Jaguar E-Type S2 4.2 Roadster

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Although die-hard E-Type aficionados will always claim that the Series 1 is the car to have, in the real world there is no doubt that the Series 2, launched in October 1968, is the better car to drive. Visually distinguished by its slightly higher, uncowled front headlights, wider front grille and different tail lights, it had twin fans for better cooling, an all-synchro gearbox, better seats, improved switchgear and slightly more room in the cabin.

Power still came from the same magnificent 265bhp 4.2-litre triple-carb XK engine which endowed the car with a top speed in excess of 130mph. During the lifespan of the Series 2, 8,628 were produced as open top roadsters, all but 776 in left-hand drive before it was replaced by the V12-powered Series 3 in late 1970.

As the Heritage Certificate confirms, WHJ 960J is one of those rare UK-market cars, built in June 1970 and is in fact the 24th from last made (chassis number 1776 being the last). Supplied new via HL Abbott Motors of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, it had four owners up to 1988 when the vendor's father acquired it, ownership transferring to his son in 2013, so it has been in single-family-ownership for the last 30 years.

Over the last two years the car has been substantially restored with bills on file amounting to well over £30,000. This has included a full body restoration and a repaint in the original Signal Red at a cost of over £20,000 with many invoices on file to detail the work carried out. It also received a full engine rebuild with six new pistons and liners etc, a new stainless steel exhaust system, new brakes, carburettors overhauled and balanced, attention to the wiring, five new tyres plus numerous other jobs at a cost of over £11,000 (invoices on file).

Since the work was completed earlier this year, the car has only covered a handful of miles and will need careful running-in before the prodigious performance is exploited to the full. It flew through its MOT in April 2018 with no advisories recorded.

In need of some minor detailing here and there (straightening up those front indicators for starters!), it looks mighty tempting at the sensible guide price suggested.