Box Autos

Away from the clamour created by the recently-launched Jaguar F-Type, aficionados of the marque will be making a bee-line to Weybridge, Surrey, on Saturday June 1^st where Jaguar’s most evocative star of the past comes to auction.

At its major summer sale, classic car auction specialist Historics at Brooklands will be selling one of the finest remaining examples of the most iconic sports car of all time – the Series One Jaguar E-Type.

When launched in 1961 at a very affordable £2,250 (£38,000 in today’s money) the E-Type immediately gained celebrity status when praised by Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car in the world.  It was also, for a time, the fastest production car on the planet, and quickly became a fashion icon through owners that included Steve McQueen, Brigitte Bardot and Britt Ekland.

Today, the legacy of the E-Type is alive and well in one of the last Series One, left hand drive models to leave the Browns Lane, Coventry factory – a rare, 1967 all black Series One 4.2 litre – one of over 100 fine classics that will fill the auction hall at Historics on June 1^st .

Some measure of the esteem in which the E-type is held, and the exquisite condition of this car, is in the expected sale price of between £110,000 and £130,000.

The fortunate new owner will enjoy driving a car that is better today than when it was built.  Indeed, such is the faith the present owner has in the painstaking, two-year, nut and bolt restoration following its return to UK shores from California in 2010, that the sale includes a 12-month unconditional warranty.

During restoration, attention to enhancing still further the dynamics of the car was lavished in numerous areas including the famed straight-six, twin-cam 4.2 litre engine, the gearbox – fully rebuilt with steel synchromesh rings – braking and suspension. In common with all aspects of the car, attention to detail and quality has been of the highest order.

With a recorded mileage of less than 50,000 miles and the painstaking restoration and upgrades, this Series One Jaguar E-Type is anticipated to attract substantial international interest as one of the finest examples available, and will continue to represent a very significant investment opportunity.

Viewing of this, and all 100+ consigned cars, 80+ classic motorcycles and automobilia is at Historics at Brooklands, near Weybridge, Surrey on Friday 31^st May from 10.00am with the auction on the following day, Saturday 1^st June.