1960/1989 Proteus C-Type

Entered from a private collection

Estimate: £60,000 - £70,000*

Reg No: YYF 830 Chassis No: 200652DN MOT: Exempt

In many ways the XK120’s success, both on and off the track, took Jaguar by surprise. Among the fastest production cars of its day, the model had obvious competition potential but the endurance racing derivative, that debuted at the 1951 Le Mans 24-hours, was an altogether more specialised machine. Conceived behind closed doors, the XK120-Competition - a.k.a. the C-Type - was considerably faster, lighter and nimbler than its roadgoing sibling. The work of Bob Knight and Malcolm Sayer respectively, the newcomer’s sophisticated multi-tubular chassis frame and aerodynamic all-aluminium bodywork allowed it to conquer contemporary Ferrari, Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz opposition.

Famous for winning the 1951 and 1953 Le Mans 24-hours, the C-Type may well have triumphed on the 1952 event had Jaguar not chosen to make various unproven modifications. One subsequent upgrade, that more than validated its worth, was the adoption of four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes. Thus equipped, the C-Type driven by Duncan Hamilton and Tony Rolt at the 1953 Le Mans 24-hours became the first car ever to average over 100mph for the French endurance classic. Total C-Type production amounted to just 53 cars, but even after Jaguar had turned its attention to the D-Type privateers continued to campaign the older design with considerable success (often uprating the engine from 3.4- to 3.8-litres in the process).

Unsurprisingly given its beauty, speed and pedigree, the C-Type has been widely copied by the likes of Lynx, Wingfield and Proteus. The latter concern was established by Jim Marland during 1985 and initially based in Bolton, Lancashire. Of the circa 240 C-Type Evocation chassis / body units that Mr Marland produced up until 2000, only 40 or so featured all-alloy bodywork; the remainder utilising an alloy centre tub and fibreglass front / rear sections. The majority of cars were supplied in kit form for the purchaser (or a third party) to complete (though, a select few were assembled by Proteus’s founder himself). Highly convincing and beautifully detailed, Proteus C-Type Evocations are both rare and sought after.

According to a letter on file from a previous owner, this particular example was built using a Jaguar MkII 3.8 saloon as a donor by Michael Hallowes (Nick Mason’s partner at Ten Tenths) during 1987-1989. Able to use an original Jaguar C-Type for reference, Mr Hallowes reportedly imbued the Proteus with a wealth of authentic details. An early ‘live’ rear axle model registered with the DVLA as a 1960 Jaguar 3.8 Sports (and classified as a ‘Historic Vehicle’), ‘YYF 830’ is powered by a VSE Engineering prepared 3.8 litre XK DOHC engine allied to four-speed manual plus overdrive transmission. Fed by twin SU carburettors and sporting ‘C-Type’ logoed cam covers, the straight-six is understood to be fitted with a ‘Big Valve’ cylinder head and high compression pistons which help it produce an estimated 240bhp. Sold by Mr Hallowes to his stockbroker Mr Eastway, the two-seater changed hands again in 1995. Treated to an uprated radiator and new bushes and seals all round, the Proteus also gained uprated disc brakes.

Enjoyed for several trips to Le Mans and on a couple of Classic Motorsport Rallies, ‘YYF 830’ has been little used in recent years as part of two private collections. Thought to have covered some 20,000 miles since its completion, the C-Type Evocation is described by the vendor as being in ‘good’ condition with regards to its engine, gearbox, interior trim and electrical equipment. While, the gently patinated bodywork and paintwork are rated as ‘average’. Starting readily upon inspection and sounding decidedly purposeful via its side-exit exhaust, this desirable Proteus has much to recommend it. Offered for sale with V5C Registration Document, numerous old MOT certificates and sundry paperwork.

Entered from a private collection

Estimate: £18,000 - £22,000*

Reg No: L1 MGR MOT: T.B.A

Chassis No: SARRAWBMBMG000349

Launched at the 1992 Birmingham Motor Show, the RV8 signalled MG’s return to the open sports car market. Just as the Cobra grew out of the unprepossessing AC Ace, so the RV8 evolved from the immortal MGB Roadster (hence the car’s ‘Project Adder’ development code). Built around a thoroughly re-engineered and neatly restyled version of its predecessor’s monocoque bodyshell, it was powered by a 3948cc V8 engine that developed some 190bhp and 318Nm of torque. Said to be capable of 135mph and 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds, the adoption of telescopic shock absorbers and anti-roll bars all round brought a notable improvement in handling. Trimmed to a high standard, its inviting interior boasted leather upholstery and rich wood veneers. With the vast majority of the limited production run (just 1,983 are thought to have been made) going to a retro-hungry Japan, RV8s remain a rare sight on British roads.

According to its accompanying British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate, chassis 000349 was built to RHD, home market specification on 17th August 1993. Reportedly 1 of just 140 UKsupplied cars to be finished in British Racing Green Metallic and appropriately road registered as ‘L1 MGR’, the two-seater is warranted to have covered less than 21,000 miles from new. Purchased by the vendor from Philip Welch Specialist Cars of York on 18th May 2016 for £25,495 at 20,357 miles, the past six years have seen the RV8 kept garaged as part of a large private collection but scarcely used. Uprated with power steering, the MG is described by the vendor as being in ‘excellent overall’ condition with regards to its engine, gearbox, electrical equipment, bodywork and paintwork. He rates the interior trim as ‘very good’, mainly because the leather covering the dash top has shrunk somewhat. Offered for sale with V5C Registration Document, fresh MOT certificate and paperwork file.

1965 Land Rover / Range Rover

‘Series IIA’ 5.5 litre V8 Special

Entered from a private collection

Estimate: £15,000 - £20,000*

Reg No: KPE 791C MOT: February 2024

Chassis No: 24122396C

Having a penchant for ‘Specials’, especially if their creation involves a serious horsepower increase, the vendor acquired ‘KPE 791C’ as a standard four-cylinder Land Rover Series IIA 88in during 2001. Dissatisfied with the way it went, stopped and handled, he hatched a plan to transform the 4x4’s dynamic capabilities. Professionally reconfigured by Lovell Landrovers of Leicester, ‘KPE 791C’ had its body augmented with extended wheel arches and later doors (incorporating wind-up windows) before being transplanted onto a shortened Range Rover chassis. The latter retained its coil-sprung suspension, power assisted steering, automatic transmission, high / low transfer box and disc brakes etc. The search for extra performance led the seller to commission Huddart Racing Engines of Crewe to build a ‘fast road’ 340 cu in (5.5 litre) V8 engine for the project. Boasting an Eagle cast crankshaft, uprated conrods, hypereutectic pistons, ProAction Hi-torque cylinder heads, Crane hardened pushrods, Crane camshaft and Holley 600cfm carburettor, the powerplant exhales via a Custom Stainless Steel Racing Exhaust.

Kept garaged as part of a private collection, ‘KPE 791C’ is a real ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’. Featuring a far more efficient heater and uprated CD Tuner with iPod interface, the Chevy-powered ‘Landie / Rangie’ hybrid has covered less than 2,000 miles since its completion during early 2006. Riding on 16x7J wheels and equipped with a substantial roll-over hoop and canvas tilt, ‘KPE 791C’ would doubtless cost considerably more than the guide price to replicate today. An intriguing and pleasingly understated Special, the 4x4 is offered for sale with V5C registration document (which classifies it as a ‘Historic Vehicle’), Huddart Racing Engines and Lovell Landrover invoices plus sundry paperwork. Ideal for ‘greenlaning’ or generating smiles on a shoot?

1970/1996 Lister Jaguar

Knobbly Evocation

Entered from a private collection

Estimate: £120,000 - £140,000*

Reg No: ONK 789H Chassis No: 1R35490BW MOT: Exempt

Charged with promoting the Shell BP Mex brands via motorsport, Bryan Turle was somewhat thrown by Jaguar’s decision not to field a Works team for the 1957 season. Conscious that rival Esso had Aston Martin and Ecurie Ecosse under contract, he sought to convince Lister its next move should be to challenge for outright victories (as opposed to class wins) in the World Sports Car Championship as well as at various unlimited capacity International events. Attracted by the prospect of major sponsorship, Brian Lister lost little time in concluding an engine supply deal with Jaguar. Debuting at Snetterton on 31st March 1957, the first `official’ Lister-Jaguar took pole position and set fastest lap (though clutch failure denied it victory). The following month, the new car proved itself the class of the field with dominant overall victories at both the British Empire Trophy race (Oulton Park) and the Easter Monday Sussex Trophy race (Goodwood). Capable of showing a clean pair of exhaust pipes to both the ageing Jaguar D-Type and new Aston Martin DBR1, the Lister-Jaguar was quite simply a revelation.

Boasting a ten percent reduction in frontal area, despite full compliance with appendix C regulations, its 1958 successor was styled (at least in part) by the artist Cavendish Morton. A riot of swooping wheel arches and air scoops punctuated by a pronounced bonnet bulge and low-set windscreen, it was affectionately christened the `Knobbly’.

Upgraded with a 3.8 litre version of Jaguar’s legendary XK DOHC unit (though it could be had with a WSCC compliant 3.0 litre), the newcomer maintained Lister’s performance advantage. Thus, when after four successive wins Scott-Brown was beaten into second place at the May Silverstone meeting, it was by another `Knobbly’ mounted driver, namely Ecurie Ecosse’s Masten Gregory (the rivalry between these two tragically cost Scott-Brown his life a fortnight later at the Belgian Sports Car Grand Prix). The Scottish team was not alone in its appreciation of the new car, Briggs Cunningham using his pair to devastating effect in both the 1958 and 1959 SCCA Championships, while Stirling Moss piloted another of the seventeen production examples reputedly made to win the sports car race at the 1958 British GP.

The proprietor of a successful car spares and tuning business in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Eike Wellhausen has been racing for half a century or more. Initially competing aboard various single-seaters and a ModSports Jaguar E-Type, he is best known as a Lister Jaguar Knobbly exponent. In addition to owning a genuine example, he has constructed (and raced) several Evocations over the years. One such machine, this highly authentic-looking Evocation, was completed in 1996 using a 1970 Jaguar E-Type that had been registered to John Gregson of Classic English Racing Automobiles / Proteus as a donor car (an accompanying expired MOT certificate issued on September 4th that year lists the mileage as 18). Intended for road use and thus equipped with a handbrake mechanism etc, the two-seater was purchased from Mr Wellhausen by enthusiast Richard Penney in late 1999. Determined to make the sports racer as convincing as possible, Mr Penney had it rebodied in aluminium by coachbuilder Michael Riley. Still recorded with the DVLA under its donor identity, the Evocation is nicely detailed throughout with a faux ‘dry sump’ system and Dunlop ‘peg drive’ 15x7J alloy wheels.

Very sparingly used over the last decade or so and only relinquished by Mr Penney due to ill health, ‘ONK 789H’ is thought to have covered less than 3,000 miles since its Knobbly transformation. Featuring a multi-tubular chassis equipped with rack and pinion steering, all-round independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, the Evocation is powered by a tuned 3.8 litre XK DOHC straight-six engine allied to four-speed manual transmission. Starting readily upon inspection, it is described by the vendor as being in ‘very good overall’ condition with regards to its engine, gearbox, electrical equipment, bodywork and paintwork (while, the interior trim is deemed ‘good’). An invigorating fast road car that is potentially suitable for ‘open class’ competition events, this decidedly handsome Evocation is worthy of close inspection. Offered for sale with V5C registration document, bill of sale and assorted old MOTs dating back to 1996.