Not started since the 1930s… Paige Detroit oddity surfaces
This 1910 open roadster is one of two remaining Paige Detroit cars and it sounds a fascinating machine – it features a two-stroke triple of 2.2 litres; quite a novelty then and now but very short-lived, because Paige swapped to four-cylinder, four-stroke power soon after. This car entered the Ford Museum in 1930 and left in 1985, arriving in Belgium in 1993 to enter a private museum, probably without ever being returned to running condition. However, the engine is not seized and the car is apparently complete and very original. Its estimate was £45k-£65k when it went to auction at Bonham’s Beaulieu sale in September but didn’t sell.
In the same sale was a highly original 1959 Jaguar XK150S fixed-head coupé, off the road for 43 years but started regularly, in running condition and fit to drive around the field adjacent to its garage, apparently. Bar some alarming rust below the rear quarter windows, it made a tempting project. A supercar by Fifties standards thanks to performance figures of 0-60mph in 7.3sec and 135mph, it sold for £66,125 against an estimate of £70k-£90k.