LONDON.- One of Jaguar’s last XK 120 models built, the ex-Haddon/Vivian, Alpine Rally class winning 1954 Jaguar XK 120, is now offered at Bonhams Festival of Speed Sale, estimated at £240,000-280,000.

In February 1954, Eric Haddon, a keen amateur rally driver, purchased the XK 120 new for just £1,694. Under the registration RJH 400, he and his co-driver, Charles Vivian, had several incredibly impressive international rally successes that year, including a journey on the famously grueling Alpine Rally.

First, in April 1954, Haddon and Vivian took part in what The Motor magazine described as, "The toughest Tulip Rally". Of 211 starters, only 128 completed the 2,100-mile route, which led from seven different starting points to the Nürburgring, then through West Germany, the Saar, the Jura, the Alps, the Massif Central, before heading back through the Vosges, Luxembourg and the Ardennes to Holland and the finish at Noordwijk aan Zee. Only 44 cars completed the road section without loss of marks. In the final leg of the race, Autosport magazine noted that, "Class leader Eric Haddon had the most ghastly luck, when his XK 120 broke a throttle rod on the line," and so Haddon and Vivian were pipped by a Salmson and had to be content with second in class.

Next, Haddon took to the Alpine Rally. Run in cool and showery weather, the event had 82 starters, 37 finishers and 11 winners of Alpine Cups for penalty-free runs.

James Knight, Bonhams International Motoring Director, said: “It was at the Alpine Rally that Haddon and Vivian first engraved their names into the motoring history books. The XK 120 gave a sterling performance, leaving the duo to finish as winners in the unlimited class after completing a route which had claimed the racing careers of many a great motor car and driver.”

Further Jaguar highlights include what is arguably the most original 1960s E-Type Bonhams has ever offered, a 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2-Litre Coupé, estimated at £120,000-160,000. In excellent original condition, with just four owners from new, the E-Type offers the chance to own a real ‘time warp’ motor car, with a fully documented 7,473 miles on the clock, making it incredibly rare.

In 1978, the car earned a 1st place award at the Jaguar Drivers Club International XK Day Concours d'Elegance at Dodington, and another 1st place at Mallory Park in 1979. Finished in gunmetal silver grey with red leather interior, this outstanding E-Type 'Series 1' coupé is un-restored and original, and still on the same wire wheels and Dunlop RS5 cross-ply tyres it left the factory with 50 years ago.

Elsewhere, the 1975 Jaguar E-Type Series III Commemorative Roadster, estimated at £180,000-220,000. One of 50 last-of-the-line models, this rare manual-transmission example has had only two owners from new, and is in outstandingly original and un restored condition.

From 1963, a Jaguar E-Type ‘Series-1’ Roaster is also offered, estimated at £120,000-160,000. The roadster was sold new to the Sultan of Brunei and since then has passed through the hands of some of the UKs country's best-known connoisseurs of fine motor cars, including former Aston Martin CEO Victor Gauntlett, whose favourite car it is reputed to have been.

Bonhams Festival of Speed Sale takes place on 26 June in Goodwood, Chichester.