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40th Jaguar E-Type ever made sells at auction for lb88k

The 40th Jaguar E-Type ever built, a right-hand-drive 1961 model, hit the auction block and was bought by an anonymous British buyer for 88,000 pounds ($141,310), ITV reports. The Jaguar had been stored at the previous owner's estate, in dry storage, at a derelict farm in Le Mans, France since July 1974.
E-Type chassis No. 860040 was bought by the previous owner in 1969 and was originally gray. But it was driven home to France and painted it in its current aubergine in 1974, before it was put into storage. During that time it was considered missing by experts, but there it sat under a dust sheet car cover for most of its life, so the body is in good condition. The family mechanic said that the car was last started about five years ago, and the engine recently was turned over. Coys auction house describes the original interior, which is also preserved well, as a "time warp."
Chris Routledge of Coys before the auction said, "They're sort of a mythical beast for enthusiast, at the time they were all handmade on special order, so Jaguar collectors look at the first 100 cars in a different way," BBC News reports. He added, "We estimate it to be worth between 20,000 and 40,000 pounds (about $32,100 to $64,200) but our feedback from collectors and interest worldwide suggests it could sell for between 80,000 and 100,000 pounds (about $128,500 to $160,600)." Of course, his revised estimate was right on target.

Jaguar F-Type 'Design Study' headed to Goodwood

With the Goodwood Festival of Speed taking place this weekend, Jaguar has announced it will be there with its new trio of R models as well as a design study version of the hot new F-Type sports car. While we've already seen the XFR-S last year at the LA Auto Show and the XJR and XKR-S GT at the New York Auto Show, the F-Type design study has our attention.
Based on our recent sighting of a fixed-roof F-Type being tested in full camouflage, this could mean that we'll finally get to see a sexy F-Type Coupe in near-production form. Of course, with all of the other R branded models on display, Jaguar could also unveil a sporty new R - or maybe even an RS - F-Type roadster. Whatever is planned, it will not be a static display - Jaguar says the design study car will be in action, making the fabled run up Goodwood Hill with chief engineer Mike Cross at the wheel. Scroll down for more information about what Jaguar has planned for Goodwood.

Jaguar design boss admits X-Type was a mistake

History has a way of repeating itself, especially in the auto industry. When Jaguar was owned by Ford, the British brand attempted to field a competitor for the BMW 3 Series, called the X-Type. Based on the bones of a Ford Mondeo, it aped the styling of Jaguar's flagship model, the XJ, while borrowing liberally from the Ford parts bin. That was 2001.
Now, in 2013, Jaguar is planning a new 3 Series challenger based on the platform previewed by the C-X17 Concept, while Ford is attempting to take the latest Mondeo upmarket. The moves have both brands recognizing where, why, and how the X-Type failed. "It didn't look mature or powerful or anything. It was just a car," Jaguar's current head of advanced design, Julian Thomson, told PistonHeads. Basing the X-Type on a front-drive car while giving it styling that was meant for a rear-driver lead to proportions that "were plainly wrong," Thomson told PH. Ford's European head of quality, Gunnar Herrmann, added that the X-Type was "a fake Jaguar, because every piece I touch is Ford."
For what it's worth, the X-Type's successor in the segment will sport rear-drive, with plenty of input from Ian Callum. Thomson described the new model, which would challenge the 3 Series as having, "Big wheels right to the ends of the car, low bonnet, short overhangs, very low cabins." Sounds good to us.