A vintage Jaguar E-Type once owned by Rowan Atkinson – and made famous in his hit Netflix show Man vs Bee – has sold for a whopping £78,750.
The 1963 3.8-litre coupé, finished in its original Opalescent Gunmetal Grey, was part of Atkinson’s personal collection and featured in one of the show’s most chaotic scenes.
In Man vs Bee, which has been watched for more than 25 million hours worldwide, the comic actor’s bumbling character causes havoc in a luxury mansion while trying to outsmart a bee, with the poor E-Type 9600 HP suffering everything from a smashed rear window to a flaming dashboard.
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The classic motor, described as “Britain’s most beautiful sports car”, has since been lovingly restored and still retains its original matching-numbers engine block, as reported by Whats The Jam.
Originally shipped to the USA in left-hand drive, the car returned to the UK in 1989 and was converted to right-hand drive, with new chrome fittings, a retrimmed interior, and fresh seats, door cards and carpets.
After its on-screen battering, the car was sensitively repaired, with only a discreet panel on the rear quarter hinting at its TV past.
Before the sale, the auction listing noted the car’s legendary heritage, saying: “The iconic 9600 HP was the very first Jaguar E-Type fixed-head coupé to be registered, famously driven overnight to the 1961 Geneva Motor Show.
“Its sensational debut set new standards for performance and style, hitting over 150mph and 0–60mph in seven seconds.
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“Enzo Ferrari declared it ‘the most beautiful car ever made.’”
Auctioneer Nick Whale added, “This E-Type offers a rare convergence of British motoring heritage and contemporary film.
“To be able to present a car personally owned by Rowan Atkinson and featured in a globally watched Netflix series is remarkable.
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It encapsulates everything that excites serious collectors – authenticity, provenance and character – all within one of the most admired models ever built.”
The car went under the hammer with Iconic Auctioneers at the NEC in Birmingham on Saturday (8 Nov), fetching an impressive £78,750.
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