Lot Ended
Description
Matching numbers UK car; impressively straight and solid; restored in
the early-1990s and only 2,500 miles since; stainless steel exhaust
manifold; adjustable ride height; new tyres; advisory-free MOT; lots to love
about this one
From launch in
1961, the Jaguar E-Type Series One was treated to innumerable incremental
improvements over the years, the most important being the adoption of the more
torquey 4.2 engine in 1965 which also gained an all-synchromesh gearbox to
replace the rather antiquated Moss box in the original 3.8 models.
The biggest raft of changes came in late-1967 to
meet new safety standards for the all-important American market. These included
open rather than closed headlights and rocker rather than toggle switches on the
dash. Although Jaguar did not make this distinction themselves, these 1967/68
‘transitional’ models have been retrospectively dubbed the Series 1.5. Most
sources state that the RHD S1.5 FHC began with chassis number 1E 21584 but this
has always been something of a grey area and the change-over was probably not as
clear-cut as that, especially for the 1967 home market cars.
This E-Type, chassis number 1E 21673, comes with
a JDHT Heritage Certificate stating that it is a Series One and it clearly has
all the traditional S1 features: closed headlights; triple SU carbs; smooth
rather than fluted cam covers; radiator header tank; single rather than twin
cooling fan; toggle switches rather than rocker switches on the dash; rev
counter with built-in clock etc.
A RHD car for
the UK market, it left the factory in November 1967 and was first registered in
Oxford with the number HJO 60F in February 1968. Fitted with the standard
all-synchro four-speed gearbox, it was originally Silver Blue with a Dark Blue
interior.
Although there is no early history
with the car, in 1985 it was acquired by a Mr D White of Wembley, who fully
restored the car between 1989 and 1993, as detailed in numerous invoices on
file. This included colour-changing it from blue to Carmen Red and having the
interior fully retrimmed with Biscuit leather seat covers and matching carpets,
door cards etc
It was to remain in the White
family until 2004, only covering some 1,300 miles in the 10 years after the
restoration was completed, as shown by old MOTs on file.
It then had one
other London owner for the next 19 years, although he too used the car very
lightly, adding barely 1,200 miles to the odometer including the occasional trip
to the MOT station when it always passed with no advisories. There are also
various invoices for routine upkeep, including an overhaul of the carbs in 2022
and new clutch master and slave cylinders in the same year.
Our vendor acquired the E-Type from the London gent in 2023 to join
his collection of interesting cars. A proper petrolhead who also owns a
Plymouth Superbird race car, he has spent a fair chunk of money upgrading
and improving the E-Type to the standard he required.
This includes a stainless steel exhaust system with a beautifully
fabricated six-branch manifold and an adjustable reaction plate – a popular
upgrade which allows you to easily adjust and fine-tune the right height at the
front (a very difficult task with the original factory setup).
Other
goodies in the current ownership include a spin-on oil filter conversion; new
tail lamps and rear number plate lamps; new door and boot rubbers; front
suspension overhaul with new bushes throughout; new steering rack gaiters; new
coolant hoses and fuel tank filler hose; new chrome bonnet beading; a new set of
tyres and a nice dateless number plate, 4453 WW, which is transferable and goes
with the car.
As you can see in the photos and
the video, this is an impressively straight and solid ‘matching numbers’ E-Type
with excellent panel gaps. Although it no longer needs one, it has an MOT until
January 2027 which was another clean pass.
Starting easily and running very sweetly indeed as we have moved it
around on site, with healthy oil pressure, all it needs now is an enthusiastic
new owner who can reap the rewards of all the good work carried out to date.
We like this car a lot and we are sure that you
will too so do come and see it!
Consigned by
James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com