1961 Jaguar MK IX

This car, which has just 27,509 miles on its odometer, is knocking firmly on the door of concours territory and has, indeed, held its head high in those hallowed halls in the past.

A boot full of trophies, cups, medals and certificates attests to its prize-winning ways over many years.

It really is in truly exceptional condition - aesthetically and mechanically - and comes with a Paddington Bear-style suitcase full of invoices, bills, receipts, articles, magazines, photographs, correspondence and all sorts of other testaments to its long and rather exalted provenance.

It’s got more history than the Parthenon.

It was purchased new in 1961 by a Mr. Ollie of Bury St. Edmonds. Mr. Ollie would go on to become Lord Mayor of that fine Suffolk town (quiz fact - it’s got a cathedral, but it’s not a city).

Mr. Ollie died in 1975, but the car was mothballed and remained in storage with the family until 1980, when it was recommissioned by a local garage.

At some point after that the car was bought by the Sharpe brothers for their huge collection of classic vehicles.

The entire collection, numbering some 246 vehicles, was auctioned in 2005, at which point the car was purchased by Allan Chamberlain for the ‘Glen Acres’ collection.

That collection was auctioned by Bonhams in 2009 and the car was bought by a Mr. Kent Abrahamsson of Göteborg, Sweden.

Mr. Abrahamsson was a Director of Volvo and he bought the car (yes, you’ve guessed right) for his extensive collection.

In 2014, Mr. Abrahamsson decided to focus his collecting passions on rare classic racing cars, and had RGV1 shipped back to the UK where it was promptly purchased by the current vendor.

The vendor was mightily impressed by the originality, authenticity and excellent condition of the car and saw the opportunity to take it to the next level.

He then embarked upon four years or so of painstaking, no-expense-spared restoration work – with a brief to the specialists and experts engaged to be sensitive to the car’s originality (this car is so original it still has the front door-pocket tool kits in situ) but comprehensive in scope and attention to detail.

The results speak for themselves.

The bodywork is beyond reproach and the car’s shut-lines, panel gaps and panels are as crisp, consistent and devoid of dinks and dents as you could possibly wish.

Any deviations from perfection in the panel gaps and shut-lines were almost certainly there when it left the factory in 1961.

The richly glossy paintwork, which is ‘Opalescent Gunmetal’ in hue (the original colour, according to the Heritage Certificate that comes with the car), has all the shine and lustre you would want.

The wheels are very good, as is the chrome-work, which is refreshingly free of any foxing, pitting or tarnish that we can discern.

The lights, lenses, badging, trim and other exterior fixtures and fittings are all in fine fettle.

We can only find fault with the car if we recalibrate our critical faculties and become, frankly, a bit picky.

So, here goes.

The paint is rather rough on the inside edge of the bodywork where it faces the bonnet just ahead of the windscreen.

Ditto on the inside edge of the bodywork around the boot lid.

There is a very small scuff on the o/s/r wheel-arch spat, and a little paint has rubbed off on the edge of its n/s/r counterpart and the edge of the door ahead of it.

The trim is a little rough on the leading edge of the sunroof surround.

The windscreen washers have chosen to retire after a long life of service.

As we said, we’re being picky. You’d have to look hard to spot any of that.

Basically, it’s fabulous.

The good news continues uninterrupted on the inside.

The beige leather upholstery and trim looks very attractive indeed and is free of any rips, tears, holes or other damage that we can see.

It is possessed of nothing more significant than a light and wholly age-appropriate patina.

The carpets and mats are equally impressive and the lambswool rugs in the rear are deep enough for you to easily lose sight of your feet.

The wood on the door cappings, dashboard and picnic tables are untroubled by any cracks or missing lacquer.

The period ‘His Master’s Voice’ radio is every bit as good as the rest of the controls, dials and instruments.

We understand that almost everything inside, including the electrics, works as intended.

The clocks don’t currently work (which is entirely normal), and the cigarette lighters are missing from the interior pillars.

We understand that everything inside, including the electrics, works as intended.

The boot is as impressive of the rest of it and contains a spare wheel, some tools and, currently, a veritable display cabinet of trophies, gongs and cups.

The engine bay looks shiny, bright, clean, dry and as you would hope to find in a car that’s been so carefully curated and has yet to put 30,000 miles under its belt.

Everything appears to be in its right and proper place.

The undersides of the car seem to have plenty of structural integrity.

As we said earlier, the car’s history is so exhaustive and comprehensively documented that it is currently housed in a brown suitcase of the sort favoured by a fictional ursine Peruvian.

Inside, you will find bills, receipts and invoices covering, well, pretty much everything that’s ever happened to it.

It was last serviced around two years ago and has seen hardly any use since.

You’ll also see photographic evidence of the restoration and all manner of letters, articles, cuttings and other bits and pieces – including a Heritage Certificate.

Rest assured, this car is the real deal and it has the paperwork to back up its numerous claims to greatness.

The car is sold with its highly-distinctive, original and non-transferable 'RGV 1' registration.

We think this is the best example of a Jaguar Mark IX we’ve ever seen.

It starts, stops and drives as well as it looks – and it looks sensational.

We’re confident to offer this splendid car for auction with an estimate of £18,000 - £25,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.