This auction has seen several superb entries of Le Mans items from that golden decade in the 1950s, when Jaguar was winning everything in sight! I have therefore decided to gather all these items together in this opening Part of the catalogue. Ecurie Ecosse, the Scottish giant-killers were key players in the 1950s, so all their Lots are included here.
And what an opener! This is the 1953 Le Mans programme signed by Duncan Hamilton and Tony Rolt, the two winning drivers, along with Lofty England, the Jaguar team manager.
Estimate Price: (e£600-800)
I have never seen this trio of signatures before. Probably unique and this is reflected in the wide estimate. VG.
Still with Le Mans 1953, this beautifully leather-bound photo album contains 23 pages of large mono photos – all bar three with professional, hand-written captions.
Estimate Price: (e£500-600)
Of these 12 show Jaguars or Jaguar people. Seven are general views – pits, spectators, etc and four show other cars/drivers. The album has been protected by a fitted dust-cover, so the leather binding is in excellent condition. This is the first time I have seen such a beautifully-presented Le Mans collection. Fine, probably unique.
“Challenge Me the Race” by Mike Hawthorn.
Estimate Price: (e£350-400)
1st edition. 1958. Signed by Mike on title page, with a dedication. Mike’s signatures are rare on the open market. Book VG in VG protected dust-wrapper.
“Touch Wood” is Duncan Hamilton’s autobiography and this signed copy has an amusing story attached.
Estimate Price: (e£100-150 the pair)
The seller’s father was at Le Mans in 1953 and cheered on the victory. Thereafter and to his father’s intense embarrassment, at social functions his mother would tell anyone who would listen that he was conceived on father’s triumphant return. She would mention that they were even considering christening him “Richard Le Mans”. Much later his own thought was that “Richard Rolt Hamilton” would have been more stylish. The story reached Duncan through a mutual friend along with a copy of the book for signature. To his great surprise, Duncan wrote an amusing two-page letter in reply, enclosing the book, which he had dedicated to “Richard Rolt Hamilton”. A lovely story and so typical of Duncan’s wonderful sense of humour. Book and manuscript letter both VG.
“Jaguar at White House – Le Mans 1953”.
Estimate Price: (e£100-150)
A print from Nicholas Watts’ painting of Hamilton and Rolt’s progress to that superb C-type win. This is a signed print and it is the signatures that make it very special indeed. They are of four iconic Jaguar figures, all of them sadly no longer with us: Duncan Hamilton and Tony Rolt (drivers of the winning car), Lofty England (team manager) and Norman Dewis (lead test driver). A very special group of signatures that can never be repeated. 32 x 23. Mounted, framed and glazed. Fine.
“Le Mans 1953”.
Sold Price: £100.00
Limited edition print from Michael Turner’s painting of the winning C-type leading the Ascari/Villoresi Ferrari 375MM through the Esses. Signed by the drivers, Duncan Hamilton and Tony Rolt, as well as the artist. Mounted, framed and glazed. 22 x 18. Fine.
Mike Hawthorn’s 1955 Le Mans winning D-type by AutoArt in the unusual 1:12 scale.
Sold Price: £375.00
Pictured with a 1:43 scale Danbury D-type for comparison. Mint. Boxed.
“Jaguar Pit Stop – Le Mans 1953” by Terence Cuneo.
Sold Price: £165.00
A popular piece of Jaguar artwork. Drivers Duncan Hamilton and Tony Rolt confer on the pit wall and Lofty England directs operations. Mounted, framed and glazed. 32 x 26. Signed by Cuneo and by Lofty. Includes a photo taken at the launch of this print showing Terence Cuneo in the C-type with Lofty at the wheel. Fine.
Mike Hawthorn’s 1955-winning D-type.
Le Mans 1955 Programme.
A superbly-detailed model of the Ecurie Ecosse team transporter at 1:18 scale, by “CMR”.
Estimate Price: (e£150-200)
Huge at 19 inches long and shown here with the more usual Corgi 1:43 scale version for comparison. Mint. Boxed.
Ecurie Ecosse Transporter by Spark at 1:43 scale.
Estimate Price: (e£150-175)
Superb level of detail that is Spark’s trademark and therefore in a different league to the more common Corgi model mentioned above. Now out of production and much sought after. Mint. Boxed. Fine nr Mint.
Ecurie Ecosse, all the Jaguars – One Glorious Decade” by Les Hughes.
Sold Price: £125.00
This magnificent book is Les’s magnum opus. It is the result of many years of research and a superb tribute to his wordcraft and his scholarship. 651 pages, hundreds of photos more than a few of which, I have not seen before. All this in a book with high production standards and protected by its own slip-case. Copy no 307 of 350. Mint.
“Ecurie Ecosse – David Murray and the legendary Scottish motor racing team” by Eric Dymock.
Sold Price: £50.00
PJ Publishing. 2007. 272 pp. 9 x 12. Eric is a Scottish writer and journalist who has been deeply embedded in the Scottish motor racing scene for years. He has drawn strongly on that deep well of knowledge and contacts to create this splendid book. Fine/VG.
”Ecurie Ecosse – The story of Scotland’s international racing team” by David Murray.
Estimate Price: (e£40-50)
Stanley Paul. 1962. History of the famous team founded by David and various keen amateur Scottish racers in the early 50s, which went to win Le Mans two years in succession in the 1950s. Not seen very often these days. VG/VG.
Two later Ecurie Ecosse car badges in enamel – one large in Fine condition.
Sold Price: £35.00
One smaller – chipped and stamped “MGBL 3” on the front of the tongue. Plus an EE pin.
Ecurie Ecosse lapel badge by Kirkwood of Edinburgh.
An original pair of Ecurie Ecosse cufflinks in a later box.
“Wilkie – The Motor Racing Legend”.
Estimate Price: (e£40-50)
The story of the Ecurie Ecosse engine-tuning guru, told with C D A Jones. Signed by Wilkie. Spine of cover faded – as usual. Book – VG.
Photo of Rolt and Hamilton’s celebration lap at Silverstone following their 1953 victory at Le Mans.
‘Le Mans 1953 – The Story of a Great British Achievement’ by D. J. Scannell, Scannell was Secretary of the BRDC in the 1950s.
Estimate Price: (e£40-50)
This is an excellent review of the 1953 race, with a particular feature being the superb photography including many shots of action in the pits. VG.
“Le Mans 1949-59”.
Estimate Price: (e£40-50)
The 1950s volume of Quentin Spurring’s multi-volume history of the race. Jaguar’s golden decade! Fine.
“Jaguar at Le Mans” by Paul Parker.
“Le Mans ’55 – the Crash that Changed the Face of Motor Racing” by Christopher Hilton.
“Le Mans 1954”.
Estimate Price: (e£40-50)
Compiled by the staff of Motor with drawings by George Lane. 50pp card-backed. Published by Temple Press in July 1954. A unique record of the race when notwithstanding an epic last shift drive by Duncan Hamilton in torrential rain, he was just pipped by Gonzalez in an Italian car. Additionally, for those who have an abiding interest in the work of motoring artists, this is a unique collection of the work of George Lane. Covers sl rubbed o/w VG.
“11 Juin 1955” by Michel Bonté.
Estimate Price: (e£40-50)
A French account of the crash and a thought-provoking pair with Hilton’s book above. Fine.
Three professional photos of D-types at Le Mans in 1954, 1955 and 1957.
“Jaguars at the White House – Le Mans 1953”.
Estimate Price: (e£100-125)
An unmounted print from Nicholas Watts’ painting of Hamilton and Rolt’s progress to that superb C-type win. This is a signed print and it is the signatures that make it very special indeed. They are of four iconic Jaguar figures, all of them sadly no longer with us: Duncan Hamilton, Tony Rolt and Lofty England, plus Norman Dewis (lead test driver). A very special group of signatures that can never be repeated. 32 x 23. Fine.
A print of Michael Turner’s portrait of Duncan Hamilton that captures his sense of humour beautifully.
Another Michael Turner print, this time of Mike Hawthorn hotly pursued by Fangio past the White House – Le Mans 1955.
To end this opening part of the catalogue, I offer this model of the 1955 Le Mans winning D-type by “Compulsion Gallery” in the large 1:12 scale.
Sold Price: £105.00
Compulsion Gallery Ltd was a Kent-based company that produced hand-cast sculptures in a special high- density resin material that were then thermal-plated with lead-free pewter. Each piece was hand polished and lacquered to preserve the superb metal finish. These models have the look, weight and cold feel of solid metal. This model was from XJ220 designer, Keith Helfert’s collection and has his signature under the base. These larger-scale models are rare. Fine.
A superb collection from the estate of Neil Smith, joint founder of XK Engineering, which evolved into a company restoring very high-grade Jaguars and Aston Martins. Neil secured his place in the Jaguar pantheon with his sponsorship of an XJ220C in the 1993 Le Mans, a class-winner, later robbed by the pickers of nits! As you will see, this collection is especially strong on Jaguar art. NB. To save repetition, MFG = mounted, framed and glazed.
A very rare leather-bound Jaguar album of colour chips and leather samples from the 1960s.
Sold Price: £300.00
Only the second I’ve seen in nearly 50 years. I suspect that this may have been used at Browns Lane by the unit dealing with Royalty and other VIP customers. Had it been used in the wider dealer network, I would certainly have seen more of them over the years. Fine. Very rare.
“Seven Days and Seven Nights”.
Sold Price: £101.00
Limited edition print by Keith Woodcock. Portrays the world-record run at the Montlhéry track near Paris in August 1952. Signed by the drivers – Stirling Moss, Bert Hadley and Jack Fairman, as well as Mort Morris-Goodall, the team manager. An unrepeatable set of signatures, as all four are no longer with us. 26 x 24. Mounted, framed and glazed. Fine.
“Le Mans 1988” by Alan Starmers.
Sold Price: £120.00
TWR cars 2 and 3. Signed by Tom Walkinshaw and four drivers. Limited edition 202/250. MFG. Fine.
Superb print of Keith Woodcock’s dramatic painting of the Bell/Rouse Broadspeed XJC racer No 3 on its way to second place at Nürburgring in 1977.
Sold Price: £40.00
Signed by both Andy Rouse and the artist. Limited edition. MFG. 26 x 20 o/a. Fine.
The TWR XJS on its way to victory at Donnington first time out in April 1984.
Sold Price: £50.00
A limited-edition print. By Keith Woodcock, signed by him and driver, Chuck Nicholson. See also Lot 108. 26 x 20. MFG. Fine.
Original oil painting of the XJ13 on the MIRA banking by A. J. Rainford.
Original oil painting of a Series 3 E-type FHC by Dave Blyth.
“Light-weight E-type at Tertre Rouge – Le Mans 1962”.
Sold Price: £50.00
Limited edition print by Keith Woodcock. Signed by drivers Briggs Cunningham and Roy Salvadori, as well as the artist. 27 x 23 o/a. MFG. Print has slipped slightly on the mount, but an easy fix – o/w VG.
Michael Turner’s limited-edition print of Tommy and “Bill” Wisdom tanking up a mountain track in the 1936 Alpine Rally mounted in their own SS 100 – BWK 77.
Sold Price: £125.00
This was painted in 1985 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the SS 100. I’m sure Michael would have used his own SS 100 for the detail. He bought DTF 28 in 1955 – one of the longest periods of continuous ownership of any SS 100. 25 x 23 o/a. MFG. VG.
“Le Mans 1955”.
Estimate Price: (e£40-50)
Tony Smith’s limited-edition print of Mike Hawthorn’s D-type working hard ahead of Fangio in his Mercedes. 32 x 26 o/a. MFG. VG.
Two prints in the “Power & Glory” series – Jaguar pits in the 1953 Le Mans and a Mark IX saloon outside Wappenbury Hall, Sir William Lyons’ house.
Tony Smith’s superb cut-away of the D-type, with its extraordinary level of detail and pin-point accuracy.
Sold Price: £51.00*
All of which can be well-appreciated at this large size of 30 x 22 o/a. VG.
A real rarity and the first I have seen! This is a full sheet of the 6d stamp from the 1966 “British Technology” series, featuring the Series 1 E-type FHC.
Sold Price: £79.00
Dry-mounted, so not stuck to the backing. FDC of the complete set at the foot. VG Nr Fine.
Red Series 1 E-type FHC by John Francis, signed by Stirling Moss and Norman Dewis.
Sold Price: £100.00
This is the first of a series of limited-edition Jaguar prints by Francis and signed by Moss and Dewis. To save repetition, please take the following details as read for each one – MFG. 27 x 22 o/a. VG.
Blue Series 1 E-type ots.
Dark blue D-type.
XJ13.
XK120 FHC.
Two photos of Light-weight E-type 5114 WK in action.
