Vintage Jaguar Races to $50,000 at Owl's Head Transportation Museum Benefit Auction

Jaguar XK120 fixed head coupe, 1952.

Vintage Jaguar Races to $50,000 at Owl's Head Transportation Museum Benefit Auction

OWLS HEAD, MAINE - More than 4,500 bidders and spectators from all over the country attended the 25th Annual New England Auction of Antique, Classic and Special Interest Vehicles at the Owls Head Transportation Museum, Saturday, August 24.

Museum officials say the show was a huge success. "We measure success by the number of smiles we put on people's faces," said museum director and benefit auctioneer Charles Chiarchiaro. "We sold seventy-five percent of the cars we had up for auction. We put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces."

This year's auction featured 177 consigned vehicles. The most expensive among them included a 1952 Jaguar XK120 fixed head coupe that sold for $50,000, a 1918 Cadillac Type 57 Touring car that went for $42,500, a 1959 Jaguar XK150 that brought $39,000 and a 1942 Ford Super Deluxe Woodie wagon that cleared $37,000. Total sales for the auction topped $1.4 million.

"This was a strong auction, one of the best in the museum's history," said Chiarchiaro, citing the tremendous efforts of volunteers and staff.

Proceeds of the annual auto auction go toward the maintenance of the museum's collection and educational programs.

The Owls Head Transportation Museum is on Route 73. For information, 207-594-4418 or www.owlshead.org.