The Complete E-type No Reserve Selection | Amelia Island 2019: Part 1
Amelia Island 2019: Part 1
This week marks the start of the East Coast classic car sale of 2019, kicked off by Amelia Island. Hosted in sunny Florida from 7th-10th March the prestigious classic car event is one of the finest across the pond. We can expect to see some of the world finest automotive examples crossing the block from the top auction houses, RM Sotheby’s (event partner), Gooding & Co and Bonhams. With the upcoming auction sales approaching we stop and review those all-important Jaguar E-Types up for grabs, luckily for us there is plenty to choose from with the three auction houses in attendance and remarkably each one is offered without reserve.
We start off with the smaller of the three auction houses and setting up for their fifth year, we have high hopes for the Bonhams’ upcoming Amelia Island sale. After a record year at Amelia Island in 2016, earning $27.5 million in sales, Bonhams has seen a steady increase in sales from 2017 to 2018, so fingers crossed for a successful 2019. Out of the three auction houses in question, Bonhams’ will be proudly waving the E-type flag with 5 Jaguar E-type scheduled to cross the block.
1966 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES 1 4.2-LITER ROADSTER
Preparing to cross the block is a 1966 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 roadster with a highly desirable ownership history. With just the one owner from new and genuine limited miles of 30,000 miles, this fine example boasts an attractive colour combo of Opalescent Gunmetal over black interior.
Presented with an impressively clean engine bay, the Series 1 has been subjected to professionally fitted upgrades by Whipple Motorsports, Washington, a refurbishment that included an uprated cooling system, new exhaust and an electrical fan all aiding to modern-day performance, resulting in a reliable modern traffic driving car. On top of this, the braking system has been ‘rejuvenated’ and the interior fitted with new carpets and retrofitted USB compatible stereo.
Overall the car appears to be a strong genuine example, a loved and looked after road ready Series 1. Given an estimate of $100,000 - $140,000 (£76,000 - £110,000), the 1966 example presents an opportunity to get your hands on a useable Series 1 roadster.
1964 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES 1 3.8-LITER ROADSTER
Next in our spotlight is a much more desirable matching numbers and listed as ‘Concours ready’ 3.8 roadster. The classic car market favours the 3.8 roadster over most other E-type models, so to find a professionally restored and matching numbers example is a true delight.
Dispatched from Jaguar’s Browns Lane works in January 1964, factory finished to Opalescent Dark Blue with light blue interior and matching blue soft top, today the roadster retains the same eye-catching colour scheme. In more recent years the E-type has been given a comprehensive restoration by noted Atlanta Jaguar specialist, Richard Jenkins and Images Auto Body. Having been taken back to bare metal and the chassis media blasted, the finish of the car presented seems, from the images, to be exceptional. Having already ticked the market top boxes, a professionally restored car, the E-type continues to impress as it retains its original engine and cylinder head since leaving the factory.
So what’s the cost for an E-type like this that the market deems as a ‘highly desirable’? Given an estimate of $200,000 - $250,000 (£150,000 - £190,000), we will be keeping a close eye on this one to see if and how a ‘no reserve’ offering effects the hammer price.
1964 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES 1 3.8-LITER ROADSTER
The Dark Blue Series 1 isn’t the only 3.8 roadster in the Bonhams’ catalogue this year, LOT 235 is a 64’ 3.8 Roadster finished in Carmine Red over Tan leather. Described by the seller as a ‘silky smooth, rocket ship fast car’, the E-type is supplied with service records and a Jaguar Heritage Certificate. However, disappointingly the Bonhams listing for the car is brief, the earliest history of this E-type was unknown at the time of cataloguing, thus leaving the images to do most of the talking.
We do know that the roadster has been treated to a mid-1990’s restoration and finished to a high standard, ensuring the cosmetics and the mechanicals were all on par. More importantly, like the last 3.8 OTS, the E-type retains matching numbers, even though it now runs a fully synchro gearbox, the original gearbox will be supplied with the car. So with little history to go by at the moment, we are left to review the car from just the photos. We’ll hopefully be filled in the earlier history on the day to justify the given estimate of $130,000 - $160,000 (£98,000 - £120,000), but from a quick glance, it seems to be a lot of car for that money.
1972 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES 3 V12 COUPE
The last of the no reserve E-types on the Bonhams block you would deem as the least desirables. Starting with a 1972 Series 3 2+2 Coupe finished in Fawn with a biscuit interior and described as ‘largely original and beautifully preserved’, topped off with an automatic transmission, not a lot of collectors boxes ticked there. However, the Series 3 is very well presented with a ‘charming patina’ and originality which, as Bonhams put it, deserves a close look and serious consideration.
Even in what seems to be a slightly shaky market at the moment, Series 3’s are definitely on the move and as an E-Type specialist, we have seen a much greater demand for what has always been the less loved of the e-type family. Having completed our repackaged V12, see more HERE, we are seeing the Series 3 slowly turning into the go-to donor car for the classic enthusiast’s passion project. Estimate $40,000 - $55,000 (£30,000 - £42,000).
1967 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES 1 ½ 2+2 COUPE
Lastly a 1967 Series 1 ½ 2+2 Coupe, finely restored, matching numbers example ideal for rallies or a ‘Sunday picnic with the family’. Reported to drive beautifully, finished in Opalescent Maroon and black interior, still retaining a 4-speed gearbox, as per factory and treated to recent restoration work. The fine useable Series 1 LHD 2+2 example, unfortunately, is crippled by the lack of demand in the market and therefore given an estimate of $45,000 - $65,000 (£34,000 - £49,000).
CONTINUE READING...
See ‘The Complete E-type No Reserve Selection |Amelia Island 2019 Part 2’ for our continued Amelia Island review turning the spotlight toward RM Sotheby’s and Gooding & Co. The E-Type UK team will be in attendance to this year Amelia Island auction, watching closing and analysing the auction.