A very special Jaguar E-Type which starred in the BBC’s famous comedy series Only Fools and Horses will be offered for sale at The Salon Privé Sale on September 3 at Blenheim Palace in the UK.

The 1973 Series III Roadster was purchased by its first and only owner, a Swansea businessman, who has cruised his E-Type along the Welsh Riviera with the top down for the last four decades.  

In 1981, UYP 695M was invited to star in the second episode of Only Fools and Horses, titled Go West Young Man, in which Boycie, the local second hand car dealer played by John Challis, purchases the car as a birthday gift for his ‘bit on the side’. 

Del Boy (David Jason) and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) then decide to borrow the car for a night out on the tiles, which does not go quite as planned. On their way home, Rodney accidentally throws a cigar pack out of the window on which are written the phone numbers of some girls, causing Del Boy to hit the brakes and another car to crash into them.

This was of course a staged accident with no damage caused to the car itself, which has been lovingly looked after by its owner for its whole life. This E-Type earned its place in British television history, known ever since as “Boycie’s E-Type”.

This car is finished in Old English White with a blue leather interior. Included with the car is a die-cast model of the E-Type signed by both David Jason and John Challis and presented in a frame with mounted stills of the car's appearance in the episode.

When asked about his time filming with the car, Challis remarked: "It's only E-Type Jaguars and Adam Peaty that makes me proud to be British these days," paraphrasing his original line from the episode, and alluding to the recent British success at the Rio Olympics.

After ten years in storage in a heated garage, this year the car was treated to a light recommissioning as well as a full service. Reading 79,000 miles, and coming with a comprehensive history file, it heads to auction with an estimate of between £75,000 and £85,000 ($97,500 and $110,500).

“It’s one of the joys of the auction world to be able to offer a car that is rather special in every way,” explains Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, which will conduct the sale. “Not only does it have the distinction of having been featured in one of the best loved television comedies of all time, it’s also a beautiful and extremely well looked after example in largely original condition.”

The UK’s most prestigious luxury supercar show, Salon Privé incorporates the Chubb Insurance Concours d’Élégance, Boodles Ladies’ Day and The Salon Privé Supercar Show, also showcasing The Pirelli Prestige & Performance Competition, the EFG Art and Memorabilia Fair and The Salon Privé Sale. 

The show runs from September 1 to 3.