One of the most important and often overlooked aspects of buying a used car is checking out its previous owner or owners, something that is not always easy. In this case, however, it is, as the specially built (Jaguar XJ-based) 2001 Daimler Super V8 LWB was owned by none other than Her Majesty The Queen of Britain. The car will go under the hammer at the Historics at Brooklands auction in Surrey, UK, on Saturday, August 31.
Older Jaguars are notorious for quality issues, which means one should take a very close look at any model, but there’s no question that this particular example was taken care of before, during and after delivery to Queen Elizabeth II.
We’re told by the auction house that the long-wheelbase model covered some 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) before delivery in Jaguar’s hands “in order to minutely examine and test every facet of the car to ensure it would receive royal approval”.
While in the possession of The Queen, it covered a mere 11,000 miles (17,700 km) within the Windsor Castle estate and to and from Buckingham Palace, for both private and official functions, before it was returned in 2004 to The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, with whom it is still registered today.
The car comes in precisely the same specification as it was then, including its original tyres, and with a mileage of 15,242 (24,524 km).
Historics at Brooklands says the car comes with a number of bespoke modifications at The Queen’s request, such as a factory-adapted center armrest with a sliding holder specifically designed for Her Majesty’s handbag, while other special features include blue flashing strobes occupying the front fog lamp inserts, alternate flashing headlamps and alternate flashing rear lights.
Power is sourced from a 4-litre supercharged V8 developing 375bhp.
The winner of the auction will also receive all original documentation, two sets of keys, the original registration number, along with photographs of Her Majesty driving and being driven in it. The auction house estimates that it will fetch around £25,000-£30,000 (US$38,300 to US$45,900).
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