Coluche’s former Jaguar, sold by a collector from Paris to raise money for Les Restos du Cœur

1967 - JAGUAR Mark 2 3.4

Regular French registration papers

Previously owned by Michel Colucci (‘Coluche’)
Sold to raise money for the charity ‘Les Restos du Cœur’
Recommissioned after being laid up for 24 years
A Jaguar saloon whose elegance has been unsurpassed since 1959

The model which we are presenting was owned by the famous French actor and comedian, Michel Colucci (known as Coluche), who died tragically early on 19 June 1986 in a motorcycle accident. A lover of fine cars, he bought this Jaguar Mark 2 fitted with the 3.4-litre 6-cylinder engine and 3-speed automatic transmission on 20 September 1980. The car was then registered at 56 rue du Montparnasse in the 14th arrondissement of Paris with the number 494 DFA 75. By turns provocative and a political agitator, due to the position he took on social issues, he was keen to stay abreast of current affairs and had a sophisticated radio (with the very latest graphic equaliser) installed in the car (which it still possesses today), as can be read in the catalogue for the auction at which the car was sold in December 1994. Coluche sold the car five years later, on 16 July 1985, to its third owner, a collector from the Dordogne, according to the expert at the auction at the time, Jean-Michel Cérède.

Ordered new by a doctor from the Val de Marne in the very elegant shade of dark metallic ‘Regent Grey’ with a matching grey leather interior and carpets, we know that its engine was completely restored in 1991 following a flashback in the carburettor. A new engine block was ordered from England and the gearbox replaced, the car was repainted, the wood trim refinished and the carpets and leather upholstery replaced. On buying the car in 1994, its current owner, the fourth, had a general service carried out by Espace Pro-Car in Puteaux for a total of more than 5000 francs. At the time, the car was showing 29,995 km (18,638 miles) on the clock. Since then, it has covered only another 35 km (22 miles)! It has to be said, as a business owner and entrepreneur in the field of pharmaceutical research, Patrick Choay is constantly travelling the globe to support women in the key stages of their lives: the cultural revolution, the sexual revolution, women’s liberation, fertility treatments and contraception … He is now the holder of some 30 patents which have been recognised by health authorities for more than 30 years. As committed as ever at the age of 74, he has now decided to bring this sleeping beauty back to life to raise money for another association he supports. Under cover in a heated garage in the Paris area, the car was sent to the renowned Atelier Arès to be recommissioned. The engine, gearbox, fuel pump, water pump, brakes, steering joints, wheel bearings, engine mounts, filters and fluids … everything was replaced to get the car back on its feet. After being laid up for 24 years, its tuneful in-line six can be heard once again!

Launched after the Coventry firm’s numerous victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours race, the Jaguar Mark 2 was unveiled at the London Motor Show in 1959. At the time, it was the fastest production saloon in the world and proved its sporting abilities in the hands of Bernard Consten, who won the Tour de France on three occasions from 1960–63, driving a 3.8-litre model. It demonstrated that it was truly a great sporting saloon thanks to its distinguished engineering, aristocratic design, luxury and typically British charm. It is now an established favourite in the world of classic cars, thanks to its many attributes.