines in the country. This example left the Hidalgo factory in 1971 and was recorded as white in a change-of-ownership document dated April 1972. It was imported to France towards the end of the 2000s and acquired by Jean-Pierre Nylin at auction in February 2010.
At some point it was repainted in its current metallic blue, although the bodywork is described as appearing to remain original. The auction notes say the interior was likely retrimmed in black leatherette at the same time, and that the dashboard is largely intact but the radio is missing. The Dinalpin has travelled just 22km since 2013 and is estimated at €30k-€50k.
The Nylin collection contains several British classics, led by this left-hand-drive 1955 Jaguar XK140 Roadster. It was purchased at an auction organised by Mr Poulain at the Palais des Congrès in June 1997. The appraisal report from the time stated that the car had been restored in the 1980s by a previous Belgian owner before being imported in 1993 by a French collector who had it repainted and the underbody treated with Blackson coating. It was originally sold new in the US, and it showed 2826 miles on the odometer in August 2012 compared to 2838 today. According to the auction notes, the earlier restoration requires further attention, particularly to the bodywork. It’s estimated at between €50k and €70k.
Other Jaguar and Daimler highlights in the Artcurial auction include a 1969 Daimler Sovereign (est €6k-€8k), a 1958 Jaguar Mark IX saloon (est €8k-€12k) and a 1956 Daimler Conquest (est €7k-€10k), plus a 1947 Jaguar MkIV 3.5-litre Mylord DHC (est €40k-€60k). Further British lots are a 1971 Aston Martin DBS (est €40k-€60k), a 1968 Morris Mini 1000 MkII Traveller (est €6k-€8k), a 1965 Daimler SP 250 (est €20k-€30k) and a 1953 Bentley Type R Standard Saloon (est €20k-€30k).
This 1961 Chevrolet Corvette C1 automatic began its life in the US. An old registration document shows that it was owned by a woman in Chicago between 1979 and 1986, with a file of invoices covering that period. Exported in 1989, it was in the hands of a Paris-based collector by 1992. It joined this collection in June 1996.
Finished in Ermine White with metallic blue side panels and matching upholstery, it is also offered with a rare hard-top. Invoices and a collection of photographs confirm that a complete engine rebuild was carried out in 2012. By the following year, the Corvette showed a mileage of 14,570km, just 9km fewer than it does today, but the car will need a full service before returning to the road. It’s estimated at between €50k and €70k.
Other American highlights in the Artcurial auction include a 1938 Pontiac Eight Touring Saloon Model 28 (est €5k-€8k), a 1934 Chevrolet Master Six 2 Door Sedan (est €6k-€12k), a 1948 Buick Super Eight Series 51 Sedan (est €3k-€5k) and a 1944 Dodge WC51 (est €5k-€8k).
The Artcurial auction includes just one racing machine, the above 1986 Martini MK 49 Formula 3 car. Entered by the Oreca team under the direction of Hugues de Chaunac and driven by Yannick Dalmas, the duo won six of the 11 races they contested, including the prestigious support race for the Monaco Grand Prix. Dalmas secured the French Championship with this car, which opened the door to Formula 3000 in 1987. He went on to compete in 23 Formula 1 Grands Prix and claimed victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours on four occasions.
The car was purchased directly from the team by its previous owner in February 1987 and later acquired by Jean-Pierre Nylin at an Artcurial auction in 2008. Hugues de Chaunac had confirmed to the seller that the chassis was indeed the one used by Dalmas throughout the 1986 season. The car was never driven after this. It was displayed in the previous owner’s living room for nearly two decades and later exhibited at the museum at the Château de Vernon. It’s estimated at between €10k and €15k.
This 1997 Chrysler Viper was first registered on October 20, 1997, this example had been based in Paris since 2002 when it was purchased by Jean-Pierre Nylin at an Artcurial auction in 2008. A file of invoices documents the maintenance carried out during the 2000s. In 2005, a new differential was installed and the ECU reprogrammed by Powerships. The running gear was overhauled in 2012.
The owner drove this Viper on track at Le Vigeant during the Sport et Collection event, for which it was fitted with racing harnesses and a fire extinguisher. At the Dodge’s last technical inspection in 2021, the odometer showed 59,355km and now reads 59,502km, but it will require recommissioning and a full service. It’s estimated at between €40k and €60k.
Other more modern highlights from the Artcurial auction include a 1984 Porsche 928 S (est €12k-€15k), a 1995 Lotus Esprit Sport 300 (est €35k-€55k), a 1994 Ferrari 456GT (est €30k-€50k), a 1981 Ferrari 400i (est €30k-€50k) and a 1985 Volkswagen Scirocco (est €2k-€4k).
And finally… this Camel advertising vehicle dates back to the 1980s, and it joined the Nylin collection at an Artcurial auction at Rétromobile in 2009. It is believed to have been used by Ayrton Senna as a way to transport sponsor VIPs at F1 tracks. It features the Camel cigarette brand and the Joe Camel mascot, and is powered by a 350cc motorcycle engine. It’s estimated at between €4k and €6k.
Further details
For more information on the Musée Automobile du Château de Vernon sale, head here.
