Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 FHC LHD 2-Door

Allegedly, Enzo Ferrari once said the Jaguar E-Type was the most beautiful car in the world. Whether he actually made the statement is debatable, but the impact is undeniable.Its good looks travelled far too. Sales in the US as the XKE resulted in celebrity ownership that bred a culture of desire which surrounded, and continues to surround, the E-Type. Despite its comparative lack of rarity, after all Jaguar built a lot of E-Types, demand has remained steadfast.Whilst early E-Types had to make do with a 3.8 litre straight six, by the mid 1960s Jaguar bored that unit out to 4.2 litres. The result was a more powerful and more driveable car. At launch, a fixed head coupe, or FHC, model was released as well as an open two seater.This particular car lived most of its life across the pond in the United States. Supplied new there, it was imported to the UK by its current owner. Externally, the car is finished in Gloss Black. It is a strong colour choice, as the black paintwork draws focus to the E-Types long bonnet and rear haunches and helps highlight details that might otherwise be missed. The wire wheels are wrapped in a matching set of Toyo Proxes tyres.The paintwork has a deep shine and presents well, however there are marks dotted around the car. The door shuts are not perfect either. The car was subject to a restoration in the UK by Alders Classics in Norfolk, where it was stripped to bare metal and repainted.The interior was also attended to by the team at Alders. The seats, centre console, door cards, and boot load areas are trimmed in a tan hide trim kit, whilst the top dash is covered in black leather. The carpet is an edge bound beige set. The trim kit has been fitted to an average standard, not the best but also not terrible. Years of driving have left an ineffaceable story, with carefully worn switches and a wood rim steering wheel completing the interior. A handful of upgrades have been made for creature comforts, namely a Retrosound head unit that allows Bluetooth audio playback.Under the long, front hinged bonnet you will find a 4.2 litre Jaguar straight six, with numbers matching the plate affixed in the engine bay. The engine bay and engine itself gleam, thanks to the engine being removed for a full engine bay tidy and refresh.The work was undertaken by Vulcan Classics and involved removing the engine and transmission. The strip down included a replacement clutch kit. Aluminium components were carefully polished, a stainless steel exhaust was fitted, and the engine was resealed, repainted, and refitted.This E-Type has had an impressive roster of work completed since its arrival in the UK.Exterior bare metal respray and exterior refresh - Alders ClassicsInterior retrim in tan hide - Alders ClassicsCarburettor rebuild, replacement distributor, and services - Alders ClassicsSuspension, brake, and underside overhaul - Alders ClassicsReplacement clutch kit and resurfaced flywheel - Vulcan ClassicsReplacement uprated alternator and wiring - Vulcan ClassicsEngine and engine bay refresh - Vulcan ClassicsStainless steel exhaust system - Vulcan ClassicsSince arriving with us, we have fitted new rear dampers, a new glovebox, a new heater motor, and a new wiper motor with a park mechanism mounted under the dash.The car currently has a rattling clutch release bearing and a weeping rear main oil seal. Both jobs require engine removal, so they can be addressed together. Factoring in these required works and the overall average to good condition of the restoration explains the asking price. Overall, the car looks fantastic from ten feet and drives very well indeed.E-Types are the quintessential classic car, but many have been restored to a level that makes them almost unusably precious. Cars were designed to be driven, to create memories and experiences, and this is a car you can truly use and enjoy.As with all our vehicles, a full digital folder is available upon request containing more images, walk around videos, and scans of the service history. The car can also be viewed by appointment at our West London showroom.