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Completed on 30th October 1961 during the first few weeks ofproduction, this vehicle is one of the earliest surviving right-hand driveJaguar E-Type coupés (the chassis number sequence commencedat ‘860001’). ‘150 ABL’, chassis number ‘860022’, is the 22ndright-hand drive coupé to leave Brown’s Lane and one of the famedearly batch of home-market E-Types – no doubt assembled withextra care - allocated to prominent racing drivers and teams. NormanDewis, Jaguar’s legendary chief tester, has a diary note (in the historyfile) that he personally tested ‘860022’ at MIRA on the orders ofJaguar’s racing team boss, F R W ‘Lofty’ England, prior to delivery tocustomer M W Head.Brigadier Michael Head, CBE was a privateer Jaguar racer whosuccessfully campaigned an alloy-bodied XK120, C-Type, D-Typeand Cooper-Jaguar throughout the late 1940s and the 1950s. Hecompeted in 100 races between 1949 and 1957, coming 1st in 26of them, 2nd in 18 and in 1955 came 5th in the Swedish Grand Prixbehind Moss and Fangio. His son, Patrick Head, of co-founder andformer Technical Director of the Williams Formula 1 team remembers‘150 ABL’ well, and in a letter in the history file says that his father’sstrong motor sport relationship with Jaguar enabled him to buy oneof these desirable very early cars. Brigadier Head was also Directorof the War Office’s Fighting Vehicles establishment and a foundermember of the Jaguar Drivers’ Club, whose Michael Head TrophyRace is named in his honour.One of the finest and most original early E-Type coupés in existence,‘860022’ retains its 1961 registration number and chassis plate, andhas matching engine, gearbox and flywheel numbers.Interestingly the original registration (150 ABL Berkshire CountyCouncil) is one digit previous to a works MGA - 151 ABL - thatcompeted in the 1962 Monte Carlo Rally. Bracknell Motors inBerkshire, the Jaguar dealer who originally delivered this E-Type toMichael Head, campaigned racing MKII Jaguars and had periodmotor sport connections. The ABL suffix was used on several othercompetition cars notably 737 ABL on Pat Moss’s famous Mini Cooper.All details, numbers and colours exactly match those listed on theJaguar Heritage Certificate. The car has many early features includingin-set bonnet louvres, glassfibre glove box, flat sump, Dunlop brakeservo, flat-top dash, Cheney hose clamps, Bakelite brake and clutchreservoir tops, Butlers number plate lights, 1st edition handbook anda Shelly bottle jack. A Jaguar Drivers’ Club concours winner, ‘860022’was fully restored by respected marque specialist Martin Robey overa nine-year period (2003-2012). Only some 1,000 miles have beencovered since its completion and the car is presented in superlativecondition. The only notified deviations from factory specification areelectronic ignition, a high-torque starter motor and alternator electrics.The car is accompanied by three large ring binders of historycontaining service bills and ownership details dating back to the1970s, an old-style logbook and V5 registration document plus afull photographic record of the comprehensive body, mechanicaland interior restoration. There is over £100,000 worth of invoices forwork done over the last ten years together with photographs andletters from previous owners plus magazine features and records oftelevision appearances. A complete early toolkit and Jaguar owner’swallet containing the correct 1961 books and literature are presentalso. An instant starter, totally reliable and in truly concours condition,‘150 ABL’ is currently MoT’d/taxed and needs no work whatsoever.£150,000 - 180,000€190,000 - 220,000Motor Cars | 277