A ‘missing’ Jaguar E-Type, one of the most sought-after early examples of the model, has been recently discovered in the depths of Scotland and will be offered at auction by Silverstone Auctions at the Silverstone Classic on 30th and 31st July.
The whereabouts of the 1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Roadster, chassis #62, one of the first 92 right-hand models produced, has been a mystery to classic car historians for decades. With most of the first 20 cars produced being allocated for competition use, the very first road cars, distinguished by their outside bonnet locks, were supplied in July 1961 to Jaguar dealerships to be used as demonstrators. These early cars are considered to be the ‘Holy Grail’ of E-Types, and arguably of all collector’s cars.
This car was dispatched to Scotland in July 1961 via Henleys of London for use as a demonstrator vehicle in the Edinburgh area. It was expressly forbidden that the car be sold until September of the same year, when the car was indeed purchased by its first owner and registered on 8th September 1961 with its ‘3122 SR’ registration.
Passed from owner to owner over the years, all within the Edinburgh area, the car travelled north, deeper into Scotland. The car was acquired by its fifth and current owner in 2013, resident of the small parish of Deskford, Moray, who was unaware that he was in possession of this ‘Holy Grail’ car.
Now to be offered on the open market for the first time, and reinstated as a surviving, early example with its Jaguar Heritage Certificate, an excellent history file that details much of the cars life dating back to 1975, Chassis #62 will go to auction with a sale estimate of between £140,000 and £170,000.
The car presents today in exceptional condition having been sympathetically restored and maintained by its owners over the years. Finished in Carmen Red with a black interior, the car still retains a whole myriad of original, specific, early features, such as the much revered ‘flat floor’, the split-link throttle linkage, thicker screen chrome mouldings and smooth cut-away groove at the top of the A-post cappings.
A 2000 Ferrari 550 Maranello with football star provenance will also be offered for sale by Silverstone Auctions at the is Silverstone Classic.
With just 36,600 miles from new, this very special Ferrari was formerly owned by the great Sir Geoff Hurst MBE, who famously led the England team to a World Cup 4-2 victory against Germany, scoring a hat-trick in the 1966 final at Wembley Stadium, Saturday 30th July marks the fiftieth anniversary of the occasion.
The low mileage, UK supplied car has been maintained in excellent condition, stored in a correctly heated and dehumidified facility by the vendor for the last two years. Now ready to be enjoyed once more, it is competitively guided with a sale estimate of £120,000 to £150,000.
This rare right-hand drive example has significant investment potential, with 550 Maranellos gaining significant momentum in the collector car market, and is finished in Argento Nurburgring with black leather Daytona style seats, full carbon interior trim, along with a leather headlining and silver-painted brake calipers.
With the football star’s name appearing on the V5C as the immediate previous owner, the car will be sold with two sets of keys, full Ferrari leather bound book pack, a fitted red Ferrari cover, a fresh MoT and full service history, with both Ferrari main agents and Ferrari specialists. The car is currently being serviced by highly respected Ferrari specialists, Terry Keys Motorsport, based at Silverstone circuit.
Silverstone Classic organisers will be recognising Sir Geoff and the England team’s 1966 World Cup win with a screening of a special car football match on the Saturday afternoon.
Other highlights include the very first production Lotus Elite, bought new by jazz legend Chris Barber, and recently restored for Channel 4’s For the Love of Cars.
The very first Elite produced as a proper production vehicle rather than a pre-production prototype, this 1958 Lotus Elite Series I, chassis 1009, was displayed at the 1958 Earls Court Motor Show. It was then purchased by one of Colin Chapman’s most favoured customers and personal friend, Chris Barber, in December 1958.
The car, the very first racing Elite, has an incredible race history, with Barber racing it extensively for five seasons in top level international sports car racing in both the UK and Europe. As well as competing in three consecutive Tourist Trophy races at Goodwood in 1961, 1962 and 1963, the Elite raced at the Nurburgring and in the British Empire Trophy. During this period it was also driven regularly by Sir John Whitmore, the ‘Racing Baronet’, who famously broke the class lap record at Spa using ‘CB23’ while on his way to class victory in the Grand Prix GT Support Race of 1962. Other notable drivers who drove the car include Mike Beckworth and Bob Olthoff.
Hidden away in storage for many years, the car has just emerged from a top quality, very exacting restoration carried out by Ant Anstead’s team at Evanta Motors with assistance from Lotus marque experts, all filmed as part of the new series of For the Love of Cars. After competing at the Silverstone Classic on Saturday 30th July, the car will go under the hammer as the first lot of the day estimated at between £75,000 and £100,000. The auctioning of the car will also be filmed for the popular Channel 4 series.
Ant Anstead added: “Every detail has been restored to better than new standard using only top quality components. The result is car that is a joy to behold and a thrill to drive, in pristine condition and ready to race.”
The restoration process of the car involved stripping it back to a bare monocoque where it was examined by prominent Lotus Elite authority Malcolm Ricketts. The fibreglass monocoque was found to be very sound and original but was stripped back completely and then lovingly refinished in UDT Green. It was then fitted with a full FIA approved roll cage by Pete Folbigg from Fabricage. This was accompanied by an FIA homologated Tillett B6F Carbon-GRP racing seat, TRS belts and a Moto-Lita steering wheel.
The engine was rebuilt by Coventry Climax specialist, Glyn Peacock, to his full race ‘all steel’ specification which includes forged pistons and rods, a steel crank and big valves. The original MGA sourced gearbox was rebuilt by well-known specialist Mike Jennings who fitted a new layshaft, front and rear bearings, and strengthened the clutch slave cylinder mounting. New wheels, from specialist MWS, were fitted with the correct Dunlop racing tyres. Once the suspension had been rebuilt with all new parts from Mk14 Components it was set up by well-known Elite specialists Tolman Motorsport who ensured that this Elite flows down the road in the way Colin Chapman intended.
The car will be auctioned alongside more than 150 other classic road and racing cars as part of three days of auctions hosted by Silverstone Auctions from 28th to 31st July.
To find out more and for a full listing visit http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/ferrari-550-maranello-8038.
