2024-02-20 12:31:57 | pauls writes:

Car at auction 2/24

carsonline.bonhams.com/en/listings/jaguar/e-type/be8c6a46-8467-4334-b102-8300caa ...

Auction description:

1E51175

89386 miles

4239 cc

manual

Regency Red

Grey Leather

Right-hand drive

Vehicle location

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Comprehensively Restored

Sensibly Guided and Reserved

Exceptional Documented History

This elegant 1968 Jaguar E-Type was first registered on March 12, 1968. Currently, it is under the ownership of the son of its previous keeper, who has held it since 2008, following in the footsteps of his father. Acquired as the third owner in 1980, the vendor's father ensured meticulous care for the vehicle over the years. The documentation attests to its exceptional maintenance and attention to detail.

Wanting to return the E-Type to its original condition, the vendor's father decided to elevate the condition of the E-Type further. To achieve this, he entrusted Classic Marques in Crossgar, Northern Ireland, with the task of conducting a comprehensive body and mechanical restoration of this quintessential British classic. This restoration, undertaken with no expense spared, took place between 2003 and 2004, resulting in the car's continued excellent condition.

Exterior

Let's face it: whichever angle you view the E-Type from, it quite simply looks stunning. Finished in the lovely Regency Red, the paintwork on the car is excellent; there is a deep, wet look lustre to it, enhancing the sleek body of the Coupe.

Starting at the front of the car, the chrome work on the bumpers and headlights is in excellent condition with no signs of tarnishing or blemishes. Looking up the long bulging bonnet, this is nice and straight with no dings; it also shuts with an equal gap against the body.

More chrome graces the window surrounds, which again have a bright finish. The windows are all in excellent condition too, with no noticeable scratches. The doors fit well and show a matching equal panel gap on each side. Their level is confirmed when you look at the chrome trim that runs onto the quarter panel, which is also nice and straight.

At the rear, the Chrome bumper wraps around the quarter with a precision fit, and just like the rest of the chrome work, it is in excellent condition. Being the Series 1.5, the lights still reside on top of the bumpers and these are both free from any damage.

Chrome wire wheels finish off the exterior; you guessed it, they are all in excellent condition and fitted with Pirelli tyres that haven't covered many miles.

Interior

Stepping inside the E-Type, you are graced with light grey leather, giving the car a light and airy feel. The front seats have some minor creasing, but nothing excessive. Both door cards are in good condition with no damage to them. The rear seat is in good order.

Sitting behind the wood rim steering wheel and the dashboard are in good condition. The Smiths instruments are bright and clear, with the odometer reading 89,387 miles. Towards the middle, the auxiliary gauges are in the same condition, and the toggle switches all appear in good order.

Looking up at the headlining, there is no sagging or staining, and it fits well. The carpets do have a small amount of wear in places, but with that said, carpets aren’t a difficult item to replace and are available from several specialists.

The boot area has been finished in leather to match the seats and presents well. The spare wheel is present.

Mechanical

The engine bay showcases meticulous attention to detail. The 4.2-litre straight-six underwent a thorough rebuild as part of the restoration process. The car fires up without hesitation, and no issues have been reported with the running of the car.

A new clutch was fitted during the restoration, and the gearbox offers seamless shifts, ensuring a smooth and exhilarating driving experience as the E-Type effortlessly accelerates through its gears.

When it comes to stopping the car, the braking system operates flawlessly, delivering precise stopping power and instilling confidence behind the wheel. The vendor raised no concerns regarding its functionality, affirming the car's exceptional performance and reliability on the road.

The underside presents well; clearly, the Jaguar doesn’t appear to have seen a significant amount of use in wet weather since the restoration, with many of the components still lovely and clean.

History Highlights

Whenever a company carries out a restoration, much of the work is unseen, which is a shame because it’s nice to see how much effort and skill has gone into your restoration.

Luckily, with this E-Type, that’s not the case; the extensive restoration process has been meticulously documented, comprising 11 folders of photographs. This is accompanied by thousands of pounds worth of invoices and hundreds of hours noted on some of the invoices, showing the dedication involved in bringing this Series 1.5 E-Type to the fantastic condition you see here.