2017-05-23 12:11:22 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 6/17
www.bonhams.com/auctions/24143/lot/110/

Auction description:
Lot 110
Carefully executed recreation of the "Golden Jaguar" shown at 1960 New York Auto Show
1960 Jaguar MK II 3.8 SALOON "THE GOLDEN JAGUAR"
US$ 60,000 - 80,000
£46,000 - 62,000
To be sold without reserve
Greenwich Concours d'Elegance Auction
4 Jun 2017, 12:00 EDT
Chassis no. P210581BW
Engine no. 103519

3,781cc DOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
2 SU Carburetors
220bhp at 5,500rpm
3-Speed Automatic Transmission with Overdrive

*Multiple award winner
*Desirable 3.8-liter example
*A one-of-a-kind MkII

To introduce the new 3.8-liter Mk II to the American market, Jaguar wasn't about to just show a shiny new car on a turn table. Oh no, it was going to make a splash, make waves, and shine bright. In a press release dated April 12, 1960, Jaguar announced that it would be showing "the 'Golden Jaguar,' a one-of-a-kind show car...a Jaguar 3.8 sedan transformed into an Easter confection in gold-and-white." Valued at $25,000, every bit of exposed metal, inside and out, was gold plated--the bumpers, grill, door handles, trim, switches, wheels, tire valve screws, ash trays, mascot, even the exhaust pipe. The body was "hand-finished" in white while the interior was trimmed in white "English glove leather." Veneers were walnut and two occasional tables were fitted for the rear occupants.

Debuting at the New York Auto Show, the car was accompanied by an armed guard from the Burns Detective Agency and Ms. Dorothy McDonough who was dressed to match the car--"in a specially designed gown of 24-karat gold thread, 24-karat gold hose, gold shoes (gold garters), gold and precious gem jewelry including a tiara given to Empress Josephine in 1804 by Napoleon." The tiara, which was on loan from Van Kleef and Arpels, contained over 1,000 diamonds.

The car was a smash hit and while the press release stated that there had been several offers to buy the car, after it was shown it was sent back to the factory, stripped of its gold, retrimmed and sold as a standard road car. And that is where the story of the Golden Jaguar would have ended had the vendor of this car not sought to exactingly recreate that famous show car.

The project, begun in 1997/1998, was carefully researched through Tony O'Keeffe, then-curator of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust in the U.K. Further information was gathered from Richard Hassan, the son of Sir Walter Hassan--the designer of the XK's engine and someone who was directly involved with the construction of the Golden Jaguar. Through them, and careful researching of original new bulletins from Jaguar Cars, the vendor and his brother were able to expertly bring to life the previously lost car.

Starting with a good, sold 3.8 Mk II, the car was restored from the ground up as the Golden Jaguar using all original or new-old-stock parts. Receipts documenting the parts acquisition and labor spent on projects that could not be created on site--such as gold plating anything that shined--is on file along with copies of old press bulletins and photos.

Upon completion, the recreated Golden Jaguar made its concours debut in March of 1999 at the prestigious Amelia Island Concours. It would also be shown at the Jaguar Association of New England Club Concours, the British Invasion in Stowe, Vermont, the Meadowbrook Hall Concours, and right here at the Greenwich Concours. It would win awards where ever it went--including two at Greenwich: Best European Closed Sedan Post War and, appropriately, Best Debutante.

Barely driven anywhere but from the transporter to the show field and back again, only about 100 miles have been accumulated since the completion of the restoration. While this may not be the original Golden Jaguar, it is the closest thing to the car that graced the 1960 New York Auto Show that one can own. As for Ms. McDonough, her gold outfit and diamond tiara--those will need to be sourced separately...but I am sure the folks at Van Kleef and Arpels would be happy to assist with recreating that last bit!