1966 Jaguar FT Coupé by Bertone

This rare Jaguar is a result of conversations between some of the automotive industry’s most revered names of the 1960s. The Jaguar importer for Northern Italy, Ferruccio Tarchini, commissioned the famous coachbuilder, Bertone, to build a four-seater coupé based on the Jaguar S-Type in 1966. Called the Jaguar “FT Coupe” after Tarchini’s initials, the importer hoped to sell the car through Jaguar’s Italian operations. In the end, only the 1966 Geneva Motor Show exhibition car and the example presently offered were built.

While the Geneva show car was based on the S-Type as originally intended, this unique sister model began life as one of the CKD (“complete knocked-down”) kits using the Jaguar 420 platform. The Coventry-based marque would supply these to the Italian coachbuilder, to be completed with Bertone bodywork.

This FT Coupe was sold new to a Spanish aristocrat, before making its way to a Jaguar dealership, where it would remain stored for 20 years before being rediscovered. It was refinished in its original metallic green colour in 2015, while the interior features charming black leather upholstery. The car is equipped with electric windows, “FT” horn push, and an air conditioning system.

• One of only two examples of the FT Coupé built by Bertone

• The only example built on the Jaguar 420 platform

• Powered by a Jaguar 4.2-litre inline six-cylinder engine with four-speed manual gearbox

Source: RM Sotheby's

Images: OldConceptCars