Jaguars to set hearts racing after 1,000 go up for auction

Ken Chapman, the former chairman of Swindon Town, who gave Glenn Hoddle his first job in management, has built up the collection over many years and said his favourite was a model XK120.

Mr Chapman, who lives in Lincolnshire, has decided to sell the cars because he is moving to a smaller house, and has entrusted their sale to John Morgan, of Sheffield Auction Gallery.

Mr Morgan said it was not possible to give an accurate estimate on what the collection would fetch at auction on March 15, but said just one of the cars, a tiny red XK140 dating from 1958, was so rare it would make more than £100 alone.

The 12 boxes of toy cars delivered to the saleroom include other rarities such as late 1950s models by Danish brand Tekno and cars made by Indian firm Nicky, which bought old Dinky Toy moulds in the 1960s.

Mr Morgan said: “The Nicky cars are of quite poor quality compared with the Dinky counterparts, but ironically because of their rarity, they are now worth more.

“The collection is extremely eclectic and in amassing such a huge collection Mr Chapman has managed to come by some real gems prized by toy connoisseurs.

“I have seen large collections of toy cars before but never such a massive collection of one single marque. We have high hopes for it at auction.”