A SOUGHT-after early 1964 E-Type Jaguar coupe smashed its catalogue estimate to sell for £64,660 at auction.

The car was among those under the hammer at the Spring Classic auction staged by South Western Vehicles Auction in Poole.

The bidding started at £30,000 for the metallic blue sportscar, but within minutes it had more than doubled in value as offers from the floor of the packed auction room were supplemented by online and telephone interest.

Proving that early E-Types are particularly attractive at the moment, a Southampton sourced 1973 two-plus-two example in the same sale sold for £34,980 which was just within its catalogue estimate.

The surprise of the day was a well presented cobalt blue 1990 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Coupe sold by a Poole owner which under intense three-way bidding more than doubled its reserve to find a new owner for £30,475.

Much of the attention of the auction was focused on a rare award-winning 1952 Tatraplan T600, with phone and internet interest from across Europe. It was sold for £24,168, not quite reaching its guide price.

A New Forest 1964 left-hand drive Austin Healey 3000 MK3 Phase 2, with just 58,000 miles indicated, quickly passed its reserve and eventually was knocked down for £31,270 after costs.

A Ferndown-housed 1968 Morris Mini Cooper S Replica complete with rare Cooper FIA steering wheel, black anodised dashboard and rally parts including passenger mirror and BMC seatbelts more than doubled its guide to find a new owner for £11,024.