You're looking at the only known Jaguar D-type in Australia. You're also looking at the car expected to become the most valuable ever auctioned in Australia.
A winner in several continents
The 1955 British-made motor comes to Mossgreen's annual Motorclassica Auction on October 14 armed with a AUS$8m ($6.4m) high estimate.
That's a testament to its rarity (just 87 D-types were built) and its rich racing pedigree.
Owned by Le Mans 24 Hour winner Duncan Hamilton, the vehicle saw action in the UK, French West Africa and Singapore, before racing in Australia in the late 1960s.
Aussie motor racing star and former Lear Jet president Bib Stillwell bought the car for a then world record in 1982 and raced it throughout the US.
The auction house calls it "one of the most iconic and coveted cars in the collector car world". If it sells, it will smash the Australian record – set at $735,000 for a Holden Monaro HRT 427 in 2008.
The last D-type to cross the block was the specimen that won the 1956 Le Mans for Ecurie Ecosse. It sold for $21.8m in August last year – a then record for a British car at auction.
These are strong days for Jaguars on the auction block. A 1963 Jaguar E-type lightweight made $7.3 million at Bonhams' Scottsdale auction in January. It too had an Australian link; Bob Jane drove it to first place in the 1963 Australian GT Championship.
Also up for grabs at the sale at Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building is a 1934 MG Q Type, valued at up to $3.5m. It's one of only eight made.
Please sign up to our free newsletter to receive exciting news about classic car auctions.
