Description
The Jaguar E Type was understandably described by Enzo Ferrari as ‘the most beautiful car ever made’ when launched in 1961. The E Type’s combination of beauty, high performance and competitive pricing quickly established the model as an icon of the motoring world. Available originally as a fixed head coupe or open two seater with a 3. 8ltr straight six cylinder engine all models had a monocoque body, rack & pinion steering, independent suspension and disc brakes all round. As the model evolved, the larger 4. 2ltr 6 cylinder engine and the 5. 3ltr V12 units were utilised. Automatic transmission was optional and a larger 2+2 body with rear seats was also available.
The car we are pleased to offer is a late built Series 2 Open Two Seater (roadster) fitted with the 4. 2ltr straight 6 engine and manual transmission. The car is a rare, original UK supplied car with the correct VIN 1R 1690 denoting it to be one of the last Series 2 RHD roadsters built in 1970 and one of less than 800 RHD cars built in total – making this one of the lowest production E Types ever.
Series 2 cars are easily distinguished by the larger lights being re positioned under the wrap around bumpers and a larger front air intake. Other details include improved dashboard switches with an ignition lock. Mechanical changes included ribbed cylinder head rocker covers and twin electric cooling fans to name a few.
Finished in original Signal Red paintwork with a Black leather interior, this car is well known to us as we supplied it almost 5 years ago after purchasing it from its previous elderly keeper of 45 years - he was just the second owner and paid the grand sum of £1, 895 for it back then! The odometer mileage indicated today shows to be 21, 699 – this isn’t a car that’s gone ‘round the clock’ but instead had a new speedo fitted in 1979 when the mileage was 57, 000 so the total mileage is just over 78, 000.
The history file with the car is very large and comprehensive - It includes the original tan book pack with service manual, dealer manual, Radiomobile radio instruction booklet and wiring diagram. The timeline within the history file shows the previous owner purchasing the car in December 1973 with 36, 720 miles. Living in Essex and working in Central London, he ran the car up until 1980 when he laid the car up due to a broken oil ring to No. 1 cylinder, the mileage was now around 60, 500 and the car was to be laid up untouched until 1987 when the car was to be restored. Obviously, the engine was re bored and rebuilt but the car was also fully stripped down to bare metal, resprayed and re built with new carpets and a hood all completed in May 1993 – yes you did read that right, 6 years, but it wasn’t 6 years of solid work. There is correspondence within the file from the owner and the owners legal representatives pushing to get the ‘no rush’ job completed.
Since completion in 1993, the same owner kept the car for another 25 years and covered another 17, 000 miles until I purchased the car from him. Increasing age and ill health had meant the car had received very little use in later years and the local MOT station would come and fire it up, take it away for minor maintenance, carry out the MOT and deliver it back and park it in the garage.
The car had been stored very well and the little use meant the bodywork was in super condition and all what was needed was a nice detail back then. The interior however was looking a little tired. The leather seats, although visually in a good condition, gave no support so were reconditioned with the frames sand blasted, re painted and rebuilt with new cushions, diaphragms and covers. The headrests were also rebuilt similarly – the old covers have been retained for the next keeper. Mechanically, the car was fully serviced and re commissioned with all fluids, including the coolant and brake fluid, being changed. Everything inside the car was checked and sorted as necessary. The only non standard change our client requested was the removal of the rear exhaust silencers and a pair of straight pipes fitted, again, the rear silencers have been kept and will be passed on to the next keeper.
Since we sold the car, our client has enjoyed the car trouble free and without fault for the past 4 years or so. He has cared for it well and has only covered 1, 000 early summer evening miles. It returns to us in a condition similar to when it left us.
We are currently servicing and preparing the car for sale and once completed we will update the photos and add comprehensive videos. This is a high quality RHD E Type reasonably priced, and early viewing is recommended. We can arrange Nationwide Delivery in a covered trailer.
