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Jaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 Roadster

Jaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 Roadster

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Jaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 RoadsterJaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 RoadsterJaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 RoadsterJaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 RoadsterJaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 Roadster
Jaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 RoadsterJaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 RoadsterJaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 RoadsterJaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 RoadsterJaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 Roadster
Jaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 RoadsterJaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 RoadsterJaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 Roadster
Lot number 129
Hammer value N/S (est. £93,000 - £100,000)
Description Jaguar E-Type S1.5 4.2 Roadster
Registration JHG 800G
Year 1968
Colour Red
Engine size 4,235 cc
Chassis No. 1E2103
Engine No. 7E17813-9

Even though we have now had over 50 years to get used to it, there is something so right and so perfect about the shape of the E-Type Jaguar that its power to stop the world in its tracks has not diminished.

Drive one through any town centre today and you will immediately feel like you have turned into George Clooney with a puppy in his arms – everyone will come over all dreamy and stare longingly in your direction. Driving one in 1961 must have been even more sensational. At a time when the average family saloon was doing well to crack 60mph and might take a week to get there, this Coventry cat could hit the same speed in 6.8 seconds and scorch on to a terminal velocity of almost 150mph. At least as good as any contemporary Aston or Ferrari, it's only because Jaguar sold so many of them that mere mortals like you and I can realistically think of owning one today.

This particular car is about as good as E-Types get, being a Series 1.5 model which retained the classic looks of the original Series 1 (apart from exposed headlights) yet with the many improvements of the Series 2 thrown in: better cooling with twin fans, more comfortable reclining seats and an all-synchro gearbox. Only 6,726 Series 1.5 models were produced between 1967 and 1968 of which just 2,801 were Roadsters, and only 319 of these in factory right-hand drive, making this a rare beast indeed.

As the accompanying Heritage Certificate confirms, it was despatched from the Browns Lane factory on 21st June 1968 to Parkers (Manchester & Bolton) Ltd and was first registered on 1st August 1968. Since then it has had just five owners, being acquired by the vendor from Racing Green Cars in the summer of 2006 after he read the following 'Ads on Test' feature in the July 2006 issue of Classic Cars magazine (copy on file):

"It drives faultlessly. The engine is a gem, spearing the E-Type along any road you point it at. It sits stable and firmly planted at high speed, something you don't find with all E-Types, and the Coopercraft brakes offer safe stopping. It revs incredibly swiftly, perfectly balanced and zings through the rev range. The four-speed manual changes gear crisply. No clonks or driveline wear evident. Excellent bodywork, straight and rot-free."

Since this report was written the car has only covered some 7,300 miles, being regularly serviced and diligently maintained, including having a new clutch kit fitted less than 800 miles ago. The extensive history file also indicates that the car was treated to a full restoration in 2001/02 including a body restoration by Southern Classics at a cost of over £8,000; a full engine rebuild to unleaded spec by VSE at a cost of over £3,000; a gearbox rebuild; Coopercraft brake upgrade; new suspension; big bore stainless steel exhaust system; full interior retrim; a new set of wide chrome wire wheels and Pirelli P4000 tyres plus numerous other improvements. The period radio has also been converted to FM and has iPod connectivity so you can play your favourite tunes while soaking up the admiration of other road users. 

The current indicated mileage of 103,187 is believed to be the genuine distance covered from new, although the car has only covered some 25,000 miles since the engine rebuild in 2002. The vendor also confirms that the 4.2-litre engine is original to the car, making this a ‘matching numbers’ example. MOTd until December 2015 with no advisories recorded, the car is said to drive beautifully and certainly performed magnificently when we were treated to a spirited test drive on the occasion of our visit.

Supplied with the aforementioned history file, an owner’s handbook, Haynes Workshop Manual plus much other technical literature relating to the model, this rare, beautiful and sensibly uprated Series 1.5 E-Type ticks all the right boxes and is ready for a lucky new owner to enjoy right away.

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