The fever for Jaguar E-types looks set to extend (or at least one sale house is confident it will) to the auction scene with the news that one of the last 50 examples built is to go under the hammer.
Barons has snared one of the 50 Commemorative editions (all black with cinnamon hide) for its annual British Heritage bash on 20 September. The 1974 V12 is in pristine condition and carries a lofty £145-165,000 estimate.
That's serious money for a V12: smart restored examples seldom break the £45-50k mark and even these rare Commemorative jobs have struggled to make £80-90k over the last few years but this is the model's golden anniversary so who knows?
One thing's for sure: Barons will need better luck than rival Siverstone Classics which didn't manage to get its über-desirable (outside bonnet catch, flat floor) 3.8 Roadster away at its inaugural sale on 23 July.
The Cyprus-delivered 1961 E-type (below) had been expected to change hands for £120-150,000 but bidding failed to get underway at the auctioneer's suggested £90k, with bidders possibly reluctant over the colour (Old English White with cream upholstery) and the fact it had been for sale for the best part of a year.
Barons isn't only banking on it's E-type to boost it's takings, however: the Sandown Park sale will feature a couple of iconic Triumph models: a 1954 TR2 (below), that was part of Triumph's press fleet when new, and a superbly restored (bills for £50k) 1968 2000 MkI.
They're up for £30-40,000 and £7-9000 respectively while a 1967 Rolls-Royce Mulliner Park Ward two-door saloon, said to have been in the same family since 1972, is on offer for £17-19,000.
Somewhat outside the Brit theme - but fairly exotic (and unusual for Barons) - is the sale house's 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale (below).
This Bertone-bodied rarity (which boasts just 40,000 miles from new) should boost the sale takings with its £40-44,000 guide price.
See: www.barons-auctions.co.ukl for more.
