XK Jags, but not as we know them!

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Gstaad, the Swiss mountain village where it is impossible to find a cup of coffee for under 10 euros, used to house a Ferrari auction in the most prestigious of the village’s hotels: the Palace. We ordered a couple of wines there one day during the auction, and still wake up every now and then seeing that bill right in front of us.

Anyhow: that most atmospheric of sales is gone now for some time, but Gstaad continues to give place to a classic car auction, now by the Swiss Oldtimer Galerie Toffen. And on the 28th and 29th this month, in that period between Christmas and New Year’s Day when so many people look for some entertainment, you can come over to have a look and perhaps drive home a classic (don’t forget the snow chains).

We picked out two Jaguars they have on offer, both XKs but not as we know them. First there is the 1951 Jaguar XK 120 coachbuilt by Autenrieth of Darmstadt in Germany. For a staggering 36,000 Reichsmarks they turned the car into something more spacious with ‘Schlaraffia’ seats and unusual dashboard lay-out. There’s also a one-piece windshield, door handles from a BMW 327, a heater and a pale blue paint job. Like it or not, it is totally unique.

The same goes for the XK150 Estate of 1959-vintage. This car was converted as late as in 1968 by Peel coachbuilders on behalf of racer Douglas Wilson Spratt for Patrick Lindsey who used it to tow his ERA single seaters to and from racing events. The car is said to be used itself in competition too, entering it – amongst others – to the Tholt-y-Will hillclimb on the Isle of Man, where it achieved a considerably better time than Patrick Lindsey himself in his ERA, leading to the now classic remark from Lindsey: “My God, I got beaten by my Tow Car!”

(Words editor, pictures courtesy Oldtimer Gallery Toffen / Daniel Reinhardt)

 

   

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