2019-01-17 13:45:17 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 2/19

www.artcurial.com/en/node/1113501

Auction description:

Sale Rétromobile 2019 The Official Sale - 08 february 2019 /Lot 42 1963 Jaguar Mk2 Tour de France

Lot 42

French title

Chassis number 223101DN

- Winner of the 1963 Tour de France with Consten and Renel

- Clear, known history

- A big cat with an impressive record in competition

- Exceptionally authentic and well preserved

This Jaguar Mk2 is one of the most famous in France, if not the world. It was with this very car that Bernard Consten and Jack Renel won the Touring category in the 1963 Tour de France. For Consten, it was his fifth victory in the daunting race, which was held from 14-22 September over a total distance of 3600 miles. Of the 122 starters, only 31 made it to the finish (with just 10 out of 61 in the Touring category), which says a great deal about the difficulty of the event. For Consten, moreover, the race was far from a foregone conclusion, as his Jaguar Mk2 was up against two extremes: on the one hand, the light and nimble Mini Coopers, and on the other, the big Ford Falcons, which were hard to hold off on track with their 350bhp. There were some outsiders too, like Alfa Romeo, whose 2600 coupé driven by Jean Rolland also proved a formidable opponent.

But it was Consten's professional skill, experience and consistent performance which made the difference. As the days went by, he succeeded in shaking off Henri Greder, who was outstanding at the wheel of his Falcon, and Paddy Hopkirk, who turned in a spectacular performance. The figures even showed that the Jaguar would have been ranked third overall across all categories, behind the Ferrari GTOs driven by Guichet/Behra and Bianchi/Abate, and in front of the Ferrari GTO of Spinedi. This fifth win earned Consten his nickname of "Monsieur Tour de France".

This brilliant result may also be attributed to the exceptional car which we are presenting here. Delivered new to Jaguar France Royal Elysée, who registered it 777 PA 75 at the start of September 1963, it was prepared to compete in the Tour de France and turned into a real racing machine: the body was strengthened, the suspension and transmission modified with the fitment of a close-ratio gearbox and limited-slip differential, while the 3.8-litre six-cylinder dual overhead-cam engine was modified with a higher compression ratio and an additional fuel tank was installed … The interior too underwent several changes, with the fitment of a roll cage, bucket seats and a modified pedal set … The rear bench seat was replaced by a lighter item but has since been reinstated for greater comfort and ease of use.

After its exploits in the Tour de France, the car was sold in 1966 to Robert Dutoit, an amateur racing driver from Lille, who registered it 533 EB 59 and competed in several regional rallies, the Mont Ventoux hill climb in June 1969 as well as some track races, notably at Spa. Dutoit then went on to race with a Porsche 904, which we presented last year, and which he sold to none other than Bernard Consten! In 1970, he passed on the Mk2 to his son Dominique, who kept it for over 20 years, before selling it in 1996 to a Jaguar enthusiast from Marseille. He registered it 777 TF 13, but his wife considered it too uncomfortable and he sold it in 1997 to its current owner, a highly active and valued member of the French Jaguar Drivers' Club. The car has therefore had a very limited number of owners, the last of them for more than 20 years!

Since all these owners were connoisseurs, the car has always been scrupulously maintained, without compromising its historical integrity. Robert Dutoit, with the help of the factory, adapted an inlet manifold with three carburettors instead of two, and camshafts with a D-type profile were fitted. A mechanical overhaul was carried out by René Sontrop, its power output is close to that of a D-Type today. We strongly encourage potential buyers to consult the car's service history, which describes in detail the work carried out.

The car has taken part in several editions of the historical Tour Auto and was also shown at the concours d'élégance at Chantilly in 2016, in the "Cars of the Tour de France" category. Extremely well known among Jaguar and motorsport enthusiasts, the car has been the subject of numerous articles and features in the motoring press, both in period and today. Once again, we invite buyers to consult the history file which is at their disposal.

Today, this Jaguar Mk2 is in very well preserved condition, with a patina which reflects the richness of its past life. With its radiator grille wreathed with a red flame, its wide wheels with Dunlop Racing tyres (for road use it is equipped with Michelin XAS), its long-range driving lights, and the original tripmaster still mounted in the glove box, the car has a strong personality. It completed the mission which all racing cars set out to accomplish: to win. For this reason, as well as for its history since then and the condition in which it has been maintained, it is an exceptional car.

Estimation 270 000 - 360 000 €

Sold 298,000 €