The original Jaguar Xj12-C Broadspeed used in the New Avengers by John Steed smashes target by over £50k

• 1976 XJ12-C Broadspeed as seen on popular 1970’s TV series The New Avengers fetches £62,000 at H&H Classics’ auction in Duxford
• John Steed’s on-screen hero-car sells to private collector after 20-year hibernation
• ‘NWK 60P’ another example of increasing desirability and values of Jaguar Heritage models after fetching £50,000 over initial estimates
• Wears chassis number eight and originally made as a pre-production prototype before starring in the cult ‘70s TV show

The original Jaguar XJ12-C Broadspeed that appeared in the cult 1970’s TV series, The New Avengers, has sold at auction today for £62,000 – some £50,000 over initial estimates.

The iconic Jaguar, driven by secret agent John Steed (played by Patrick Macnee) in the hit series, began life as a pre-production prototype vehicle for the marque. Bought by a private collector at the H&H Classics’ auction at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, Cambridge, the XJ12-C completed its early development and testing work with Jaguar before being sent to Broadspeed Engineering Ltd. to be fitted with upgraded bodykit including wider bumpers and wheelarches plus bigger wheels and tyres in preparation for filming.

The car wears chassis number eight (2G1008BW) and features the original 5.3-litre V12 engine that powered secret agent Steed’s British sportscar during the 26-episode series.

Following the series finale in 1977, ‘NWK 60P’ was then sold and passed through the hands of multiple keepers and eventually put up for auction at the NEC Classic Car Show in the early 1990s. After the sale, the famous Jaguar disappeared from public view and remained in hibernation for the next two decades – during which time the car has been subjected to vandalism and general disrepair.

Tim Hannig, Managing Director, Jaguar Heritage, said: “There is no arguing about the desirability of this iconic Jaguar. The XJ12-C Broadspeed still looks fantastic today and although the condition of NWK 60P has deteriorated over the 20 years its been locked up, it still shows how the demand for Jaguar Heritage models has increased in recent times along with their values. We hope to see the car back on the road in the near future and we will continue to support owners of cars such as this famous XJ12-C through our Jaguar Heritage business.”

Nick Delaney, Business Development Manager of H&H Classics, said: “It is fantastic to see this Jaguar XJ12-C from The New Avengers TV Series back in public view again after being locked away for so long. The sale price of £62,000 is truly remarkable considering it fetched more than £50,000 over initial estimates. It just proves the appeal of not only the programme but also of the car itself. Buyers are seeing the investment potential with classic Jaguars and the added provenance of this car means that it, once fully restored to working order again, will be even more valuable.”

Jaguar Heritage forms part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations division and has been born to support the brand’s passion in nurturing and preserving its rich heritage of vehicles and supporting its loyal customer base across Jaguar’s global sales network. Jaguar Heritage boasts a catalogue of over 30,000 original spare and replacements parts for generations of Heritage models 10 years out of production. Furthermore, Jaguar’s Heritage workshop at Browns Lane, Coventry, carries out warrantied servicing and restorations on the marque’s classic models.

John Steeds Jaguar XJC 12 going up for auction, its in a bad way, but this MUST be saved, as he passed recently.

Steed, Gambit, Purdey: cult fantasy secret agent series The New Avengers was one of the hits of the mid-1970s. But the other star alongside Patrick Macnee, Gareth Hunt and Joanna Lumley was this 1976 Jaguar XJ-C 12, now for sale at H&H Classics on 14 October 2015 with the very modest estimate of just £10,000 to £12,000.

John Steed's famous Jag, in Racing Green, was the eighth XJ-C 12 made and originally an experimental model featuring a Broadspeed body kit and extra-wide wheels fitted for the TV series.

Dry-stored for many years and now in need of restoration, it comes to the market as a dream project for someone who loves a ‘barn-find’.

There can be very few British cars that speak more eloquently of the automotive culture of the UK in the 1970s than this burly, rakish, cool brute that was John Steed’s Big Cat.

This smooth secret agent was well matched by the equally elegant but tweaked, tuned and pumped up version of Jag’s pillarless XJ Coupé that boasted a dozen cylinders offering 5.3 litres.

Driven by an elegant man in Savile Row tailoring and a bowler hat, the car, gritty Gambit and purring Purdey were perfect foils for him and the oh-so-British action.

Damian Jones, Sales Director of H&H Classics, comments: “Who of us who remember the series did not at one time or another fancy ourselves at the wheel of this car? Now there is a chance to make that fantasy a reality for a very nominal amount. And who knows, maybe the chance to find a modern-day Purdey in the passenger seat!”

Rare painted Wood Effect Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost owned by The future Edward VIII, broke auction estimates.

A 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost carrying ingenious painted ‘wood-effect’ shooting brake coachwork from a car once owned by the future Edward VIII – one of the earliest ‘woodies’ – burst through its £120,000 upper estimate to sell for £161,280 at H&H Classics’ 20 June auction. 

The sale was held in conjunction with the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club Annual Concours & Rally at Burghley House, Lincolnshire.

The lady vendor had driven the 92-year-old car to the event, no doubt relying on Rolls’ reputation in the day for making the ‘best car in the world’ – although it’s no stranger to adventure, having enjoyed many Ghost Club tours through Europe, South Africa and Australasia. 

In recent weeks the car has been the subject of much Fleet Street speculation that the then Prince of Wales employed it to smuggle Mrs Simpson out of Balmoral, making effective use of the black, `pull down' silk blinds.

In an auction that saw over 70% of motor car entries finding new buyers, other significant sales included the ex-Marquis de Portago 1931 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Sports Saloon achieving £95,200, £154,560 for the rare 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III 'Flying Spur' and a canny buyer paying £47,250 for the 1969 Bentley T-Series Mulliner Park Ward (‘MPW’) Drophead, the perfect car for a picnic with friends at next year’s RREC Rally.

H&H broke all records with an extensive selection of nearly 500 lots of automobilia, which grossed nearly £150,000. Lot 201, an Austin Pathfinder Child’s Pedal Car, finally sold for £4928, some 25% above its upper estimate. 

Similarly, healthy bidding on the rare 1920s Michelin Tyres Illuminated Lightbox eventually saw the hammer coming down at a with-premium price of £6160 (estimate: £2500 - 3500).

H&H Classics to sell two Multi-Million Ferrari's in a generous legacy to the RNLI.

• H&H Classics to offer a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB and 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 from the estate of the late Richard Colton, a pre-eminent British V12 Ferrari collector
• Proceeds from the sale to benefit the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
• 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB was the second steel, right-hand-drive car delivered – one of a pair of SWBs ordered by Col. Ronnie Hoare to launch Maranello Concessionaires
• 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is one of 27 UK cars, originally a Maranello Concessionaires demonstrator and ‘the ultimate Enzo-era’ Ferrari road car
• Both cars come from long-term ownership, are ‘matching numbers’ and in highly original condition
• The auction will take place on 14 October 2015 at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridge

H&H Classics, one of Britain’s oldest classic car auction houses, will hold a sale of two multi-million-pound Ferraris from the Richard Colton collection in a generous legacy left to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

The sale will take place at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire – Europe’s largest historic aviation centre – on 14 October 2015 and the funds raised will go towards the RNLI’s lifesaving work around the coast of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

The legacy was left to the RNLI by Northamptonshire businessman Richard Colton, who requested that money raised from the sale of his cars be used to build a new lifeboat called Richard and Caroline Colton, named after himself and his late wife.

Guy Rose, Legacy Manager at the RNLI, said: “We are deeply grateful and humbled by Mr Colton’s generous gift and his decision to benefit the RNLI in this way. Six out of every 10 lifeboat launches are only made possible because of gifts left to us in wills, so they are vital to saving lives at sea. Mr Colton’s generosity will be felt most by our volunteer crews and the people whose lives they save.”

Simon Hope, Chairman of H&H Classics, which holds sales across Britain, comments: “We are honoured to have been chosen to handle this sale which is of national significance. These stunning motor cars have been with Richard Colton for 40 years and meant a very great deal to him. So we are absolutely committed to realising the maximum amount for the cars. It promises to be an historic sale.”

Richard Colton was a Northamptonshire-based businessman who had a distinguished career in footwear distribution and who for 40 years collected and actively campaigned sensational classic cars. Described by close friends as “a shy and private man”, he was known to be somewhat nervous of the sea, which may have added to his great respect for the man and women who risk their lives daily around Britain’s coast.

So when deciding on which charity to leave this splendid legacy of two classic Ferraris, there was only one choice, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

He was also keen that his legacy be sold by a British classic car specialist auction house – hence H&H was chosen by his executors, and indeed this was in line with the wishes he expressed in his Will.

The two Ferrari motor cars:

• 1960 Ferrari 250 GT short-wheelbase (SWB) Berlinetta chassis 1995 GT, of which just 167 were made with a mere ten being supplied new to the UK market

Unveiled at the 1959 Paris Salon, today the Ferrari 250 GT SWB is on many experts’ list of the ‘most beautiful cars in the world’. It’s certainly one of the most valuable, joining the 250 Testa Rossa and 250 GTO in the multi-million-dollar club and is a ‘must-have’ for any serious Ferrari collector.

In its day, the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta was the fastest, most accomplished 3.0-litre GT racing car that money could buy. Honed by Giotto Bizzarrini, Carlo Chiti and Mauro Forghieri, the same team that would later develop the equally successful but even more rare 250 GTO, the newcomer’s combination of low weight, high power, well-sorted suspension and four-wheel disc brakes brought it success worldwide. Driven by such greats as Stirling Moss and Phil Hill, from 1960 to 1961 SWBs won the RAC Tourist Trophy, the Tour de France Automobile and the Paris 1000km. Another was third overall at the 1961 Le Mans 24 Hours, behind two Ferrari prototypes.

Once the immediate demand for racing cars was satisfied, further lusso (‘luxury’) versions appeared with bodies in more durable steel and aluminium, chosen by the company’s most discerning clients and often incorporating competition parts. Many were raced in period. ‘1995 GT’ was the second steel, right-hand-drive car delivered, and according to model expert Jess Pourret, was a potent, semi-competizione, with a comp-spec motor, gearbox, fuel tank and limited-slip differential. 

Further notable as one of two SWBs (the other being chassis 1993 GT) that Colonel Ronnie Hoare used to launch the UK Ferrari distributor Maranello Concessionaires, ‘1995 GT’ has never been ‘restored’ in the modern sense, making it that much more attractive to serious collectors.

Damian Jones, Sales Manager of H&H Classics comments: “Perhaps Enzo Ferrari understood Colonel Hoare's eagerness to become the marque's UK concessionaire and made the Englishman tick all the options' boxes on his first two purchases? Whatever the reason, the result was a magnificent car.”

Mr Colton bought this car, Rosso Corsa and registered ‘574 NOT’, in the late-1970s and covered some 60,000 miles in it come rain or shine, enjoying many impromptu trips to the continent, including the Ferrari 50th Anniversary celebrations at Maranello in June 1997.

• 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 chassis 10177 GT – thought by many to be the ultimate front-engined, Enzo-era Ferrari road car

Another powerful Ferrari that made its debut in Paris, just 350 of the 300bhp, 160mph berlinettas were made, of which a mere 27 were supplied new to the UK market.

Widely regarded as the best all-round GT car of the 1960s, the Ferrari 275 GTB/4 comfortably eclipsed rivals from Aston Martin, Maserati, Jaguar and Lamborghini. First-time owners included the Hollywood star Steve McQueen, and the car’s peerless handling and delicate steering makes it a far easier car to drive than its more numerous successor, the 365 GTB/4 'Daytona'.

The example offered – ‘10177 GT’ – began life as the Maranello Concessionaires demonstrator. Swapping a Bentley Speed Six for the Ferrari in 1974, the late Richard Colton proceeded to drive it extensively throughout the UK and Europe. Now showing some 78,000 miles on its odometer, like its stablemate 250 GT SWB, the silver 275GTB/4 was a frequent visitor to Scotland, Sweden, France and Italy. Regularly maintained by marque specialists, one cannot help but feel that Enzo Ferrari would have approved of such spirited usage.