Filed Under: News
A Jaguar enthusiast who wanted to fit his two dogs in his cramped sports car found a novel solution – by fusing a Morris Minor to the back of it.
The result is a bizarre-looking creation made up of the two cars morphed together, with the sleek Jaguar XK150 front being matched with the rear of a Morris Minor Traveller.
The combination has led to a vehicle with an elegant front and a classically ugly but practical boot on the back.
Fused: This bizarre-looking creation is made up of the two cars morphed together, with the sleek Jaguar XK150 front being matched with the rear of a Morris Minor Traveller
The white car, named the Foxbat, is believed to be the only one in existence in the world and was built by a Jaguar enthusiast Geoffrey Stevens in the mid 1970s.
The late Mr Stevens, who worked as an industrial chemist in the tanning industry, built the vehicle to give him extra room to transport goods as well as his two Labrador dogs.
The car, which has been welded or bolted together in the middle, benefits from a much larger back than the ordinary 1959 Jaguar with the same 3.4 litre engine.
Under the hammer: The car is now being sold by Bonhams auctioneers at their Goodwood Revival Sale in Chichester, West Sussex, on September 16
The hybrid has a 3.4 litre engine and has a French numberplate, though it was registered in the UK prior to 2000 with number plate ‘558 NOT’.
Tim Schofield, head of classic car department at Bonhams, said: ‘It’s a remarkable car.
Make Jaguar / Morris Traveller
Model XK150 3.4 Foxbat Sports Estate
Engine 3.4-Litre
Chassis no S825106DN
Engine no V7435-8
Max output 190bhp
Year 1959
Colour White
Transmission Manual
LHD / RHD RHD
Price (estimate) £30,000-£35,000
‘Thanks to an expert named Peter Ingram, we now know the Foxbat was made by a Geoffrey Stevens around 1975 to 1977.
‘He was a Jaguar enthusiast and worked as an industrial chemist near Swindon.
‘He and his wife needed a more practical car to transport kit around with room for their two dogs and he decided to do his own conversion.
‘It took him several years to complete, using a very rusty Jaguar XK150 and a Morris Minor. You can see exactly where joins the other.
‘He even hand cut a Foxbat badge to put on the back.
‘It really is incredibly interesting and, as far as we know, it is the only one in existence.’
It was sold by Mr Stevens in the 1980s and spent many years in France before being transported back to the UK in 2008.
It is now being sold by Bonhams auctioneers at their Goodwood Revival Sale in Chichester, West Sussex, on September 16.
The beautiful lines and coachwork of a gleaming Jaguar XK150 convertible – when it’s whole
The ugly rear of the Morris Minor Traveller allowed the Foxboat to have a large boot without denting the performance
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