Idle Torque: Life's work passed into good hands
A vast private collection of 543 predominantly British classic cars worth an estimated $180 million has been bought whole by Jaguar Land Rover for use in its marketing operations.
Jaguar Land Rover did not reveal how much it actually paid for the massive collection, which includes 130 Jaguars.
Particular Jaguars adding significant value of the collection include an XKSS (one of 16 built), a D-Type, C-Type and a rare aluminium-bodied XK120.
The collection also includes a Jaguar 420G saloon previously owned by the company's founder, Sir William Lyons.
Jaguar Land Rover said it planned to use the cars to "support experiential marketing with customers" which sounds an awful lot like customers getting behind steering wheels.
In a further boost for classic Jags, the company said the newly acquired collection would be maintained by a new workshop at the historic Browns Lane site in Coventry, where the original factory was.
This acquisition follows the announcement earlier this year by Jaguar's heritage division of plans to build six exact recreations of the original, race-bred Lightweight E-type that was originally created in 1963.
The collection had been amassed by dentist James Hull, who remained coy about the price paid for the collection but it sounds like it was a bargain.
"My primary motivation was not to get the maximum price but rather to secure the future of the collection in this country with the right custodian," Dr Hull said.
BIG MELBOURNE SALES
A 1972 Renault Alpine A110 1300S with a non-original body, which had also been converted to right- hand drive, sold for an impressive and somewhat appropriate $110,000 at auction in Melbourne on July 21.
Auction house Shannons said the car's 14-year restoration included the 1300cc engine being enlarged to 1550cc and the construction of a completely new body, such was the condition of the original one, and major work on the chassis.
In other sales, that yellow 1974 Ford TC Cortina shown in this column a fortnight ago sold for an astonishing $9000, while a 1960 Citroen ID19 Sedan was far better value at $17,000.
MOTOR MOMENTS UPDATE
August 17
Classics in the Park. Langley Park, from 10am. Phone 0448 069 943 or email triride@westnet.net.au
September 6
Koorda Car & Bike Show. From 10am. Phone 0429 080 258 or 9684 1787.
September 7
Father’s Day Hot Rod Show. 10am-4pm. St Patrick’s Primary School, Fremantle. Phone 0417 767 566.
Vintage Machinery Rally. Waroona Showgrounds. From 9am. Phone 0419 942 137, 9535 2105 or see waroonavintagemachineryrally.com.au
September 21
French Car Festival. Supreme Court Gardens, Perth. 10am- 4pm. Phone 0439 935 369 or see frenchandfantastic.com.au
October 5
Como Rotary Car Show. Wesley College, South Perth. From 10am. Phone 9386 6597 or email comorotarycarshow@bigpond.com
