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1955 Jaguar XK140 DHC SE

This stunning Jaguar XK140 Drop Head Coupé SE was built on July 1, 1955.

It was distributed by Max Hoffman of New York to California, in left-hand-drive form with black paint and red leather trim. Various owners used it until it was sold in 2014 to a restorer in Warsaw, Poland, who lavished 2500 hours lovingly restoring it to be better than original.

In addition to a body-off restoration, engine overhaul and new five-speed gearbox conversion, sympathetic improvements include the fitting of electronic ignition, a new cooling system with electric fan, upgraded and restored suspension and brakes, new leather, carpet and trim plus lacquered walnut dash, air-conditioning, LED lighting, auto locks with alarm, hazards, discreet four-speaker stereo and electric antenna.

This Jaguar is claimed to be the finest specimen of its type in existence.

1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

This 300SL Roadster, chassis no. 198 042 10 002 571, was delivered to Austria in 1960, wearing the still-current White Grey exterior colour scheme. Now reading just 51,065km on the clock, the matchingnumbers MercedesBenz remains in an accident-free and virtually original condition, and it has been regularly serviced throughout its life. An official front and rear disc-brake conversion was carried out at a Mercedes-Benz dealership in 1961.

The engine is a 2996cc straight-six cylinder producing 215bhp at 5800rpm, and it is teamed with a four-speed manual transmission. Meanwhile, the cabin is trimmed in Natural leather.

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1967 Fiat Dino Spider

This Dino Spider is no. 415 out of the first 500 built to homologate the engine so that Ferrari could race in Formula 2. It has spent most of its life in Italy, having been registered in the Modena region. The Spider is in original condition and has never been restored, but it was repainted at some point. It was imported into the UK in 2005 and bought by the current owner in 2007. It has been displayed at several prestigious concours including the Cartier Style et Luxe at Goodwood, where it came first in class, and the Concours d’Elegance at Hurlingham, where it came second. It was a feature car at Chelsea Auto Legends, Pininfarina Day at Hurtwood and Salute to Style at Hurlingham, and has been a Goodwood grid car. It has been featured in various magazines and books, too.

1959 Porsche 356 BT5 Roadster

This 356 Roadster, chassis no. 87241, was delivered new to Australia – one of only nine right-hand-drive examples brought into the country by Norman Hamilton & Co. Jeff Dutton of official Porsche body repairer AO Dutton & Sons owned the car twice from the mid-1960s to 1990, and collector Lionel Hunt purchased it in the mid1990s. He commissioned Classic Autocraft of Sydney to carry out a five-year ground-up restoration, during which the colour was changed to ivory with a tan leather interior. It was returned to its factory spec of Aetna Blue over red leatherette trim a decade ago, after being purchased by a UK Porsche collector. This is a rare car, as only 11 BT5 Roadsters were built in RHD form. The Roadster was the cheapest model in the 1960 Porsche line-up, with the Cabriolet being the most expensive.

1967 Ferrari 330GTS Spider

In November 1967 this 330GTS Spider was shown at the Torino Motor Show. It went on to be displayed at various venues until it was eventually sold in 1969 to Jamie Wyeth in Pennsylvania, US. It was moved on in the mid1970s to Carl Cantera of Wilmington, Delaware, a client of Ferrari dealer FAF Motors in Tucker, Georgia. Carl owned and very successfully showed it for over two decades, during which time the body was restored to concours level. Ownership was passed to his son in 1999, and the following 10 years saw extensive engine and gearbox rebuilds. At 48,238 miles the Ferrari was sold to the UK in 2017, after which it was given a major mechanical overhaul plus a trim and roof restoration. Last year it won Best in Class and a Platinum Award at the Ferrari Owners’ Club’s National Concours.

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TIM SCOTT, FLUID IMAGES

1968 Lotus Elan Series 3

This 1968 Lotus Elan S3 DHC is the rare S/E model, which features high-lift cams, a close-ratio transmission and various unique trim items.

A comprehensive restoration has recently been completed. The Elan had remained in good original condition, retaining all its rare, original and now hard-to-source items such as gearknob, rear-view mirror and fuel-filler cap, but it needed attention in all areas, from both a mechanical and bodywork viewpoint. It now drives as impressively as it looks, and is a testament to the hundreds of hours that have been put into returning it to the road.

1955 Austin-Healey 100M ‘Le Mans’

This original righthand-drive BN2 was built in 1955 and exported to Australia, where it spent most of its life in Melbourne enjoying the car-friendly climate. Having been extensively restored by Healey specialist Steve Pike, it was repatriated to the UK in 2019 and upgraded to full 100M specification.

A full engine overhaul was carried out with M-spec pistons, the dynamic balancing of the crankshaft, conrods, flywheel and clutch, an aluminium cylinder-head upgrade, H6 M-spec carbs and more, while a louvred bonnet with Le Mans-style leather strap was also fitted.

SCOTT PATTENDEN

1968 Alfa Romeo Junior Spider

Launched at the Geneva show in March 1966, the Spider was successor to the 105 series Giulia. This car is one of only 179 RHD examples produced. Presented in its original colour, this 1968 Boat Tail example was delivered new to South Africa and came to the UK in 1995.

It was discovered by the present owner in his neighbour’s garage; he identified the Boat Tail silhouette beneath the cover and offered to buy it. After two years the neighbour agreed, and it was re-commissioned after six years off the road. Since then it has travelled throughout Europe, as it was intended to do.

1964 Jaguar E-type 3.8 Roadster

One of very few E-types to be delivered new to Canada, this example is a genuine rarity for having survived in time-warp condition. The late-spec 3.8-litre Roadster joined a museum in the mid-1980s, where it was impeccably preserved for nearly 30 years. Originality on this level is almost impossible to find; just 51,346 genuine miles have been driven.

Wearing Opalescent Dark Green paint and Suede Green trim, its condition is evocative. This is perhaps one of the last authentic low-mileage, matching-numbers and unrestored E-types that still doesn’t require – and is too good for – a full restoration.