Jaguar E-type

When even the great Enzo Ferrari is moved to declare your rival product “the most beautiful car in the world” you know you’ve got something pretty special. And although we have now had 50 years to get used to it, there is still something so pure about the shape of the original E-Type Jaguar that its power to stop the world in its tracks remains undiminished. With a top speed of 150mph and at least as good as any contemporary Aston or Ferrari, it's only because Jaguar made so many of them that non-hedge fund managers like you and I 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 the Series 1 as we have here. Like all the earliest cars it is fitted with the legendary 3.8-litre XK straight-six which provides a much sportier feel than the later, softer 4.2-litre engine. Quoted as developing some 265bhp and 260lb/ft of torque in standard tune, it is mated to a four-speed Moss gearbox with synchromesh on the top three ratios. Quite apart from their sheer beauty, 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 service them. Right-hand drive 3.8 Coupes are also surprisingly rare, with the majority having been produced for the export market and therefore in left hand drive.
This superb 3.8 E-Type Coupé comes to us from a collector who we have dealt with before and he has quite obviously improved the quality of the car considerably under his stewardship. Finished in its original colour scheme of metallic blue with a matching blue leather trim, the Heritage Certificate confirms that it is a genuine UK RHD matching numbers example which was originally supplied by Aston Preston in 1964 to a Mr John Evans. Mr Evans kept the vehicle for over ten years and according to the supplied registration documents (we have the original buff Registration booklet, the second generation version and the current V5!) it has only changed hands several times since, mainly passing through family hands. There is a complete folder of service history and supporting invoices with a collection of 14 MOT certificates and SORNS dating from 1988 with 15191 miles, to the current with a reading of just 20090 miles. So whilst we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the odometer reading, it would suggest that this is a very low mileage example. The general condition of all the body panels supports the supposition that this is a well maintained, low mileage car. Even the all important bonnet is taught and true without a trace of under-seal. In addition we notice that the car has the benefit of a Webasto sunroof, is fitted with stainless steel manifolds and has had some carburettor modifications which has now led to a superb looking, sporty sounding and very fast collectable motor car.