FOR SALE VIA PUBLIC AUCTION
Sunday 27 June, 2.30pm

ASB Showgrounds, Auckland
All lots are subject to a buyer’s premium of 15%+GST

Further info available on our website.

The XJ series of motorcars became the mainstay of Jaguar cars post 1968 and, in fact, was the last motorcar to have any input by Sir William Lyons, the company’s founder. After the series 1 and 2, a relatively short run of two door XJ coupés with a pillarless hardtop body called the XJ-C were built between 1975 and 1978. Whilst the car was actually launched at the London Motor Show in October 1973, it soon became clear that it was not ready for production and the economic troubles unfolding in the western world at the time reduced further any sense of urgency about producing and selling the cars. They finally started to emerge from Jaguar show-rooms some two years later and were priced higher than the four-door car becoming immediately relatively exclusive. The profile of these sought after touring cars was so attractive, with windows down, that today they are often hard to find in good condition.

From this situation Classic Cars of Coventry (later renamed Lynx) entered the fray. The Lynx Motor Company was founded in 1968 by engineer Guy Black and architect Roger Ludgate. The company established itself as a specialist in the repair, maintenance, converting and preparation of sports and racing cars. The Lynx XJC convertible came about when one of their customers failed to find other conversion specialists who were prepared to undertake such a task. There were various difficulties in performing such a transformation as the Jaguar uses fender tanks and there was no room for power struts in the rear wings. Lynx solved this problem by developing miniature electric motors mounted on the hood frame and going on to produce 14 vehicles in this configuration tho only two were V12s.

Perhaps it is best now to turn to the vendor of the example presented here by Webb’s to get some local context around this uncommon iteration of the Jaguar marque.

See letter from Classic Cars of Coventry (Later named LYNX) dated 5/12/80:

"The second car: Reg SA 1069

It was brought into New Zealand by Fred Tuckey who was an Australian married to a New Zealander. The New Zealand car was used by Steven Spielberg in England and Morocco during the filming of Raiders of the Lost Ark. John Brown could supply greater detail if required. Recently the car has had new Bridgestone tyres and a completely new seat belt system. A new stainless steel master cylinder (brake) kit and all new flexible hoses, pads, rebuilt discs fitted.

· The car had an expensive repaint in November 1993. Now silver with blue hood (was blue).

· New header tank (radiator) 28/04/96.
· New wheel erch trims (chrome on brass) 15/04/96.
· Chassis steam cleaned & re-treated with Dinot. 15/05/96.

John Brown still lives in England. Fred Tuckey, the owner of Classic Cars of Coventry (now LYNX) had the car for 11 years apart from the time Steven Spielberg had it in 1986, the year before he came to NZ, he put the car through the factory for a complete re-fit into Series 3 specification. The car was at this time completely re-fitted in cream leather (no vinyl). Fred Tuckey bought the car to NZ in 1987 and registered it as a 1986 model (year of manufacture).

Fred Tuckey was a multi-millionaire and had homes in Warsaw, Berlin, Miami and Amsterdam so money was no problem on the re- build in 1986. The milage of 45,000 is genuine.

In addition to owning Lynx Motors, he has a truly huge company in pornography. He supplied 169 shops in Eastern Europe and Europe alone. The Miami operation had a staff of 15. He also had a shop in London in antique documents, coins, and art. He had before his death possibly the largest coin collection in the world.”

The current owner bought the car in 1988 and owned it until the end of 1991 when he lost his shirt as well as the car. He liked it so much that when on his feet again he bought the car back in 1996, carried out a major rebuild over the next few years and has owned the car ever since. Over time it has had two re-builds; the one referred to above and another the vendor undertook which resulted from some sustained frontal damage and which was not worth fixing on its own so decided to go the “whole hog” and conduct yet another rebuild! Now finished in metallic blue, a tonneau cover is included with the car. Hood operation it should be noted is manual. The original engine management system has been superseded by a more reliable German version that eases starting. Automatic transmission is in situ plus a relevant model handbook.

Now to the Steven Spielberg reference above, it is understood that the noted movie producer was an owner of the vehicle apparently when shooting Raiders of the Lost Ark in the UK. However, Webb’s have not viewed any evidence as to this fact hence it remains somewhat anecdotal! Please note this car is a Jaguar Series II XJ12 of 1975 production though apparently not sold or registered in the UK until 1976. Subsequently converted in 1986 by a past UK owner to Series III specification and when bought to NZ in 1987 registered as a 1986 model.

A very rare car in this form combining grace, space and pace with the enjoyment of open top motoring in fine weather.