Holy Grail E-Type found in Scotland 12 | 07 | 2016
ONE OF THE rarest, most sought-after E-Type Jaguars — in many people’s eyes, the ‘Holy Grail’ — has been discovered in the small parish of Deskford, Moray.
Now the 1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Roadster, chassis #62, one of the first 92 right-hand models produced, is to be sold by Silverstone Auctions at the Silverstone Classic on July 30/31. It’s estimated to sell for between £140,000 and £170,000.
The whereabouts of the rare Jaguar 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 purchased by its first owner and registered on September 8, 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.
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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.
“This is a really exciting discovery,” Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, said. “Not only was this car believed to be lost, it is one of the most sought after E-Type examples attainable.
“Just like works of art and antiques, it’s the rarest and best quality items that attract collectors and investors. Chassis #62 is just that, and offers a rare opportunity to enjoy the thrill of ownership inherent in one of these special, rare, early cars.
“Not only that, early E-Type prices are soaring and are now achieving six-figure sums once reserved for Italian exotica. Quite simply it’s the right time to buy.”
“This is possibly the definitive Jaguar connoisseur's dream collectible. This lovely E-Type is in fabulous, yet not over-restored condition, and deserves no less than to be offered for sale at the world famous Silverstone Classic, where it joins a stunning line-up of best of breed classics.”
Related: More details of the 1961 E-Type Jaguar Chassis 62
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Jim McGill