To Be OFFERED AT AUCTIONEstimate:
£395,000 - £495,000
- Retained by Jaguar for press and development use; the 10th
production E-Type Fixed Head Coupe
- Featured in numerous publications including Quattroroute, Auto
Motor und Sport, and Motoring News
- Driven by both Norman Dewis and Paul Frere
- Amongst the first E-Types without exterior bonnet locks,
includes other interesting features
- Fully restored by JD Classics
- Amongst the very best E-Types extant
Please note that this lot will need to be collected in Chobham,
U.K.
Within the hierarchy of Jaguar's legendary E-Type, early-production
Series 1 models are amongst the most desirable as they represent
the model at its purest form. Standing above these are the
competition cars or cars used by Jaguar for testing and
development. Known by its original Coventry registration number,
6162 RW, this Jaguar E-Type is one such early development model and
boasts a wonderful early history.
Produced by Jaguar on September 27, 1961, chassis number 860010 was
finished in Opalescent Dark Green and in short order was registered
6162 RW. Two other E-Types were seen frequently in test and
development use; a Roadster registered 77 RW and a Fixed Head Coupe
registered 9600 HP, both of which were driven at-speed to the 1961
Geneva Motor Show for the E-Types premier.
However, while 77 RW and 9600 HP were mostly used for press work,
6162 RW saw use by both the international media and Jaguar
themselves for further testing and development of the E-Type.
Specifically, 6162 RW was used for high-speed testing by legendary
test driver Norman Dewis as well suspension and interior
refinement. A variety of modifications were carried out to the car
in an effort to further refine the model as mentioned in a road
test carried out by the English magazine Motoring News, and many of
these modification and interesting features are present on the
vehicle today. This includes a lowered floor on the driver's side,
but the standard-production 'flat-floor' seen on early E-Types on
the passenger side. Further interior modifications include revised
ventilation to divert warm air away from the cockpit, a recessed
rear bulkhead, seats modified to better fit tall passengers,
repositioned pedals, and modified door and boot locks. Mechanical
changes included positioning the reversing light between the
exhaust pipes, new piston rings to reduce oil consumption, an
aluminum oil pan, a modified rear crankshaft bearing seal, and a
gear ratio of 3.07:1. 6162 RW is also one of the first E-Types to
be fitted with an internal bonnet release.
In use with the international media, 6162 RW was driven by a
variety of journalists for numerous publications. The most famous
of these would be Italy's Quattroroute and Germany's Auto Motor und
Sport in their February 1963 and October 1962 issues respectively
driven by the renowned Belgian racing driver and journalist Paul
Frere. He was enlisted to drive the car at Monza and was apparently
very impressed by the car's handling at high speeds. Frere piloted
6162 RW to a top speed of 256 km/h on the Autostrada between Rome
and Ostia. Confirming that this incredible performance was no
fluke, the English magazine Motoring News managed to hit a top
speed of 160 mph with 6162 RW as chronicled in their October 18,
1962 issue, considerably more than other production E-types which
suggested that Jaguar may have given the engine some special
preparation. According to information found within the archives of
the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, 6162 RW was also used as a press
car during the 1962 Tour de France by journalist Andrew Whyte, and
a handful of photographs exist of him using the car in the snow
across the Pyrenees.
In November of 1963, 6162 RW finally left Jaguar's custodianship
and was sold to Coombs of Guildford, a company which often dealt in
the ex-demonstration and press Jaguars. Shortly thereafter, the car
was sold onto Bruce Buckley of Hampshire, who retained ownership
for 11 years. In 1975, the E-Type was purchased from Buckley by
Michael Fulks of Essex. By 1981, a request sent to Jaguar for
information on the car shows that the 6261 RW was still in Essex,
owned by Roger Cook of Hornchurch. Jaguar was able to confirm then
that this car retains its original engine, which of course is
fitted to the car today.
Approximately twelve years ago, 6162 RW was entrusted to the Jaguar
specialists a JD Classics to be fully restored over the course of
four years. No expense was spared in fully restoring the car to its
original glory, with careful emphasis being placed on retaining the
car's differences from its regular production brethren. After the
completion of its restoration, 6162 RW was shown at the 2012 Unique
Special Ones concours in Florence, where it won its class. The next
year, the car was used in a driving tour prior to the Villa d'Este
Concorso d'Eleganza. In its native England, the car was shown at
Salon Prive in 2018.
Since then, 6162 RW has not been shown and remains in excellent
condition throughout, having been stored amongst other exceptional
automobiles in a world-class collection. With 2021 marking the 60th
anniversary of the E-Type, 6162 RW would surely be welcome at any
number of concours events worldwide, due to its significance and
incredible history. Arguably one of the most significant E-Types in
existence, its importance simply cannot be understated.
Should you want more information on the condition of this lot and
or discuss the possibility of an in-situ inspection, please contact
our office at
+44 (0) 20 7851 7070 or email Britta Buchmann
at
[email protected]To
view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf20.