1968 Jaguar E-Type S2 4.2 FHC

Description

Current owner 25+ years; has spent most of its life in sunny Australia, hence the good state of preservation today; a lovely looking example which is only reluctantly for sale due to illness 

Our vendor acquired this E-Type Series 2 Coupe in the mid-1990s when he was living and working in Western Australia. He acquired it from a local farmer who had owned it for many years but had used it on high days and holidays only. Our vendor used it more frequently, principally for regular trips to the local golf club, always keeping it garaged when not in use.

Originally red, it was repainted white about 10 years ago and the paintwork has held up well with just a few traces of microblistering here and there. The brightwork was rechromed at the same time and the whole car looks most appealing with good panel gaps and no obvious signs of corrosion, the hot Australian sunshine no doubt accounting for the good state of preservation today.

A competent mechanic, the vendor has maintained the car himself, reporting that it has never needed anything other than routine servicing. We are told that the brakes were overhauled fairly recently, along with the carburettors, and a new clutch master cylinder and a new windscreen have also been fitted.

On returning to the UK in 2018, our vendor brought the E-Type with him and it passed an MOT in July 2018 with just one advisory for a knocking steering column UJ. The indicated mileage at this point was 86,040 and it has only covered 40 miles since.

Invoices show that in 2018 it had new front upper and lower ball joints, new track rod ends and new steering rack mounts. In 2019 the front seats had new black leather covers and new seat foams supplied by Aldridge Trim at a cost of £1,326. The centre console was also retrimmed in 2020. Supplied with two sets of keys, it also has an electronic immobiliser fitted.

One curiosity about this car is the chassis number, which does not follow the usual numbering sequence nor have the usual 1R prefix for a RHD S2 Coupe. In August 2020 it was inspected by Ken Jenkins, Technical Director for The Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club, so that it could be registered with DVLA. He concluded that: ‘The car was manufactured in late 1968 and all the components indicate that this is a complete original car. The engine and gearbox are clearly from that period and all the ancillary components, many of which carry manufacturing dates, originate from 1968. There is no explanation for the chassis number’ (the full letter is shown in the photos).

Only reluctantly for sale due to illness, this E-Type is a beautiful looking car and has been starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site, with good 40psi oil pressure. The anomaly with the chassis number is a complete mystery but the car has a V5C which records it as a 1968 Jaguar E-Type Coupe with Historic Vehicle status so it is free to tax and MOT-exempt.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com