The curious Jaguar, as its name suggests, originated from a British-Italian-Swiss cooperation. Aigle, the Swiss company founded by Dr. Pierre-Paul Filippi in 1949 and named aptly after his city of residence, was primarily known for its furniture in the caravan sector, but it also possessed a small coachbuilding division. Filippi succeeded in getting designer Giovanni Michelotti on board (a real coup at the time) and, in addition, also managed to negotiate a verbal deal with the Turinese design house Ghia for permission to use its famed name.
Meticulously documented trips to the Côte d’Azur
Under this newly formed association, two models emerged, both based on a Jaguar Mark VII chassis: a two-door coupé in 1952, and a convertible in 1954. The latter was delivered to Jean Rein, a wealthy Swiss surgeon who kept the car until 1977, covering an impressive 98,000km in the process. He drove the elegant drop-top regularly down to the French Riviera. Notes from his personal albums (a real labour of love) meticulously document the tours, including precise mileages and fuel consumption. In 1977, the car found its way into the hands of a French Jaguar brand expert and collector, where it has stayed to this day.
According to Osenat, the car is in a partially authentic state. Subsequent, documented modifications include a Jaguar XK120 engine and a new interior, resplendent in lavish burgundy leather. The dark blue body paint is untouched since 1977 and the car is ‘ready to go’, allegedly offering compelling performance. The estimate for the Jaguar Ghia-Aigle is 200,000 to 250,000 euros.
You can find many other interesting classics at Osenat’s Grand Parquet auction, which takes place in Fontainebleau on 22 June 2014. We’ve gathered our favourites together here.
