One of the first flat-floor Jaguar E-types has been discovered in a French barn where it was stashed away in 1974 and is due to be sold tomorrow (26 October).
Having had only one owner since 1969, chassis 40 was rediscovered near Le Mans just a few weeks ago and is believed not to have moved for nearly 40 years, although it is said to have been started up five years ago.
Unsurprisingly, the early chassis number and barnfind status of the E-type is expected to send bidding sky-high – despite a £30-40,000 estimate –for the car, which will be sold at Coys' Spirit of Motoring sale in Ascot tomorrow.
The E-type is not the only 'barnfind' Jaguar in the auction because a 1951 XK120 roadster recently exhumed from an Essex lock-up will also go under the hammer (estimate £15-25,000).
Coys' Chris Routledge said: “This is a really amazing find which has got the Jaguar world really excited. The 1961 car is in amazing condition considering where it was left and interest is going off the scale… and the XK120 Roadster is reported to have a competition history.”
James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car