Lot 114 - 1967 Jaguar E-Type Series 1½ 2+2

• Full restoration completed in January 2023
• Mileage believed to be genuine

Launched at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show, the Jaguar E-Type was nothing short of a revelation. With its heady blend of supercar performance, breathtaking styling and low price-tag, the newcomer left rivals reeling and customers clamouring. Early sportscar racing success at the hands of Graham Hill and Roy Salvadori amongst others helped cement its reputation. Built as a monocoque with a front subframe to cradle the engine, the model's combination of all-round independent suspension, rack and pinion steering and four-wheel disc brakes gave it excellent road holding and handling capabilities. Fed by triple SU HD8 carburettors and topped with a 'straight port' DOHC cylinder head, its indomitable 3781cc straight-six engine was quoted as developing some 265bhp and 260lbft of torque. Allied to a four-speed Moss gearbox, it reputedly enabled the E-Type to sprint from 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds and onto 150mph. The E-Type remains for many the ultimate production Jaguar.

Presented in Opalescent Maroon and complemented by an all-new beige leather, one of the most striking colours Jaguar ever applied to the E-Type, this 4.2 litre manual example has just finished a comprehensive restoration by our vendor, the proprietor of a workshop and restoration business. This matching numbers example for which a Jaguar Heritage search has confirmed the car was originally supplied to the UK before it was shipped, at some point in its early life, to the US. The car is showing just 45,144 miles and a borescope and compression test leads the vendor to believe this mileage is, in his professional opinion, indeed correct. Due to the completion date of the restoration, for which our vendor explains has cost him a small fortune with no expense spared, this car will arrive to auction having been briefly tested on the road but predominantly on a rolling road to ensure the paintwork presents unmarked, as it did when it left the booth. Provided with an MoT test certificate for peace of mind, even the period plates have only been applied to the rear so the new owner can choose whether to apply a transfer to the front bonnet or not. Restored as a project for which the vendor enjoyed the journey rather than the destination, this example is offered at what would be considered half the build cost. Offered in a stunning colour combination with the added advantage of that glorious 4.2 litre engine and a manual gearbox, but for some initial running in there are few better ways spend summer days other than driving a Series I½ E-Type.

Customers comments;

• This is a totally original early series 1.5 1967 RHD car, presented in its original rare colour of Opalescent Maroon
• This is car number 33 of 142 series 1.5 RHD fixed head 2+2 cars built
• As the car is an early model it has the desirable toggle switches on its series 1 dashboard.
• The car was in its previous ownership since 1985 and stored in Plano, Texas, USA a dry state.
• The car was re-patriated and fully registered in the UK
• The car suffered no rot and required only minor panel work due to its dry location
• The car is believed to be genuine mileage according to compression tests and bore scopes.
• The car comes with over £ 11,000 of parts invoices and the original car invoice for purchase from the US
• We have spent well in excess of 1,000 man hours in the restoration at the bodyshop over a period of three years – had this been at a resto company the ultimate bill would be well over £80,000 with the original purchase price and time spent
• The car comes with a beautiful hardback book detailing the car (I can provide further copies), its origins, and a photographic record of restoration
• The car comes with over 100 addition photos on an SD card for the new owner
• The car has a period transfer number plate that can be applied by the new owner if they wish
• The car has travelled around 3 miles on private roads to the photoshoot, and has been tested on a rolling road but to protect the immaculate paintwork we have not driven the car on public roads but the car is fully MOT’d despite it not being a legal requirement