‘Bob Jane’ Jaguar sold for $9.6 million

The Australian connection comes from the fact that the first owner was Bob Jane, who ordered the car in mid-1963 specifically for racing at circuits like Lakeside, Bathurst, Calder, Catalina Park and Sandown. Delivered to Jane in late-1963, Lightweight E-Type #10 arrived with several factory-fitted competition modifications, from the all-alloy 3.8lt six-cylinder engine to the transmission, chassis, suspension, brakes, wheels and even the pedals.  Jane won in his first race in the new Jaguar – the Australian GT Championship at Calder – followed by further victories in 1963, then a string of podium finishes in 1964. In May of that year, Jane took the car to Europe to race. While there, it received further upgrades at the Jaguar factory.

However, success in Europe proved harder to come by than in Australia, with Jane also frustrated by Jaguar’s refusal to make additional modifications he’d requested. Returned to Australia for the 1965 season, wins and podiums continued, but the Jaguar was now up against dedicated circuit racers, including rear-engined formula cars. In 1966, a new alloy 3.8 engine was ordered from Jaguar after Jane blew up the original in practise for an event at Sandown. The E-Type was raced less frequently afterward, largely serving as a display car until, in 1980, it was auctioned with other vehicles from Jane’s collection. The purchaser was WA enthusiast Peter Briggs of York Motor Museum notoriety. Briggs repainted the E-Type in the livery it wears today, occasionally using the car on both the road and the racetrack.  In 1999, Briggs had the car refurbished by Jaguar specialists, Lynx Engineering in the UK, prior to consigning it for an auction in the US, where it has remained ever since.

Never badly crashed or re-bodied, and having covered less than 5,000 miles, the ex-Jane car was described as one of the best and most original Lightweight E-Types in existence. As such, it was expected to sell well and came to Bonhams’ two-day Scottsdale auction with a US$7.5-8.5 million reserve. The final selling price, including buyer’s premium was US$7,370,000 (AU$9,636,316), which was not only a new record for an E-Type sold at auction, but also for a post-1960 Jaguar of any type.  The E-Type was the top seller at the auction, followed by a 1952 Ferrari 340 America Vignale Spider which made US$6.38 million (AU$8.27 million and another new model auction record), and a multiple concours-winning 1928 Mercedes-Benz Type S 26/120/180 Supercharged Sports Tourer, which sold for US$4.81 million (AU$6.23 million).

For more details and further lots from Bonhams’ Scottsdale auction, go to: bonhams.com