'World's Sexiest Car' for Shannons Melbourne Auction
• Stunning ‘no reserve’ E-Type Roadster
• Full restoration by marque specialist
• 1996 Mercedes-Benz E220 Cabriolet with just 12,445km
A former ‘barn-find’ E-Type Jaguar Series I Roadster lovingly restored by a renowned marque specialist in 2003-2004 will be offered with ‘no reserve’ as a highlight of the second Classic Vehicle Auction staged at Shannons new Melbourne headquarters on May 8.
Once described as ‘The World’s Sexiest Car’, the E-Type Roadster still excites enthusiasts today like few other cars. It has become a blue-chip asset for astute collectors on the World market and to find a top example offered with ‘no reserve’ is an unprecedented opportunity.
The US-delivered 1963 Roadster was discovered already converted to right hand drive in a barn near Bundaberg, Queensland in the early 2000s by noted Jaguar enthusiast and racer Bill Clemens.
His comprehensive and sympathetic restoration incorporated several sensible upgrades during the rebuild to increase the E-Type’s driveability, however the Jaguar was otherwise left very much as delivered, including its Moss gearbox, interior aluminium trim and signature drilled woodrim steering wheel.
The Jaguar’s current Queensland owner has enjoyed driving the car on the Gold Coast hinterland for the past decade. The E-Type won the ‘Show and Shine’ held at Speed on Tweed around 2005 and still presents in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition today.
Jaguar built 7,818 E-type 3.8-litre roadsters and these early cars retain a purity – both in their styling and driving experience – that became increasingly diluted on later versions. Today collectors recognise the importance of the original 3.8s and they are now the most sought after of all E-types, with values climbing steadily in recent years.
Because of its iconic, collectible status amongst Post War Classic sports cars and its excellent, restored condition, the E-Type Roadster is expected to attract bids in the $160,000-$200,000 range.
The E-Type Roadster is among a number of sporty European convertibles in the May 8 Melbourne Autumn Auction.
Another stand-out is a one-owner, 1996 model Mercedes-Benz E220 Cabriolet with just 12,445 kilometres showing on its odometer at the time of cataloguing.
Originally purchased new from Lanes Motors in Melbourne by the vendor as a present for his wife, the E220 remains in immaculate condition throughout and must be one of the lowest-kilometre Mercedes-Benz W124 models in Australia.
It is expected to sell in the $20,000-$25,000 range.
Also very attractive to European cabriolet buyers and expected to sell for a similar price is an ultra-rare and increasingly collectible 1988 BMW Alpina C2 2.7 Cabriolet.
Offering M3 performance at an affordable price, this BMW with its 2.7 litre six-cylinder engine and 5-speed manual transmission is one of just 309 C2 2.7-litre Cabriolet’s built by the Alpina factory and is believed to be one of only 60 right hand drive conversions carried out either by Sytner in the UK or Alpina Australia.
Finally, there is a ‘no reserve’ 1989 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Convertible offered with both hard top and electric soft-top that would benefit from some recommissioning and is expected to sell very affordably in the $7,000-$10,000 range.
View all May 8 Shannons Melbourne Autumn Classic Auction Lots
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