A 19962 Jaguar E-Type in dire condition and recently found on a barn after 20 years is up for auction.

• A 1962 Jaguar E-Type abandoned in a barn for 20 years will be auctioned by Classic Car Auctions (CCA).
• The early, Series 1 example offers buyers a serious and potentially very worthwhile restoration project.
• To be auctioned with a sale estimate of £38,000 to £44,000 at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show Sale on 1st – 2nd April at the NEC, Birmingham.

Classic Car Auctions (CCA) will auction a 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Fixed head Coupé barn find, one of the greatest sports cars of all time, at its biggest ever sale taking place at the Practical Classics Show.

Abandoned for almost 20 years, this car is a very early example of the iconic Jaguar, Chassis 282. 

A right-hand drive, manual example, it has had just two registered owners from new and is expected to bring interested buyers from far and wide when it is offered at auction at a guide price of £38,000 to £44,000.

The car was bought new by its first owner on 4^thApril 1962 and registered to his address in Birmingham. Finished in Dark Opalescent Blue with Black trim, the brand new E-Type was presented in a rare and desirable colour combination at the time, and was proudly driven and owned for some 35 years by its first keeper.

The car changed hands and found its second owner on 1^st November 1997. Staying within the West Midlands area and now owned by a Jaguar enthusiast, the E-Type was put into storage in a barn in preparation for remedial works. 

Sadly, plans to work on the car were never realised as the owner moved to the north of England, leaving the car untouched for almost 20 years in the care of his brother. 

Now brought out of the barn and into daylight once again, an inspection reveals a genuine ‘barn-find’ example in very original condition, still retaining its rare and original brake system. Worn paintwork reveals a colour change to White with the original Opalescent Blue showing through in some areas, as well as evidence of a replacement bonnet in Red. Despite missing some glass and the radiator, most of the car is original including the steering wheel and dashboard all veiled behind a generous layer of dust and detritus.

Despite decades of neglect, untouched for two decades, and with symptoms of deterioration, the E-Type now makes for a perfect candidate for restoration and a dream opportunity for a Jaguar enthusiast when it returns to Birmingham on auction day.

“These very early E-Types are now highly collectible these days and this example will be a serious project, but one that could be very worthwhile,” explains Harry Whale, classic car consigner at Classic Car Auctions.

“Last year the Jaguar E-Type Series I experienced very significant growth on the classic car market and we expect buyers to be queuing up for the chance to own an example just like, ready to give it the TLC it deserves.”

Included with the car are several parts which were removed and retained for the restoration process, as well as the Jaguar Heritage Certificate and current V5.

Four Stunning Ferrari's star at the next Silvertone auction, and they are amazing.

• Silverstone Auctions is proud to present four beautiful and highly desirable classic Ferrari models at its Salon Privé sale
• Star lot is an ex-1962 Paris Motor Show Ferrari 250 GTE Series II 2+2 Coupe with full Ferrari Classiche Certificate of Authenticity
• Supporting lots include an ex-Mohammed Al Fayed 1964 Ferrari 330 GT Series 1, one of only 52 RHD 1970 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2s and an ex-New York 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’  
• Held at the majestic location of Blenheim Palace on Friday September 4^th, the Salon Privé Sale features a host of high-end classic and modern supercars 

Silverstone Auctions’ Salon Privé sale at Blenheim Palace will offer a mouth-watering selection of high-end cars – led by four beautiful Ferraris. Star of the line-up on Friday September 4^th is a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTE Series II 2+2 Coupe, a car that was delivered straight from the factory to the Paris Motor Show stand; its vast history file even featuring pictures of it gleaming in the exhibition hall.  

Following its Paris Motor Show debut, this 250 GTE spent the majority of its life in Lille, France, passing through the hands of several owners including a Ferrari dealer who kept it as part of a private collection.

Treated to a full engine and transmission rebuild in the last decade – work which also included refurbishment of its original Borrani wheels and a new Orbisoud stainless steel exhaust system – it was brought to the UK in 2013, where the process continued with a bare metal respray and a painstaking interior restoration.

Finished in Celeste with a Beige hide interior - its original colour combination - it carries full Ferrari Classiche certification confirming the originality of its engine, gearbox and chassis. A fascinating car and the finest example of a 250 GTE that Silverstone Auctions has ever presented for sale, it represents outstanding value at an estimate of £300,000 - £350,000.

Another elegant Ferrari four-seater offered for sale with a vast history is a 330 GT 2+2 Series I. Ordered on July 9^th 1964 through Maranello Concessionaires Ltd, it is one of only 49 right hand drive examples produced. Never wanting for maintenance throughout its life, this is one Ferrari that has been diligently looked after, having received an engine rebuild in 1986 and many thousands of pounds spend to date.

It has even enjoyed a brief weekend racing career, achieving a first in class and fourth overall at the Thruxton Bank Holiday Novice Championship on the May 4^th 1987. Purchased by Mohamed Al Fayed in 1989, it benefitted from £30,000-worth of expenditure during his ownership and, in the hands of another custodian, has been sympathetically renovated.

Looking stunning in its metallic blue paintwork accentuating the iconic Pininfarina shape, this 330 GT is complemented by its original Borrani wire wheels. One of the fastest cars of the early-to-mid sixties era, it is an excellent and honest example of a car Enzo Ferrari himself once described as his favourite. With growing desirability in the collectors market and the sensible guide price of £190,000 - £220,000, this Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series represents a great opportunity.

The successor to the 330 GT, the 365 GT 2+2, debuted at the Paris Motor Show in October 1967 – and Silverstone Auctions is very proud to present a 1970 RHD example at Salon Privé. Spending time in the UK and France – where it was even on display in the Museé Automobile de La Clayette – ‘ANM 397H’ has benefitted from complete but sympathetic refurbishment with all mechanicals and cosmetics overhauled and much money spent. Supplied all original driver's manuals, full history and now reading 87,000 miles on the odometer, it is presented beautifully and has a lovely patinated beige interior.

With only 801 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 models built between 1968 to 1970, and only 52 being right-hand drive, this car offers the opportunity to own a very rare and exclusive front-engined V12 Ferrari at a very reasonable guide price of £145,000 - £165,000.

Finally, completing the quartet is a highly desirable 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ which was delivered to a Mr. R. Minnick of New York in Argento Metallizzato silver with contrasting Black leather interior.

This much-loved car has been the recipient of well-documented maintenance and mechanical works since 2005 to keep it in top running order, including a gearbox rebuild among other refurbishments. Beautifully presented and boasting original features such as the correct Cromodora wheels and Becker Mexico stereo, and a 2012 report by Ferrari Historian, Marcel Massini, this Daytona is entered into auction at a very fair guide price of £500,000 - £550,000.

Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, said: “These four Ferraris represent some of the best cars we have ever presented for sale and will, without doubt, attract some fierce bidding at Blenheim Palace.

“They all feature fascinating histories and have been cherished throughout their lives, with detailed maintenance records and fabulous original colour combinations. It is so rare to find such high quality cars – and we at Silverstone Auctions are very proud to bring them to the Salon Privé Sale. With a host of other high-end classic and modern cars appearing on our lot list, the atmosphere in the sales room will be absolutely electric.”

First Restored Corvette, the "Blue Devil" is the first finished car after sinkhole damaged eight cars.

TMW COMMENT - This is great news to see that the cars have been restored to their former glory, I am a little upset that the entire batch of damaged cars will not be repaired, as these cars should be kept in the condition before the hole appeared, this is our fourth post on the sink hole, please read the others here.

SINKHOLE DESTROYS MUSEUM 

FINAL CORVETTE RESCUED FROM HOLE 

CORVETTE MUSEUM RECEIVES HUGE DONATION

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Corvette ZR1 ‘Blue Devil’ debuts at SEMA Show on way back to museum

Chevrolet today unveiled the restored 2009 Corvette ZR1 that was damaged earlier this year when a sinkhole developed beneath the National Corvette Museum. It’s on display this week at the SEMA Show, before heading back to the museum in Bowling Green, Ky.

The ZR1, nicknamed the “Blue Devil,” is the first of the eight cars swallowed by the sinkhole to be restored. One of two show cars used to introduce the all-new Corvette ZR1 in January 2008, the car was on loan from Chevrolet to the National Corvette Museum when the sinkhole developed.

Museum personnel were alerted about motion detectors going off in the Skydome area of the facility on the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 12. They arrived to find a sinkhole measuring about 45 feet wide, 60 feet long and up to 30 feet deep – and it had swallowed eight Corvettes.

Three weeks later, the ZR1 was pulled out of the sinkhole. Despite falling nearly 30 feet, it started and drove out of the Skydome under its own power.

“After that unprecedented event, the ZR1 was the first car to be lifted out of the sinkhole,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president, performance vehicles and motorsports. “It was great to recover it, bring it back to Chevrolet and begin the restoration of this significant Corvette.”

The ZR1 remained on display at the museum until September, when it was returned to Chevrolet for restoration. The damage included:

• Cracked carbon-fiber ground effects and a broken passenger-side rocker panel
• Damaged passenger front fender, as well as cracks in both doors
• Cracked windshield, hood window glass and passenger headlamp assembly
• Bent rear control arms on the driver’s side
• Cracked oil lines to the supercharged LS9 engine’s dry-sump oiling system.

Six weeks after work began, the restored ZR1 was started for the first time at the General Motors Heritage Center.

Two other cars will be restored next year – the 1-millionth Corvette and a 1962 Corvette – while the other five will remain in their as-recovered state to preserve their historical significance. They will become part of a future display at the museum.

Mclaren previews the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka

Suzuka is one of the most revered circuits in the world. Its fast corners and undulations are a genuine test of man and machine, which might explain why 18 of the last 19 grands prix at the track have been won by world champions. In short: this is a racetrack at which only the best drivers succeed.

Facts & Stats: Suzuka

The Circuit

Built in 1962 as a test track for Honda, Suzuka’s sweeping figure-of-eight layout has remained largely unchanged for more than 50 years. The track hosted its first Formula 1 race in 1987, since when it has staged the Japanese Grand Prix every year, except on two occasions (2007/’08). As with most of F1’s classic circuits, drivers and team members know the corners by name, rather than simply by number. The Esses, Degner, Spoon and 130R are some of the most famous corners in motor racing, and each will demand ultimate respect and commitment from the drivers this weekend. With an average speed of 225km/h (139mph), Suzuka is one of the fastest circuits on the F1 calendar. All three sectors around the lap contain fast corners and a period of full-throttle, and the track is also very narrow and bumpy. It punishes even the smallest of mistakes.

The Race

Engine power is important and aerodynamic efficiency is vital, especially through the Esses in sector one. This sequence of five high-speed corners tests the agility of a car and it’s through this section that the drivers have to position their cars with pinpoint accuracy, or risk losing large chunks of time. Another challenging feature of Suzuka’s 5.807km (3.608-mile) layout is the downhill grid. At the start of the race the slope requires the drivers to hold their cars on the brakes until releasing the clutch; if the task isn’t carried out seamlessly, a poor getaway is inevitable. Pirelli are making available their two hardest rubber compounds – the Medium (Option) and the Hard (Prime) – as they did in Malaysia, Spain, Great Britain and Italy earlier in the year. The reason for the conservative tyre choice is the number of high-speed corners on the lap, through which up to 800kg of load is placed on the tyres.

The Team

McLaren has won the Japanese Grand Prix on nine occasions, the team’s most recent victory coming in 2011 with Jenson Button. As was the case in Singapore last time out, Kevin Magnussen will be tackling the circuit for the first time.

Vital Statistics

Japanese Grand Prix 3rd - 5th October Suzuka

Race distance 53 laps (307.471km/191.054 miles) Start time 15:00 (local)/06:00 (GMT) Circuit length 5.807km/3.608 miles 2013 Winner Sebastian Vettel 2013 Pole Mark Webber Lap record Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren MP4-20) 1m31.540s (228.372km/h) First race 1987 What makes it special What isn’t special about Suzuka? Fast, flowing corners; unique figure-of-eight layout; hugely enthusiastic fans. We love it! Wins from pole 12 Track abrasiveness High. A lot of the asphalt is old and abrasive, which, when combined with the high lateral loads generated in the fast corners, makes it very demanding for tyres Pirelli tyre choice Medium (Option) / Hard (Prime), a combination that has already been used four times this year (Malaysia, Spain, GB, Italy) 2013 Winning strategy 2 pitstops Fuel consumption Average – just over 65 per cent of the lap is spent at full throttle, but the flowing nature of the track makes it relatively easy on fuel consumption Brakewear Low. The brakes are used in only 11 of the 18 corners, the equivalent of 10 percent of the lap Weather Warm and humid. Suzuka’s coastal location means rain can move in fast. Qualifying in 2010 was a washout after a prolonged rainstorm DRS zones One – on the start-finish straight Turbo effect Average, owing to the high average speed and minimal levels of acceleration from low speed Safety Car likelihood There’s a 60 per cent chance of a Safety Car, which is quite high. Accidents are usually high-speed, resulting in debris needing to be cleared away Grid advantage The racing line is on the left, giving that side of the track a slight advantage Pitlane time 21s

McLaren at the Japanese Grand Prix

Wins 9 (1977, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2011) Poles 6 (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2007, 2008) Fastest laps 8 (1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2011)

Team Talk Jenson Button: Car 22 Age 34 (January 19 1980) GPs 261 Wins 15 Poles 8 FLs 8

“Coming to Suzuka feels like a second home race for me. Japan is such a special place and my win here in 2011 really stands out as a personal highlight. The fans there really set it apart and there’s an incredible atmosphere about the whole place all weekend. “It’s also one of the best circuits we come to; a real challenge and incredibly unforgiving, which makes it all the more rewarding when you get it right. For me the Esses are the best section of corners in the world – totally unique to Suzuka, which makes racing here so exciting. Being such a tricky, high-speed track you need good downforce, rhythm and total focus to get the most out of a lap. “Despite not getting to the finish in Singapore, we’re definitely on an upward curve in terms of developing the car. Suzuka will be a tricky one for us, but I’m still really looking forward to it.”

Kevin Magnussen: Car 20 Age 21 (October 05 1992) GPs 14 Wins 0 Poles 0 FLs 0

“Suzuka is one of those legendary circuits - I can’t wait to get out there! I’m really looking forward to driving onto the track for the first time and tackling the famous corners you always hear about – the Esses, the Degners, then Spoon and 130R. “After Singapore, I’m hoping the conditions in Japan won’t be quite so difficult to manage! It was a really tough race and we deserved more than we came home with, but I’m confident that we can begin the weekend in good form and build on the improvements we’ve already seen in the past few races. “Suzuka looks like a really challenging circuit, very fast with some really tricky corners to get right, which makes overtaking a bit more difficult than at other tracks. I can’t wait to get to the track and start working with my engineers to get the best set-up. After the difficult race we had last time out, I’m going to give it my absolute all to get the best possible result here for the team.”

Eric Boullier Racing director, McLaren Mercedes “Although on paper our results from Singapore were very disappointing, the team has quickly refocused and we’ve taken many positives from the weekend which we aim to carry into Suzuka. More than anything, our performance proved our total determination to succeed and fight right until the last moment. Despite coming home with just one point, our lap times and race pace compared to the front-runners is certainly more promising than earlier in the year, so this is what we must focus on at Suzuka to keep up this momentum. “For McLaren, Suzuka is a very special race. The Japanese people are so welcoming from the moment we step off the plane, and the whole team enjoys coming back to Japan each year. It’s a circuit that the fans and drivers love, and its traditional slot towards the end of the season means we usually see some incredibly tense on-track battles. “Suzuka is an interesting challenge in terms of set-up - getting the car’s balance right will be the key to success. Our engineers are working hard to make sure we get the most out of our car this weekend, and our aim is to build on our improvements in Singapore and come away with a result that is more representative of our recent progress.”