Rare Bristol was kept in French garage for 50 years

With just 18,000km on the clock, a rare 1960 Bristol AC car has been sold at auction for €369,520 after being kept in a garage at the bottom of a garden in northern France since 1971.

Owner Marcel Perier, from Mayenne, bought it from a friend, who had been able to buy it new thanks to Mr Perier helping him with the answers to a newspaper competition. He sold the contest prize and used the money to buy the Bristol AC.

After 10 years, he decided to sell and offered it to his friend at a low price as a thank you. Mr Perier, now 92, did not drive it much, partly because his wife did not like riding in convertibles as they messed up her hair. “Even though we did not drive it much, we loved its looks, which is why we kept it so long,” Mr Perier said in a video made by auctioneer Artcurial.

All the original documents were with the car, which has never been repainted or had any changes to its interior.

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