Even though we have now had 50 years to get used to it, there is something so right and so perfect about the shape of the original E-Type Jaguar that it’s power to stop the world in its tracks has still not been diminished. With a top speed of 150mph and at least as good as any contemporary Aston or Ferrari, it is only because Jaguar managed to produce a large number of them that we mere mortals can realistically think of owning one today, although prices have been on a steady upwards march for several years now.
The best looking and most desirable of all the E-Type variants is undoubtedly the Series 1 Roadster, as here. Fitted with the larger, torquier, 265bhp 4.2 litre engine with triple 2" SU carbs and all sychro gearbox, these are genuinely quick cars even by today’s standards, yet remain easy to live with and maintain (unlike Italian exotica) with all parts readily available and a whole army of specialists to look after them.
This example is finished in Opalescent grey which as the Heritage Certificate suggests is the original paint colour and has recently had the benefit of a retrim and new mohair hood by reknowned trimmers BAS (£4500) which looks superb. We have managed to trace the car back to Connecticut in the USA where the previous owner bought the car as a restoration project in 1978. The car was stripped to bare metal with any defects or rust being replaced with new metalwork and panels. He then set about rebuilding the engine and added many high performance parts including uprated valves and pistons (runs on unleaded) and then the engine was fully polished and balanced at a cost of £7000. This restoration unfortunately ground to a halt as the then owner married and had children. Restoration resumed in 1990 with all suspect parts either being replaced or refurbished and with no expense spared. Some 500 hours, $40,000 and twenty years on, the owner regrettably decided that the car should be sold to someone who had the time and funds to complete the project. With all of the hard work accomplished, the car was shipped to its new UK owner in 2010 where the car was 95% completed by an avid Jaguar Enthusiast. Due to a bad back and the inability to actually get in and out of the car, the owner contacted Arun and I have to say we jumped at the chance to purchase it. We have now carried out a thorough shakedown and inspection (in excess of 100 hours) and have finally completed this 30 year restoration. Supplied in left hand drive format (this can easily be changed to right hand drive should the new owner prefer), we are now able to proudly offer this superb completed Series I in undoubtedly the best colour combination available and at a fraction of the rebuild cost.
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