・Matching-numbers example with Heritage certificate 
・Good history file

・Sumptuous interior retrim

・Beautiful dark grey metallic paintwork

The Jaguar E-Type flicks a significant emotional switch. That’s a truism akin to pointing out the wetness of water; the sylph-like curves, the delicate chassis, the keen pricing that helped to democratise the accessibility of sports cars… it’s easy to understand why this model continues to be so wildly popular today. It’s an intrinsic thread in the tapestry of British history.

The example we have here is a Series 2, which is easily identifiable by the wider mouth at the front and the splayed exhausts at the rear. A number of the changes applied to the Series 2 – such as the removal of the glass headlight covers – were carried out to meet the demands of the US National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration regulations, and there are a few clues here that this car isn’t just a globalised version of a US-focused refresh: the ignition has migrated to the steering column, the seats have head restraints, the engine wears a pair of twin-barrel Stromberg carbs rather than triple SUs, and most notably the steering wheel is on the left… yes, this is a genuine US-spec car, having been repatriated and UK-registered in 2019.

As the Heritage certificate confirms, this E-Type was supplied to its first owner by British Leyland New York in May 1969. The first fifty years of its life were spent in the USA, latterly in the city of Ruston, Louisiana, before being brought over to England in the spring of 2019. We can see that it was registered over here in June of that year, and that its UK owner has pursued an obsessive approach to getting the Jaguar tip-top with all the correct parts. Aside from the steering wheel being on the other side, it all looks quintessentially British and with everything nicely finished it’s now ready for a life of thrills and open-top adventure with its next doting curator.   

A good file of documentation accompanies this car, and the linchpin of it is the all-important Heritage certificate: this confirms that the E-Type was supplied by British Leyland New York on May 30th 1969, having been built on April 22nd of that year. Crucially, this also proves that this is a matching-numbers car – the engine number on the certificate matches the one stamped on the block. We can see that the Jaguar was originally supplied in silver with a light blue interior and black hood, so at some point in its history the aesthetic has changed, but the bare bones are just as they were in 1969.

A Louisiana registration certificate from 2015 is present in the file, as is the documentation and number plate authorisation from when it was imported in 2019. From its life in England, there’s a large variety of receipts for parts that have been ordered, including new carpets from Aldridge Trimming and a new stainless steel exhaust system, as well as having the tacho rebuilt. The V5 is also present, showing it to be a 1969 car that was first UK-registered on June 1st 2019.

The interior has enjoyed a high-quality retrim, with the seats now finished in soft grey leather. The upholstery is in lovely condition throughout, with no undue wear, no cracking or rips or tears, it’s all thoroughly pleasant. The carpets are equally good, as are the door cards, and the switchgear is all operational. The gauges all work correctly, registering the right temperatures and pressures on the move. The wood-rim steering wheel is in excellent un-worn condition, and so is the matching gear knob. The windows raise and lower as they should, and the doors close with a satisfying thunk.
It’s all dry and tidy inside the boot, with a nice carpet and what appears to be a new and unused spare wire wheel under the boot floor. We also find the correct jack hiding down there, along with the mallet for the knock-off spinners.

The paintwork is fabulous, and has evidently been expertly applied as it gleams with a mile-deep sheen across every panel, each one of which is straight, solid and free from dents or dings. The Jaguar’s original silver paint has been replaced with a sparkling dark metallic grey which really suits the big cat’s sleek lines. All of the correct chrome and badging is in place and in excellent condition with no tarnishing or patination, and the light lenses and window glass are in good order.

The car wears a set of polished wire wheels which are in outstanding condition, and shod with Pirelli SuperTouring tyres. The tasteful grey soft-top raises, latches and lowers with ease, and is in very good condition with no tears, holes or marks, with the rear window being clear and un-creased.
With the body showing no stone-chips, scratches, scuffs or corrosion, this is a very attractively presented E-Type which has been finished to a pleasingly high standard.

The 4.2-litre straight-six is a willing and eager unit, and this one is in very fine fettle. Wearing the twin Stromberg carburettors specific to the US market (rather than the triple SU carbs found on UK cars), this Jaguar has recently been treated to a new fuel pump, exhaust manifold, full stainless steel exhaust system, alternator and battery. In addition, it’s recently been serviced with careful attention paid to the engine, gearbox and differential, and as such it’s all running very smoothly indeed. It fires up easily, idles steadily with the gauges registering the right temperatures and pressures, and pulls strongly through the gears. It’s also happy to potter about in London traffic without histrionics. The owner reports no problems with the suspension, brakes or steering. It’s just as good to drive as it is to look at.

This car represents the E-Type sweet spot; for many enthusiasts, the Series 2 is the perfect iteration of the breed. While the Series 3 sported oft-controversial styling upgrades and a brutish V12 engine, the Series 2’s straight-six is more of a purist setup; at the same time, the 1968-71 cars offer a few choice improvements over the early Series 1 models, including revised seats for greater comfort, and superior engine cooling. And if the Series 2 is the E-Type for you, this particular one makes for a very attractive proposition. With a lot of attention paid to the details, this US XKE has been artfully reimagined for Britain, and primped to perfection. A truly lovely example to behold, supremely engaging to drive, and with a few tales to tell from its colourful past. The more you pore over the photographs, the more it feels like it could be the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.

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