"Jaguar" from the popular TV movie 60's sold at auction

The television series "Avengers", which aired in the sixties, presented the audience a courteous hero John Steed, played by Patrick McNee, he ran a number of excellent British cars - Rolls-Royce, Bentley and even the famous "Greyhound." Then he received a continuation of the television movie. "Avengers" became "New", and Steed was at the wheel of the car, which will be discussed in this article - a special modified version of the Jaguar XJ12 C of 1976 release. 40 years later this machine was auctioned to a private collector for $ 96,000 - five times as much as the initial bidding price. Approximately the same amount you would pay for a brand-new Jaguar F-Type Coupe V6 S.

Unusual auction lot

As part of the British auction of H & H Classics' held at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford in October 2014, a car from the New Avengers was chained to the sights of everyone present, even despite the layer of dust that covered it. It was reported that the car was stored without use for many years and now needs restoration. In the language of the auction, this means "take a trailer with you."

Incredible motor

The former Stid car XCJ12 C is a functional replica of the race car Broadspeed Jaguar, which participated in the ETCC race in 1976. Under the hood is a 5.3-liter twelve-cylinder engine that comes with a three-speed gearbox. This motor will be a joy to its buyer after recovery, as it is capable of squeezing 265 horsepower, but at the moment it even pains to look at it. So you can safely say that the private collector who bought this car, in addition received a serious challenge.

Classic appearance, luxurious interior

Yes, at the moment the appearance of the car leaves much to be desired, but it hides a huge potential. One has only to look at these wonderful wheels! You can also pay attention to the standard interior of the "Jaguars" of the seventies, which, it is worth saying, looks more than nice - darkened glass, a thin steering wheel, as well as a wooden dashboard trim.

Is it worth the car of this money?

What do you think? Would you pay almost one hundred thousand dollars plus a few thousand more for repairs and restoration to get the "Great Cat" by John Steed? This question can be looked at from different points of view. Naturally, if you are guided by practical considerations, it is more than stupid to spend one hundred thousand dollars on a car that will need to be restored to put on wheels. For this money, you can buy almost any high-end car, not even a second-hand car, but a completely new one, so if you just want a practical version of the car, then it's better to invest this money in a different direction. But if it is a question of aesthetic and historical value, then such a price is quite justified. After all, this car was on television screens forty years ago, he saw the whole world - and now he will stand in your garage. Moreover, it is worth noting that this is not just an exhibit for the museum - it's a working version that will calmly travel along the roads after the restoration. Thus, the private collector who bought this car, achieved its goal. He did not buy an ordinary car for everyday trips to work. He acquired a piece of history, a classic model, which is no longer widely available. That's why from this point of view, one hundred thousand dollars was definitely not wasted. Especially if a person can afford to spend such money for the acquisition of such a lot - then, he really wants it.