• One of only a tiny handful constructed
• Based on a Jaguar XJ6 saloon
• Automatic transmission
• An ultra-rare survivor

The striking-looking coupé offered here is one of a tiny handful of Jaguar-based styling exercises originally commissioned in the 1970s by the famous motor dealership, H R Owen. Based in London, H R Owen was no stranger to bespoke coachwork having routinely commissioned such bodies for luxury chassis it had ordered 'for stock', mostly from Rolls-Royce and Bentley, in pre-war years. Based on the Jaguar XJ6 saloon, the first prototype was presented at the London Motor Show in September 1973 as the 'Owen Sedanca'. Styled by Chris Humberstone, the Sedanca is said to have been inspired by the Lamborghini Espada owned by H R Owen boss, Gerald Ronson. (Sedancas of the 1920s/1930s had an open driver's compartment but the newcomer would be entirely enclosed.)

The aluminium coachwork was hand-crafted by the renowned specialists at Williams & Pritchard in North London and then grafted onto the XJ6 chassis. Notable features of the four-seater hatchback body included a vast boot; pop-up headlights; a double roll-over bar; impact-absorbing rubber bumpers; and multi-tubular side-impact frames in the doors. Inevitably, the Sedanca turned out to be eye-wateringly expensive at £8,500, more than double the price of a standard XJ6 saloon. Nevertheless, H R Owen secured orders for 80 at the show, only for them all to be cancelled in the aftershock of the oil crisis occasioned by the Yom Kippur War.

The Sedanca project was shelved after two prototypes had been completed, only to be revived as a private initiative in the late 1970s/early 1980s when a further two examples were built (the first of these was built by Panther Westwinds but there are contradictory accounts of who built the second) making a total of four in all (some sources say only three). It is believed that only three survive: one prototype and the two later cars. Unlike the original prototype, this later car benefits from several detail improvements incorporated as the design matured. It is now presented in an attractive metallic blue with matching blue interior, a colour combination that suits the dramatic wedge-shaped coachwork beautifully. The JDHT Certificate records the donor car as a 4.2-litre automatic-transmission XJ6 with right-hand drive, manufactured in September 1972. The car is offered with an impressive history file containing the following:

• Jaguar Heritage Trust Production Record Trace Certificate
• Historic magazine features on the Owen Sedanca
• Contemporary articles detailing the model's development
• Production research confirming rarity
• Previous auction catalogue documentation

One of the rarest coachbuilt Jaguars ever constructed, this Owen Sedanca represents an extraordinary opportunity to acquire a virtually unobtainable piece of British automotive history. Combining dramatic period styling with proven Jaguar engineering and supported by extensive factory documentation, it is a highly significant survivor from one of Britain's most ambitious independent coachbuilding projects.

Please note that this vehicle is from outside the UK. Our customs agents, CARS UK, will manage all post sale customs administration. A fee of £350+VAT will be charged on the buyer's invoice to administer both import or export customs movements. If the buyer also chooses to ship with CARS UK, this will be quoted separately. If this vehicle is to remain in the UK, it will be subject to Import VAT at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance formalities. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Car Department.