E-type News
E247 June 2025
Jaguar Classic expands E-type parts range
Body panels and subframes are the latest additions to Jaguar Classic’s range of parts for the E-type. New parts include front crossmember assemblies, front frame assemblies, outer sills, side members and floor panels. Classic engineers used original drawings combined with 3D CAD modelling to produce new tooling and components. Each component was then scanned and compared to the drawings and CAD data to confirm its dimensions all match the original specifications. The new panels are made from mild steel and finished in black eCoat to help prevent corrosion. Every item carries JLR’s standard aftermarket parts and accessories warranty, which lasts for two years in the UK and Europe, and for one year in other countries. Dominic Elms, MD of Jaguar Classic (pictured above right) said: ‘Introducing these parts is a significant development for owners of the iconic E-type. They can have complete confidence the parts will be fully compatible with their vehicle, but also the reassurance of knowing they come direct from the original manufacturer. Every item is subject to the highest possible levels of scrutiny, with a range of quality assurance processes employed across Jaguar Classic ensuring these parts and others allow E-types all over the world to continue being driven and enjoyed for decades to come.’ Other E-type parts which are available from Jaguar Classic include doors, bonnets, other front and rear body panels, seals, engine and exhaust components, transmissions, steering racks and a range of interior trim parts. parts.jaguarlandroverclassic.com
E246 May 2025
‘Sayer’-spec Series I for sale
An exceptional Series I 4.2 Fixed Head Coupé prepared by MC Wilkinson to its ‘Sayer’ specification will cross the block at Historics’ Farnborough auction on 3 May with a guide price of £120,000-£150,000. Presented in Opalescent Blue with red leather, it underwent a no-expense-spared restoration in 2017 resulting in a virtually new show-standard vehicle. The body was meticulously rebuilt using Zinctec panels, and the engine, gearbox, and differential were overhauled. A stainless steel exhaust system, Denis Welch fast road cams, and upgraded brakes were all incorporated for enhanced performance. The restoration also included a rebuilt radiator, upgraded heater, and triple-plated chrome work throughout. Mike Wilkinson’s letter confirms the car’s exceptional quality, stating it is ‘in effect a brandnew E-type.’ Having covered less than 5,000 miles since, it must be an excellent opportunity to acquire a thoroughly rebuilt and upgraded E-type.
E245 April 2025
Renew your registration – or lose it
Do you have a UK registration number on retention? Then check your certificate or retention document, because they must be renewed every 10 years – and the first renewals are due in March 2025. Legislation came into force in March 2015 requiring holders of registration numbers on retention documents or certificates of entitlement to renew their right to the number every 10 years. Renewal is free, and can be carried out up to 28 days before the expiry date. Permanent loss of the right to use the number will result if renewal is not made by the expiry date. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) warns that it ‘will not accept applications made after that date.’ If you hold a registration number which has never been assigned to a vehicle, check the V750 certificate of entitlement to find the expiry date. The V750 can be renewed online or by post. For numbers which were previously assigned to a vehicle, check the V778 retention document. Renewal must be made by post. If the V750 or V778 has been lost you can apply to DVLA for a replacement, but only prior to the expiry date. A replacement V750 can be requested online, and both V750 and V778 can be applied for by post to DVLA Personalised Registrations, Swansea SA99 1DS. If your address or name has changed, further documentation is required: see the gov.uk website for more details. No action needs to be taken for a registration number that is currently assigned to a vehicle – renewal applies only to numbers which are on retention.
E244 March 2025
E-type ancestor E2A for sale
E2A, the one-off prototype which bridged the gap between the D-type and E-type, is for sale through London historic car dealer Fiskens. E2A has a monocoque construction evolved from the D-type, but with a tubular front subframe like an E-type. Unlike the D-type it has independent rear suspension, designed by Bob Knight. Originally it was fitted with an alloyblock 3.0-litre engine with Lucas fuel injection and a prototype five-speed, alloy-cased Jaguar gearbox. Jaguar entrusted E2A to Briggs Cunningham’s team to race at the 1960 Le Mans 24 hours. It ran third in the early laps behind a Maserati and Ferrari, but engine problems eventually put it out of the race. The 3.0-litre engine was replaced by an iron-block 3.8-litre wide-angle unit with triple Weber carburettors and dry sump lubrication for racing in the USA. In 1962 E2A was used for testing the Dunlop Maxaret anti-lock braking system, originally designed for aircraft and later used by the Jensen FF road car. E2A was saved from destruction by Guy Griffiths, who owned it for nearly 40 years. It is now being offered for sale by only its second owner outside the Jaguar works. Chris Keith-Lucas of CKL Developments, which looks after the car for the current owner, says E2A is ‘in the most glorious time warp condition.’ It will be supplied with a new race-spec 3.8-litre wide-angle, dry-sump, iron-block engine, as well as factory 3.8-litre and alloy 3.0-litre units. Respectful modifications have readied it for historic racing. E2A was raced and tested in period by the likes of Dan Gurney, Bruce McLaren, Walt Hansgen, Norman Dewis, Jack Brabham and David Hobbs. It is one of the most significant Jaguar prototypes to survive from this era and is likely to change hands for around £10 million. fiskens.com
E243 February 2025
E-type voted most iconic classic car of all time
Classic car insurer Footman James has named the Jaguar E-type as the most iconic classic car of all time. Enthusiasts across the UK cast over 1300 votes to decide the top ten from a list of 50 of the most cherished classic cars of all time. The E-type won handsomely with 369 votes, against the 314 of the Mini Cooper and 301 for the Aston Martin DB5. Those three were comfortably ahead of the others. The Porsche 911, Citroën DS and VW Beetle also did well. Just missing out on the top 10 were the Morris Minor, Lamborghini Miura and Ford Escort Mk1. Other legendary vehicles appearing in the top 50, but attracting fewer votes in the poll, included the DeLorean DMC-12 and Ferrari F40.
E242 January 2025
The Austin Powers E-type will be coming up for auction in Florida in January
The 1967 E-type Roadster from the Austin Powers movies crosses the block at the Mecum auction in Kissimmee, Florida on 18 January. Instantly recognisable by its spectacular Union Jack livery, the car was prepared by film vehicle specialist Josh Hancock, who owns it today. “The buyer that’s going to get this car is going to get something very unusual,” said Hancock. “If they are an Austin Powers fan I think they are going to be very, very happy.” This was the one and only car built for filming, due to budget constraints. It made its debut in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery in 1997 and went on to appear in the two sequels, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), plus a Madonna music video. It was driven by Mike Myers and the leading ladies in the movies. The E-type has since been displayed all over the world promoting the films and on behalf of Jaguar Land Rover. For more information go to www.mecum.com
E241 December 2024
E-type UK’s latest project is this speedster-style Series I Roadster, the product of 3,500 hours of restoration and modification work
This 1961 left-hand-drive Roadster was delivered new to Puerto Rico. Work began on its restoration by stripping down the shell to assess its structural integrity, then a deep clean was carried out to remove decades of accumulated muck. The rebuild as a roofless speedster involved deseaming the bodywork, removing exterior chrome and adding custom headlight covers. A 400-hour paint process gave the Opalescent Gunmetal colour a radiant finish. The interior hosts bespoke seats and sill covers trimmed in red diamond-quilted leather. The centre console and dash are period-correct aluminium. A storage area across the rear bulkhead is said to double up as a seating area for “furry friends”. Hundreds more hours went into a rebuild of the 3.8-litre engine. The block was rebored and honed, new bearings fitted and bronze valve guides installed. High-lift cams, upgraded valves, a ported head and balanced crank were added, along with electronic ignition, a high-torque starter, a lightweight alternator and upgraded cooling. The engine drives through a new five-speed manual gearbox. Suspension and brakes have also been improved. E-type UK says the speedster “acts as a fine reminder of the E-type’s timeless allure”.
E240 November 2024
9600 HP runs in Catesby Tunnel for aerodynamic measurements
hilip Porter took 9600 HP to the Catesby Tunnel in Northamptonshire in mid September, as mentioned in last month’s ‘Editorial’, working in conjunction with LaVision – specialists in laser imaging systems and optical sensors for use in the analysis of fluid mechanics, combustion, and spray and particle diagnostics. More recently, the company has produced camera-based surface-inspection equipment and in-cylinder infra-red sensors. 9600 HP was driven through the tunnel (an old railway tunnel today used for straight-line vehicle testing) fitted with various sensors to analyse the aerodynamic characteristics of the E-type. A full report from Philip on the day’s activities and findings will appear in a forthcoming issue.
E239 October 2024
New face at Pendine
Tiggy Atkinson has joined James Mitchell’s team at Pendine as the new Operations Manager. Atkinson has worked in the motoring world since 2010, firstly in PR and marketing, then as one of the original founding team members of Bicester Heritage – the Oxfordshire site where Pendine is based. She later joined HERO-ERA as Director of Memberships, before heading up its estates division, managing a property portfolio. Her contribution to the industry was recognised in 2023 when she won the Personal Endeavour award at the Royal Automobile Club’s Historic Awards. See pendine.com
E238 September 2024
Two interesting E-types for sale in upcoming Bonhams
auctions
The Bonhams auction at Goodwood Revival on 7 September sees a Series 1 flat-floor E-type Roadster, Chassis No.49 offered for sale, with an estimate of £180,000–£250,000, while at The Zoute Sale, at Knokke-Heist, Le Zoute on 6 October, a 1965 Series 1 4.2-litre FHC is scheduled to be offered, with an estimate of €100,000–€140,000. Details of both cars are available from Bonhams.
In other recent Bonhams auctions, a 1973 Series 3 2+2 with three former keepers, fully restored by XK Engineering in 1996, with further work carried out by Eagle E Types in 2002, and 7,800 miles on the odometer, sold for £50,406 including buyer’s premium. A 1973 Series 3 Roadster, with matching numbers and Heritage Certificate, 82,184 recorded miles (with 1,021 miles covered since 2018), and owned by the vendor since 1993, sold...
E237 August 2024
Bonhams sells two E-types in June via online auctions
Two E-types were sold via Bonhams online auctions in June, with healthy bidding for both cars.
A 1972 right-hand-drive S3 V12 2+2, finished in Opalescent Silver Blue with Cinnamon leather interior received 54 bids, and sold for £46,883 including buyer’s premium. Restoration of the car started in the late 1990s, but stalled, and restarted in 2018. The restoration was completed in 2020 by Bridge Classic Cars, Suffolk, and the car has covered 1,093 miles since.
With the exception of a few stone chips and a few minor imperfections in the chromework, and a little wear to the interior, the car was in very good condition. The engine was rebuilt during the restoration, and the gearbox and differential were overhauled.
The car was sold with restoration invoices totalling over £100,000, and featured matching numbers, with a pre-restoration mileage of 50,000.
The second car was a matching numbers right-hand-drive 1964 Series I 3.8 FHC, finished...
E236 July 2024
Historics Auctioneers sells three E-types in Farnborough sale
At the 11 May sale at the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre, an example of each of the three E-type series sold. The first car was a 1968 Series 1, 4.2-litre 2+2 – a dismantled restoration project, with completed bodywork and paintwork, and with front suspension and rear-axle cradle fitted, so rolling on its wheels. Engine, gearbox and clutch were present, but the engine was resting in the car without gearbox or clutch in place. All other components were removed and boxed, ready for restoration and refitting. The car was sold, with V5 Registration Document, for £19,040.
The second car – a matching numbers 1969 Series 2, 4.2-litre 2+2, restored between 2018 and 2022, was originally exported via New York to California in 1969, and repatriated to the UK in 2018. It underwent a comprehensive four-year restoration, during which it was converted to right-hand-drive. Resprayed in Gunmetal Grey, and with red leather interior, automatic transmission and power steering, plus upgraded alternator, starter, electronic ignition, etc, and presented with history folder, Heritage Certificate and MoT certificate, the car sold for £65,840.
The third car sold was a 1974 Series 3 Roadster, which had been in the care of the same owner for 33 years, and dry-stored for the past 12 years (with regular engine running). The car was recently recommissioned, serviced, and fitted with a new hood, and was sold with an odometer reading of 22,049 miles. Finished in Azure Blue, with Biscuit interior, the car was supplied with Registration Document and history folder, and sold for £50,000.
E235 June 2024
RM Sotheby’s offer two E-types for sale at Dare to Dream auction in Toronto
Two E-types will be up for sale at the Dare to Dream Collection sale at the collection’s home in the heart of Toronto on 1 June. The first, a 1965 Series 1 4.2-litre FHC, left the factory for the US in October 1964. Now finished in British Racing Green over a cognac leather interior, this car was the recipient of a concours-quality rotisserie restoration in 2009. As such, the car is in spectacular condition today. In 2013, the car entered the Dare to Dream Collection, and an invoice on file shows the carburettors were rebuilt in 2019. At the same time, the electrical system was also serviced. Offered without reserve, the estimate is US$120,000–$160,000. The second car is a 1966 Series 1 4.2-litre Roadster with a documented history, including nearly four decades of single-family ownership. The car is a three-time 100-point Jaguar Club of North America National Champion. Supplied to Oceana Aerial Surveys of San Marino, California, on 23 December 1965, the car was sold in the 2000s and was the subject of a comprehensive rotisserie restoration. Although it retains its numbers-matching body and cylinder head, according to the accompanying Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate, the engine block is a replacement unit. The car was invited by Jaguar to be part of its corporate display on Peter Hay Hill at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and is accompanied by a set of California ‘black plates’, tools, manuals, and DVDs documenting its restoration. This world-class restoration is offered without reserve with an estimate of US$250,000–$300,000
E234 May 2024
Bonhams sells two E-types at Amelia Island Auction
At the Fernandina Beach Golf Club Amelia Island Auction, Florida, on 29 February, two E-types were sold.
The first, a 1965 Series 1 3.8-litre FHC, was recently discovered following 46 years of continuous ownership, and was sold as a
prime candidate for refurbishment, or to preserve and enjoy following mechanical renovation.
The car was sold fitted with its original Blaupunkt radio and steering wheel, and the Heritage Certificate confirms the original matching numbers cylinder block and heads. The engine turned by hand, but required servicing to become roadworthy. The car sold for US$56,000.
The second car was a 1968 Series 1½ 4.2-litre OTS, which
left Browns Lane...
E231 February 2024
E-types offered by RM Sotheby’s at Phoenix, Arizona January auction
Two E-types will be offered for sale at the Arizona Car Week sale on 25 January 2024. A 1970 E-type Series 2 4.2-litre Roadster, finished in factory-correct Regency Red with black leather interior and documented by JDHT has been the recipient of a six-figure nut-and- bolt restoration. Completed on 11 June 1970, for distribution by British Leyland of New York, the multi-award-wining car is offered without reserve, with an estimate of $125,000–$150,000.
The second car is a 1968 Series 1.5 4.2-litre Roadster sold new in Canada, completed on 19 June 1968 and accompanied by a JDHT certificate. The car – one of the final Series 1.5 E-types built – was originally finished in Opalescent Maroon with Beige leather trim, and is now presented in red with black trim, retaining its matching numbers 4.2-litre engine block, fitted with a replacement cylinder head with a trio of two-inch SU carburettors. This car is offered without reserve, with an
estimate of $80,000–$100,000.
E230 January 2024
Over 5,000 E-types still recorded on the UK’s DVLA database
According to the vehicle licensing statistics data published by the UK Department of Transport, from over 67,000 E-types originally built for worldwide sale, in the third quarter of 2023 there were 4,696 examples still licensed for road use in the UK, with another 1,275 declared SORN. This compares with a figure of around 3,400 E-types licensed for road use in the third quarter of 2013 – an increase of 1,296 cars, or 38 per cent over 10 years.
Although these figures are not to be taken as entirely accurate, due to flaws in the recording system, and of course there will be other E-types in the UK that are neither registered for road use nor declared SORN, it does show that the number of E-types being used has increased over the past decade, although
the figure has remained relatively stable since 2020.
Interestingly, the figures...
E229 December 2023
Club-racer specification E-type sold by Bonhams
A 1963 Series 1 FHC, originally supplied as a LHD car to the US and subsequently converted to RHD club-racing specification was recently sold by Bonhams for £70,460. The car returned to the UK from the US in 2006. ‘PAG 622A’ has been rolling road-tested to 331bhp and 364lb ft, and has been successfully campaigned in historic racing events such as the Roger Bennington Heritage GT Series, the HRCA events in the Republic of Ireland, and the Classic Sports Car Club’s (CSCC) Swinging Sixties. The body is an original steel shell with a fibreglass front end and flared rear wheel arches.
The car was built as a ‘club racer’ by M and C Wilkinson Ltd, rather than strictly adhering to FIA specification, aiming for the sort of extensive modifications an original E-type racing
car would have incorporated in-period.The car was sold with numerous spares, plus a JDHT Production Record Trace Certificate, but is not registered for road use.
E228 November 2023
Jenson Button’s Goodwood- debut 1962 E-type for sale
Following on from the race-prepared LHD Series 1 Roadster mentioned last month, CKL is now offering for sale an original 1962 right-hand-drive E-type FHC driven by Jenson Button in his debut historic race at the Goodwood Revival in 2021.
The car was rebuilt by Valley Motorsport for the 2019 race season, and after winning its first two races, the car’s third outing was at the 2021 Goodwood Revival, where it was driven in the Stirling Moss Trophy race by
Jenson Button and co-driver Alex Buncombe. A delay in qualifying resulted
in a P19 grid position and therefore denied them the debut result that they deserved, although they managed to fight their way up to P7 in the race – the third E-type to take the flag. The car has run in three races with its present custodian, and has undergone continued maintenance by CKL.
It is road-registered, holds a valid pre-’63 FIA HTP until 2030, and is race ready. Price on application.
E227 October 2023
CKL offers successful race- prepared Series 1 Roadster for sale
Chassis 875949, a genuine ‘flat-floor’ LHD Roadster and a regular competitor at the Goodwood Revival and Members’ Meeting is being offered for sale by CKL. This early E-type features outside bonnet locks, and retains the original 1961 factory registration, 179 WK. With a current FIA Technical Passport valid through to December 2025, 179 WK is eligible for all of the most prestigious historic GT racing events.
Chassis 875949, a genuine ‘flat-floor’ LHD Roadster and a regular competitor at the Goodwood Revival and Members’ Meeting is being offered for sale by CKL. This early E-type features outside bonnet locks, and retains the original 1961 factory registration, 179 WK. With a current FIA Technical Passport valid through to December 2025, 179 WK is eligible for all of the most prestigious historic GT racing events.
After registration by Jaguar in the UK, the car was exported to the US, and was converted to racing specification in the late ’60s/early ’70s before being actively campaigned in competitions up until the early ’90s. In 2005 the car returned to the UK, notably competing in Tour d’Espania ’05 and then later in ’08 raced at Le Mans with Rowan Atkinson as one of the two drivers.
The car was later owned by Simon Tate, and then Chris Milner, who commissioned a full rebuild and race preparation by M & C Wilkinson in 2015. The car was a front runner in Pre-’63 GT, including second on the grid and fifth overall (first E-type) in the Kinrara Trophy at the 2019 Goodwood Revival, and a class D win in the Jaguar Classic Challenge race at the 2019 Spa Six Hours. In 2020, the car was purchased by noted racer David Gooding, who continued racing the car at prestigious events around the world including Goodwood, where the car won the Stirling Moss Trophy at the 78th Members’ Meeting in 2021. The car is being offered by CKL at £325,000.
E226 September 2023
Automobiles Historiques offers E-type ‘Low Drag’ Coupé for sale
Malcolm Sayer masterminded arguably the most beautiful E-type derivative – the ultrasleek Low Drag Coupé – in a wind tunnel, where its figures were even more impressive than the Lightweights. Acquired from the factory and raced by dealer Dick Protheroe in 1963–64, it finished second overall to a Ferrari 250 TRI/61 sports-prototype on its debut at Reims in June 1963. The participation of Protheroe’s car (EC1001, aka CUT 7) in international races is why the configuration is recognised by the FIA as a period specification.
The car offered by Automobiles Historiques was built to the Low Drag Coupé’s blueprint with no expense spared by Swedish engineer Hans-Erik Johansson in 2004, from a superb US import 1963 FHC, and uses its original engine. Acquired from
Johansson by its current owner in 2016, #889326 has been raced once at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting, then fastidiously re-prepared and detailed by marque specialist Riedling & Mouser Ltd. Eligible for prestigious Pre-’66 GT racing events, including Goodwood and GT & Sports Car Cup, this car is road registered, and thus eligible for events such as the Coupe des Alpes or Modena Cento Ore rallies.
E225 August 2023
Jaguar Classic announce E-type ZP Collection
In mid-June 2023, Jaguar Classic announced the launch of a very exclusive collectors’ edition of the E-type, in the form of seven pairs of cars celebrating the maiden motorsport victories for the car in the spring of 1961. One month after the E-type first turned heads at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1961, two lightly modified examples – under the project name ZP – made their racing debut at Oulton Park Circuit. The winning Indigo Blue ‘ECD 400’ was driven by Graham Hill, and the Pearl Grey ‘BUY 1’ example was driven by Roy Salvadori, placing third. Salvadori then went on to win at Crystal Palace in ‘BUY 1’ on 21 May.
Today, the seven exclusive ZP Collection pairs consist of one Oulton Blue drophead coupé, informed by by artist Johnny ‘King Nerd’ Dowell.
The Oulton Blue drophead pays homage to Graham Hill’s race winning car with an engraved silhouette of
the Oulton Park circuit and his quote: ‘In a race my car becomes part of me, and I become part of it.’ Inside the Crystal Grey fixed-head, an engraved silhouette of the Crystal Palace track sits alongside Roy Salvadori’s nickname ‘King of the Airfields’.
Both cars feature one half of a laurel wreath signifying their victories. Jaguar Classic can be contacted for enquiries, if the cars have not already been acquired by the time this magazine is circulated.
E224 July 2023
Last regular E-type to leave Browns Lane sold by Silverstone Auctions
This matching numbers 1974 Jaguar E-type Series 3 V12 Roadster with the desirable manual gearbox is the highly significant chassis #2822 – the last regular-production E-type to leave the Browns Lane production line, with superb provenance and expertly restored – was sold by Silverstone Auctions on May 20 for £180,000.
Built to a right-hand-drive specification, it was ordered in British Racing Green with a Tan leather interior and manual gearbox. Its original owner was based in Edinburgh, keeping it until 1981, before two further London owners between 1981 and 1987. By 1994 it was acquired by a collector in Hong Kong, who would go on to own it until 2019; the car spent most of those 25 years at the collector’s holiday home in Hawaii, where it was well-preserved and used sparingly. Having been shipped to the collector’s European home in Austria in 2015, a full restoration was commissioned by marque experts (all thoroughly documented with images/invoices), which took three years to complete, culminating in refinishing in its original British Racing Green, along with new Tan upholstery. Notably, it features the correct period chrome wire wheels and an upgraded wooden steering wheel. Original instruments and other original features have been retained. Incredibly, it was not driven following the restoration, having been carefully preserved to ensure it remained in excellent condition. The last owner bought the car from an international auction house in 2019, importing it from Austria and registering it in the UK. He enjoyed only a few hundred miles in the car, which indicated just 25,884 miles prior to sale.
1962 competition E-type CUT 8 for sale through Fiskens
A significant historic competition E-type, CUT 8 will forever be associated with Dick Protheroe, who campaigned a series of CUT-plated modified Jaguars to great effect in period. Originally a dark green FHC race-prepared for BRDC life member Ed Nelson in 1965–66, chassis 860953 was registered 105 ENX and raced in ’66 at events as far afield as the Nürburgring and Mugello. The car was then sold to Rosemary Protheroe and designated CUT 8 as a tribute to her late husband, Dick Protheroe, who tragically paid the ultimate price aboard a Ferrari 330P at Oulton Park in 1966.
A racer herself, Rosemary met Dick at a race meeting and upon his passing became Managing Director of his Leicestershire garage. She resolved to go racing again, building CUT 8 with her late husband’s team. Resprayed in the Protheroe livery, 860953 gained a dry-sump 4.2 with wide-angle head and Webers and was re-registered CUT 8. Rhoddy Harvey Bailey and Ed Nelson campaigned the car for Rosemary Protheroe for two seasons before sale in 1968. It then raced in the early ’70s with Peter Walker in the Motoring News GT championship and the Cussons races.
More recently, CUT 8 has regularly appeared in historic racing since a first restoration in the early 1990s by John Lewis. Acquired by Peter Sugden in 1997 through Fiskens, the car was rebuilt to FIA spec and given a new Sigma powerplant. At the 2013 Goodwood Revival, CUT 8 made its latest debut in the RAC TT Celebration, restored to its striking period livery,and has appeared in the TT multiple times since.
E222 May 2023
Series 2 Roadster project car sells for £23,750
This 1969 US-specification Roadster ‘project’ car was sold by The Market by Bonhams in February. Originally supplied to the US, and finished in silver with a black interior, the car was brought to the UK in 2019.
The car was stripped down with a view to carrying out a full restoration, and a start was made, but the owner was unable to continue due to other commitments. The car is described as ‘99% complete’ in terms of components, and the body has been phosphate-stripped, with the shell braced to prevent distortion. New sills are required, and a replacement floorpan. The interior fixtures and fittings are thought to be complete and include the original air-conditioning unit. Retrimming of the seats will be required.
The engine is reported to be running and drivable, with twin Stromberg carburettors, and the engine frames are in very good condition, although a small repair is required to one of the frames.
The car was supplied with its handbook, plus a Production Record Trace Certificate from the Jaguar Heritage Trust. It also has its title from the State of Indiana. Hopefully, the car’s new owner will be able to return it to its former glory and we will see the car back on the road in the not-too distant future.
E221 March 2023
US-specification 1967 4.2-litre Roadster sells for $114,800
At the Sotheby’s Phoenix, Arizona, auction on 26 January, a very late Series 1 (‘Series 1.25’) E-type Roadster with claimed original mileage of under 10,000 miles was sold. Equipped with uncovered headlights while maintaining the early E-type features of triple SU carburettors, toggle dash controls and above-the-bumper parking lights and tail-lights, the car was accompanied by an original window sticker, dealer invoice, owner’s manual and service documents dating from new. The car was also offered with a JDHT Certificate, tool roll, jack with bag and Thor knock-off hammer. The car’s first owner was Dean Edmunds, a physicist whose name appears on the Wall of Honor at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. Mr. Edmunds would own the car for 54 years, completing just over 7,200 miles. In 2004, despite its low mileage, he commissioned a full restoration, including bare-metal repaint in factory-correct Opalescent Maroon, a full mechanical and electrical overhaul, and fitting of new carpets and convertible softtop, while retaining the original black leather seats. With an estimate of $150,000–180,000, and no reserve, the hammer eventually fell at $114,800.
E220 March 2023
A new E-type model for budding kit builders
Model brand Airfix has recently introduced a new E-type kit as a ‘starter set’. The 1/43-scale model is produced from new tooling, and is sold with cement, brush and four acrylic paints. The finished model is 104mm long, 39mm wide, and comprises 23 parts.
The car represented is left-hand drive – a Series I FHC, with paints supplied to finish the car in British Racing Green, with a tan interior and the registration plate ‘E-TYPE’. Although the model is clearly aimed at beginners, and does not compare to the long-produced Airfix 1/32-scale E-type (not currently available from Airfix), which has been sold in many different packages over the years, it still provides a good basis for more-experienced modellers to customise the model to their own requirements and colour scheme.
Interestingly, in recent years rival kit manufacturer Revell re-released its 1/24-scale E-type kits, in both Roadster and FHC form, and the company is planning to re-release its 1/8-scale kit of a Series 1 FHC (556mm long!) in limited-edition form in late 2023.