Description
This is lot number 149 in the Bonhams Zoute sale on October 6th, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
One of the earliest of the 56 MG Bs bodied by Coune, of which just six were built with an all-steel body
Professionally restored in 2009/ 2010 to the highest level
Upgraded engine with cross-flow cylinder head; original engine included in the sale
Eligible to compete in prestigious international events
Belgian registration document
Jacques Coune, a brilliant coachbuilder and above all a gentleman driver, was a co-founder of the Belgian National Formula 1 Team and drove for Écurie Francorchamps in May 1956, piloting a Ferrari 166 MM at Spa. He also looked after the team's Ferrari 250 GT TdF Berlinetta.
In 1962, Coune established his own coachbuilding firm to create body styles that were not offered in the ranges of various manufacturers but were nonetheless essential. This was particularly true of the MG B, which was only available as a roadster at the time when Coune began producing his MG B Berlinetta. He produced 56 examples, one of the first being presented at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1964, just ahead of the factory's own MG B GT coupé, which arrived the following year.
This early example left the MG factory on 1st November 1963, likely delivered to Ets P Decrose in Brussels as a standard left-hand drive roadster finished in British Racing Green with black interior and matching soft-top. Being one of the first produced by Coune, it is one of just six examples to feature the all-steel 'Jacques Coune' body. The car was first registered on 25th June 1964 with its first owner, and in 1967 was registered in Luxemburg to Dieter Pfeilstucker in Esch-sur-Alzette. The various photocopies of documents accompanying the car reveal that it was exported to the Netherlands in 1989 and sold in 1998 by C Banhart to Guy Kaïdo. The current owner, a prominent Belgian collector, bought the rare MGB Coune in 2008.
In 2006, the body had been fully restored by Carrozzeria GranTurismo in Milan, while in 2009/ 2010 a full professional restoration was carried out by Classic Car Service Restorations in Antwerp, Belgium. The car is currently fitted with an upgraded engine with a performance-enhancing cross-flow cylinder head, and its original 1. 8-litre engine (engine no. 18G-U-H/ 24205) and gearbox, stored in a crate, will be delivered with the car.
The accompanying documentation includes, among others, the following: original Belgian registration document; 2018 British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate; 2009/ 2010 restoration invoices from Classic Car Service Restorations; transfers from 1998, 1999, 2008; pictures before the restoration ... Beyond being a charming sports berlinetta, this MG B is also a well-documented example, offering a rare opportunity to acquire a piece of Belgian history.
