WORDS: NATHAN CHADWICK | PHOTOGRAPHY: BROAD ARROW AUCTIONS
A 1955 Jaguar D-type is among more than 120 cars being offered by Broad Arrow Auctions in a single-collection sale, estimated to be worth up to $30m. Entitled Passion for the Drive: The Cars of Jim Taylor, each of the cars will be offered at no reserve between October 14 and 15.
Taylor’s collecting habit started at an early age, and his tastes encompassed everything from American and European classic to muscle cars and modern supercars, and plenty of associated automobilia and model cars as well.
The D-type, chassis number XKD 515, is the 15th of 42 built and has spent most of its life as a road car. It’s the highlight of a 20-strong Jaguar selection that includes an SS100, an alloy XK120, XK140s, X150s and several E-types and XJs. Other British highlights include a one-of-77 1952 Allard J2X that was formerly part of the MH ‘Tiny’ Gould and Kirk F White collections.
Switching to transatlantic fare, a brace of Shelby Cobras catch the eye – an all-original 1964 289 and a three-owner, 8000-mile 427.
Two former Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance stars also grace the lot list – a 1937 Horch Model 853A Cabriolet A that won a Preservation Class award, and a Vignale-bodied 1954 Cunningham C-3 that garnered a class award, as well as a Best In Class award at the Amelia Island Concours.
Other highlights include a collection of factory-built, manual-transmission Shelby Hertz Mustangs dating from 1966, 2006, 2007 and 2016, all of which were produced in either double or single-digit numbers. There’s also a pair of Heritage Edition Ford GTs, one dating from 2005 and another from 2020, and a 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster with a factory hardtop.
“Vintage cars and the lifestyle surrounding the classic car hobby have been a tremendous source of joy and pleasure for me, whether vintage racing on the historic Mille Miglia or competing on the show fields of the Amelia Island or Pebble Beach concours d’elegance events,” said Jim Taylor. “Each experience, usually marked with a different car and like-minded participants, has been nothing short of exceptional.
“Over the years, I have tried to support the hobby as generously as possible whether by hosting charitable events at the garage or through my philanthropic support of numerous automotive museums, including the Saratoga Automobile Museum,” he added. “Sharing this hobby with others is what keeps the passion alive for future generations, and I hope that in the sale of my cars and memorabilia we will continue to help foster that love and passion in and among generations of enthusiasts to come.”
The collection will be auctioned in Taylor’s hometown of Gloversville near Albany, New York, between October 14 and 15 – the second sale scheduled by the new company, following the announcement of its sale at Motorlux (previously McCall’s Motorworks Revival) in August. More details can be found at www.broadarrowgroup.com.
