Jaguar XK150 barnfinds come to light
21 Mar 2014
Two classic Jaguars have been exhumed from storage, both 1958 XK150 models. A fixed head coupé spent 40 years hidden in a barn, while a drop head version is a particularly early right-hand-drive model. They are being offered at Silverstone AuctionsΆ 12 April sale at the NEC, Birmingham. Each is estimated between £35-45,000.
The fixed head coupé spent four decades stored in a barn before being discovered in 2009. Researched showed that the car was originally delivered to garage owner and part-time racing driver Alan Eccles, who specified the XK with a rare close-ratio gearbox. Eccles moved to the United States in 1969, placing the car in a barn where it remained until being uncovered five years ago.
The second car, in drop head configuration, was the 74th right-hand-drive model built, out of a total of 622. The car was bought by an Italian collector in the 1980s before making its way to Sicily; it was found among other British sports cars by an enthusiast who brought it back to the UK with the intention of carrying out a full restoration. Changing priorities have forced the sale.
Managing director of
Silverstone Auctions, Nick Whale, said: “ItΆs thrilling to be able to offer such exciting cars at this brand new auction. With barn find cars the potential subject of much intrigue, the models could prove to be a fantastic investment.”
Two 1968 Jensen Interceptors offered in the same sale also spent considerable time in storage. Both cars, one Mist Grey the other red, are being sold as restoration projects with no reserve and form part of a private collection of British classic cars.
Also featuring in the sale is a 1950 Healey Silverstone, which is estimated at £160-180,000.
The discoveries come hot on the heels of the
barnfind flat floor Jaguar E-type and XK120 that were sold at CoysΆ Spirit of Motoring sale at Ascot in October last year.
In April last year
a barn find Jaguar E-type stunned the classic world by tripling its £30,000 upper estimate in BonhamsΆ Hendon sale.