Opportunity to buy rare Jaguar

The 1946 Jaguar is part of the private collection of vehicles owned by businessman Ken Hogg.

A rare 1946 Jaguar 2500 is expected to attract international interest among car collectors when the 70-odd vehicles in Waihi's Woodland Park Transport Museum go up for auction in February.

The museum is a private collection of vehicles from the 1920s to the 1980s owned by local businessman Ken Hogg, who makes vehicle petrol pumps for export worldwide.

Hogg began the museum in the late 1980s. Now the man he hired to look after the cars is retiring.

"It's come time to sell up," said Turners Auctions co-ordinator Tony Herbert. "Ken will keep a couple of his favourite cars for himself but the rest must go.

"Most of them are in very presentable condition, although there are some that are definitely hobby projects."

The Jaguar 2500 is one of the Mk IV saloon and coupe models built at the end of World War II, when 1922 founder Sir William Lyons changed the carmaker's name from the Swallow Sidecar Company to Jaguar Cars Ltd.

It was one of the most important design periods of Jaguar history - the same year Lyons introduced the sensational Jaguar XK 120 and its new six-cylinder engine with dual overhead camshafts.

But back to the future ...

The restored Jaguar 2500 is powered by a 2663cc six-cylinder engine, one of three the carmaker used in the Mk IV models in 1946. The others were around 1.5- and 3.5-litre capacity. It is painted gunmetal blue with a cream trim and is expected to fetch between $28,000 and $32,000.

Other Jaguars up for sale include a 1960 Mk VII with the personalised number plate 7MJAG, 1955 Mk VII, 1950 Mk V and 1958 Mk VIII.

Another premium post-war model is a 1950 Allard P1, described by Herbert as "very original and rare".

It is finished in cream and red trim, powered by a 3.6-litre V8 engine, and expected to sell for between $15,000 and $25,000.

A 1958 silver Bentley S1 and a 1972 Jensen Interceptor S3 are expected to sell for between $24,000 and $28,000.

Expected top prices of up to $50,000 in the Turners catalogue are listed alongside a 1975 Lamborghini Uracco S and a 1987 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit. The four-speed manual Lamborghini and its 2.5-litre V8 engine has done only 26,000km. The Rolls-Royce is the last of the carburettor models and has travelled 101,000km.

A 1954 Alvis TC21 is described as "New Zealand-new". The car is powered by a 3-litre six-cylinder engine car and is priced between $7000 and $9000.

Two Armstrong Siddley models from the 1950s are priced to sell between $4000 and $6000, as is a 1936 Austin Seven.

A restored Austin 16/6 is listed at $10,000-$12,000. Land Transport NZ records say it is a 1935 model, but Turners believe it to be a 1930 example.

Cars with no reserve include a 1952 Armstrong Siddley Whitley, 1956 Austin A30 and A40, partly dismantled 1926 Fiat 503, 1936 Ford 10, 1954 Ford Zephyr, 1936 Hillman Hawk, 1955 Humber Hawk, 1950 Humber Super Snipe, 1933 Wolseley Hornet, 1936 Morris 12/4, 1938 Morris Series 1 and 1941 Morris 8, 1938 Rover 14, 1948 Rover 12, 1956 Singer Hunter (fewer than 5000 were built), 1947 Standard Eight, 1951 Triumph Mayflower and 1962 Vauxhall Velox.

An original 1934 Morris Cowley is expected to fetch between $6000 and $8000 and a restored 1948 four-seater Sunbeam Talbot 10hp is listed at between $11,000 and $14,000. A rare 1934 1.6-litre Sunbeam Dawn, with its independent front suspension, hydraulic brakes and pre-select gearbox with hydraulic single plate clutch, is priced at $10,000-$15,000

A four-owner 1951 Standard Vanguard, finished in black with red trim and powered by a four-cylinder 1.8-litre engine, is expected to sell for around $4000.