Jaguars and Godess at Aguttes

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On saturday 20th June the AGUTTES auction house will hold their sale of prestige and collectors cars at the Hôtel des Ventes de Lyon-Brotteaux. Starting with automobilia - posters, handbooks, a Jaeger clock, a good pair of Marchal headlamps, perhaps an  instruction book for your Aston Martin DB6? If you like Jaguars then you are in for a treat. A RHD 1952 XK120 Roadster is offered in British racing green and red leather upholstery with the wonderful 3.4 litre twin OHC straight six which gives 120mph performance with a powerful exhaust note to match. Or there's a very smart 1951 XK120 Roadster in silver with black upholstery and LHD. The XK150 with its four wheel disc brakes is considered by many to be the ultimate XK roadster,  and this 1959 drop head coupé was rebuilt by an owner who meets with our approval since he replaced the original automatic gearbox with a Getiez five-speed manual version.

We all seem to have one foot firmly placed in a past decade - 1950s? 1960s? 1970s? -  and those of us who watched the Le Mans 24 hour race last weekend will recall 1951 and 1953 when a Jaguar C Type won. So it's natural to want to buy one. Original cars cost millions so perhaps it's time to consider a 1965 replica with 4.2 litre engine and Moss 4-speed gearbox? Or if you want originality, a V12 engine and a low price, here's the car for you! Other British Cars on offer include a 1958 Austin Healey - fully restored, new hood, chrome wire wheels and 6 cylinder power. A 1958 Triumph TR3 painted red with black interior - perfect for classic open-air motoring or an even older LHD 1951 MG TD in perfect condition - top speed 77mph and 27 mpg.

A 1971 Porsche 911T Sportomatic has the innovative transmission developed for the American market. Microswitch - vacuum  - torque converter. Very clever and helpful with stop-and-go traffic, but if you really want innovation, bid on the 1973 Citroen DS 23."DS" is pronounced in French as "Déesse" (goddess).  Engineer André Lefebvre and the designer Flaminio Bertoni made automotive history with this revolutionary car and their use of hydraulics in brakes, steering, suspension, clutch and transmission.

Altogether different in style, but lots of it, is the 1960 Chevrolet Bel Air four-door sedan with 4.7 litre V8, two-speed Powerglide automatic gearbox with " wonderful ivory white and turquoise blue dress". If you like Miles Davis and Grace Kelly then maybe you'll like their choice of car - 1956 Mercedes 190SL - designed close to the 300SL but more comfortable and much cheaper!

Text Robin Batchelor, pictures courtesy Aguttes.

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