Quarter-million–pound Jaguar headlines 2015 Bonhams auction

24 June, 2015

Some of the finest and most sought-after cars ever produced by the likes of Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Jaguar will be going up for auction at Bonhams’ Goodwood auction in England on June 26. Headlining the event will be one of the last Jaguar XK 120 models ever built.

Expected to sell for approximately £240,000–280,000 (NZ$550,000–642,000), the XK 120 in question, commonly known as the ‘RJH 400’, holds an illustrious rallying history. In February 1954, Eric Haddon, a keen amateur rally driver, purchased the XK 120 new for a mere £1694. Over that year, the car would rack up a spectacular rallying record.

Competing in the 1954 Tulip Rally — one which The Motor magazine termed as the toughest on record — Haddon and Vivian looked to be likely victors in their class, until a broken throttle rod near the finish line saw them finish second to a Salmson.

But, as described by Bonhams’ International Motoring Director, James Knight, it was a win in the Alpine Rally which cemented the Haddon/Vivian XK 120’s slot in the record books.

“It was at the Alpine Rally that Haddon and Vivian first engraved their names into the motoring history books. The XK 120 gave a sterling performance, leaving the duo to finish as winners in the unlimited class after completing a route which had claimed the racing careers of many a great motor car and driver,” said Knight.

The famous car went on to also win the MCC Redex National event on its way to becoming one of the most sought-after examples from the British marque.

The Haddon/Vivian example is one of 14 Jaguars up for auction at the event; other highlights including an exceptionally clean 1960s Jaguar E-Type with less than 8000 miles on the clock, and an original and unrestored 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2-litre Coupé, estimated to sell for between £120,000–160,000.

Beyond the Jaguar contingent, various other collectable road and race cars will be present. Included in that list are a 2004 Ferrari Enzo Berlinetta, a 1990 Williams-Renault FW13B Formula 1 car, a 1961 Porsche RS61 previously campaigned by Sir Stirling Moss, and former Top Gear presenter James May’s personal red 1984 Porsche 911.

Grand Routier — in the french tradition

10 July, 2025

Sitting in Paddy and Patsy Williams’ Dunedin garage is a stunning example of one of these rare French grand routier sedans. It is a 1949 four-door Lago-Record Factory Berline sedan, to give its full name. Daughter Cath let us know how proud she was of her dad, who had been tinkering away in his garage on this car for so many years.
Without exaggeration, it has been a mammoth task. I first saw this Talbot-Lago in mid 2019. The long-nosed, sweeping, curved four-door saloon, clothed in its misty green metallic paint, was quite breathtaking. There’s more than a little English influence in it, too, harking back to company owner Tony Lago’s involvement in the Clement-Talbot-Darracq era. The long front wings and bonnet, usually multi-louvred, highlighted with artful touches of chrome bling, are typical of the era, but these were indeed luxury length. Interiors provided leather-clad, armchair-style seating and ample legroom, with touches of wood and surprising details such as dainty childproof interior locks — a far cry from today’s lozenge boxes.
Paddy, a retired civil and structural engineer, knows his way around a lathe. He has a well-equipped garage-workshop to assist in any machining tasks along with his other passion for restoring classic motorcycles.

The Great River Road

4 July, 2025

A few years ago my family, knowing my fondness for driving, gave me the book Unforgettable Road Trips: Thirty-Six Drives of a Lifetime by Martin Derrick. Most of the road trips listed take less than a day in places like Scotland, Monaco, and Australia, plus one in New Zealand. Most of these places were too far to go just for a short drive but four of them would take several days. My interest was piqued, and those four drives were added to the bucket list. To date, I have done three of them: ‘Route 66’ (USA 21 days), ‘State Highway 6’ (NZ 10 days) and ‘The Great River Road’ (USA 22 days). You can drive all of them in less time, but you could also fly over them. We wanted a decent immersion in their charms.
The great river referred to is the Mississippi. While the name conjures the deep south, the river actually starts at the bottom of the great lakes, before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico about 3800km later. The great road is more of a concept than a specific strip of tarmac, as you can drive down either side of the river on various routes. Regardless of which side you drive, time should be kept aside for detours to places such as Nashville, which is famous for something or other.

Quarter-million–pound Jaguar headlines 2015 Bonhams auction

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