Yeah Baby! Now’s Your Chance To Own Austin Powers’ Legendary ‘Shaguar’ E-Type

The news and rebranding around Jaguar’s Grand Plan For Success is causing quite a buzz these days, and may have stirred one particularly famous Jaguar E-Type out of retirement. These days, the future of the Jaguar brand is uncertain, and models with deep-rooted history seem to be getting more alluring. Collectors are taking note, and one of the most famous Jaguars of all time, the ‘Shaguar,’ is heading to auction. Few Jaguars are as easy to spot, though that signature ‘Shaguar’ look may come at the expense of the subtle beauty that some E-Type shoppers are after.

Not Just Any E-Type

With its unmistakable shape and Union Jack paint scheme, this 1967 Jaguar E-Type Series I was the roadster of choice for the International Man of Mystery (and his leading ladies) in all three Austin Powers movies, and even co-starred in the music video for Madonna’s Beautiful Stranger. Since its introduction in 1961, the Jaguar E-Type’s styling has inspired numerous future car designers, and its own spiritual successor, the Jaguar F-Type.

After the final Austin Powers film (Goldmember) in 2002, the Shaguar enjoyed an active retirement in a private collection, emerging on occasion for Jaguar Land Rover PR appearances. It’s now up for auction through Mecum as a one-and-only ordeal.

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Many famous movie cars are one of several copies used to make production more efficient or to stand in, in case of damage or malfunction. There’s only one Shaguar though, and this is it. It even includes authentication letters from its caretakers Josh Hancock (Picture Car Coordinator) and Ray Claridge (owner of Cinema Vehicle Services) who handled the vehicle for production. It also features the classic ‘SHAGUAR’ license plate and bespoke ‘SHAGUAR’ trunk emblem.

Shaguar Power

Under its clamshell hood is the E-Type’s revised 4.2-liter straight-six. Initially displacing 3.8 liters, the E-Type engine was enlarged to 4.2 liters from late 1964 to improve torque and throttle response en route to its 150-mph top speed. Look for a four-speed manual transmission and about 255 horsepower.

The upgrade to the 4.2-liter engine used in the Shaguar was part of an update that brought improved seating (blue leather in this example), improved brakes (inboard-mounted at the rear), upgraded electrical systems, and an updated manual transmission with synchromesh on all gears. The net result is that 0-60 takes about 7 seconds, although we’d feel too much mechanical sympathy to try and achieve that figure in something like the Shaguar.

Further proof this was a late-model Series I is the front end, particularly the open headlights, a styling signal that the Shaguar was a late-production unit from near the end of the E-Type Series I generation.

How High Will The Bidding Go?

The right Jaguar E-Type can fetch big money at auction, with this recent example relieving its lucky owner of $1.5 million dollars, and the most expensive Jaguar E-Type ever (at the time of writing) fetching $7.4 million in 2017, or just about $10 million in today’s dollars. All signs from Jaguar point towards a major brand shift as it moves into the future, and if you’re anxious to own a piece of classic auto history and what’s arguably the most famous Jaguar of all time, the Shaguar’s auction date is set for January 18th, 2025.

Sources:
Mecum