2005-08-10 17:18:05 | Robert writes:

Entered Christies Cumberland Hotel,London Auction 29th Mch 1993 estimate £8000-£12000 hammer price £7000 Ref # VVY 67E Engine # 7E 1793-9 Year 1967

2014-04-30 04:17:10 | Lofty writes:

For sale at Bonhams on 28th April 2014
www.bonhams.com/auctions/21899/lot/316

The ex-Jaguar Experimental Department/Lofty England.
The only E Type Jaguar fitted by the works with an overdrive from new
1967 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2-Litre 2+2 Coupé
Registration no. VYY 67E
Chassis no. 1E50706DN
Engine no. 7E51793-9
£45,000 - 65,000

Not sold

Overdrive had been an option on the preceding 'XK' range of Jaguar sports cars and continued on its contemporary saloons but was never offered on the E-type, the experimental car presented here being the only known factory-built example. Its chassis number is '1E50706DN', the 'DN' suffix as always in Jaguar nomenclature indicating the presence of an overdrive. The accompanying Jaguar Heritage certificate records the first owner as 'Jaguar Cars Ltd Experimental Department for Mr England', the latter being the legendary Frank Raymond Wilton 'Lofty' England. 'Lofty' England had joined Jaguar from Alvis in 1946, taking the job of service manager. His pre-war experience, following the completion of an apprenticeship at Daimler, had included spells as a race engineer working for Whitney Straight, ERA, Dick Seaman and the Siamese Princes Chula and Bira. When Jaguar began to exploit the competition potential of its new XK120 sports car, England's track record made him the logical choice for the crucial role of team manager. By the time the works effort was wound up at the end of the 1956 season, Jaguar had won the prestigious Le Mans 24-Hour Race four times, the '56 victory going to the D-Type entered by Écurie Écosse, which repeated the win the following year. Returning to mainstream management, England was appointed assistant managing director in 1961 and eventually succeeded Sir William Lyons as Jaguar's Chairman and Chief Executive. He retired in 1974 and died in 1995 aged 83, having done more than anyone other than Lyons himself to determine Jaguar's policies and public image.

Manufactured in January 1967 and delivered in March of that same year, '1E50706DN' remained with Jaguar for the next couple of years before passing to its second owner, Keith Ballisat, in August 1969. Jaguar would not normally have sold an experimental car to a private owner but Keith Ballisat was no ordinary Joe. Competitions Manager with Shell Oils, he had previously enjoyed a successful career as a rally driver/navigator and circuit racer with experience of Formula Junior and Formula 2 single-seaters, and was one of the 'movers and shakers' in the motor racing world of the 1960s.

Formerly registered 'OMU 104E', the E-Type appears to have previously belonged to one N Brady, Esq, whose name is on a detailed invoice on file relating to its extensive restoration in 1986 by D W Autos of St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex. There is also an album of photographs recording the work. Described as in generally good condition, this unique Jaguar E-type is offered with V5 registration document and a fresh MoT.