What many of us would do to own a classic sports car like the Jaguar E-Type, yet some people have these models locked up, rotting in barns literally for decades – can you believe that? This royal-blue 1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 (Chassis 40) was abandoned in a barn in 1974 where it stayed until it was discovered by the Coys Auction house in France last month
“This is a really amazing find which has got the Jaguar world really excited,” said Chris Routledge, Managing Partner at Coys, “The 1961 car is in amazing condition considering where it was left and interest is going off the scale.”
The mechanic who works for the family that owns the car reported that the E-Type was last started about 5 years ago, but it still turns over freely. “Bodily, the car seems to be very solid, having been stored in such a dry climate all these years. The doors shut wonderfully and the bonnet gap is excellent,” says Coys, which added that the interior of the car is in “very good order”.
The classic Jag sports a 3.8-liter twin cam engine, which when new, produced 265bhp, hooked up to a Moss four-speed gearbox driving the rear pair of wheels.
The E-Type barn-find will be placed up for sale at the Coys Spirit of Motoring Auction on Saturday, October 26, at the Ascot Racecourse in the UK, where it will be joined by dozens of other models, including a second Jaguar that was locked up for years.
“We are also selling an XK120 Roadster reported to have a competition history that was found in a lock-up in Essex,” said Routledge. “The last XK that we sold in this condition made over £90,000 and we expect the E-Type to do exceptionally well.”
The 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster is fitted with a 3.4-liter twin overhead camshaft engine, producing 160bhp via twin SU carburettors, and in its prime time, was said to be capable of 126mph (203km/h) and 0-60mph (96km/h) in 10.0 seconds. It is estimated that the car will fetch £15,000 – £25,000 (US$24,300-US$40,500 or €17,800-€29,500).
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