The new year is just awakening from its hibernation, as the first big auctions begin and with it the chance to acquire history, provided you have the necessary "small money". For us Jaguar crazy, two dates next month are very interesting. On February 5th, in the heart of Paris, at the feet of Napoleon Bonaparte, Place Vauban, the first large vintage car auction of the auction house RM Sotheby's on the old continent rises. With the lot number 171 a Jaguar D-Type "Shortnose" with the chassis No. XKD520. After its completion in 1955, his path led him directly to the other side of the world to Australia to his first owner the racing driver Bib Stillwell. Not only did the car compete in well-known races for many years and achieved some victories, such as the Bathurst Road Racing Championship in 1956.

The second event will take place on 22 and 23 February at Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth near Coventry, the first Silverstone auction this year at Race Retro 2020. Under the hammer, the legendary Jaguar XK120 OTS lands in its distinctive green with the chassis No. 660332, with whom Duncan Hamilton competed in his first races in a Jaguar, at the end of which in 1953 the overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans stands. We'll see how the two famous Jaguars beat each other and whether they get a new home. I'll stick to it and report again at the end of next month.

Also this year, the Retro Classics 2014 took place at the exhibition grounds in Stuttgart from 13 to 16 March. In the meantime it is the 14th meeting and if one compares the number of visitors with the last year, it must be said that the perceived onslaught was much more enormous. Many well-known exhibitors from the last years were present again, such as the company Mirbach from beautiful Bavaria or "The Gallery" from the Netherlands and of course Döni Classic Cars from Switzerland.
I was surprised by the growing number of exhibitors and suppliers from Eastern European countries. I think we will have to expect even more from these parts of Europe in the future. But now I don't want to let you wait any longer, here some impressions ...

From 6 to 7 March, one of the biggest classic car fairs in Germany took place, the Retro Classics on the Fildern in Stuttgart, Baden Württemberg. The weather was springlike and so came many. I, too, set out to attach myself to the heels of the Jaguar XK offered there. I was not disappointed.
In addition to three Jaguar XK120 OTS in different restoration states from both early and late production years, there were surprisingly many Drop Heat Coupes to be seen. One of them was one of the few right-wingers. Unfortunately, I could not find an XK120 Fixed Head Coupe among the rarities of the fair. Two Roadster XK140 in very good condition as well as a closed coupe (FHC) were on offer and where there were so many XKs there was of course also a XK150 FHC not missing.

Here is a small gallery of the highlights.