2024-10-31 21:47:10 | pauls writes:

Car offered at:

www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1966-jaguar-e-type-series-1-42-restomod-gL9YJn

Seller's description:

1966 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 Restomod

Meticulously rebuilt and modified E-Type 

Ground-up mechanical, bodywork and trim restoration 

One-off creation of the aborted factory Series 3 4.2 OTS E-Type 

Only 2 miles since completion of 35 year restoration process

All work supervised by experienced engineer

Featured in Classic Jaguar magazine 

Fascinating opportunity for the E-type collector

Removable hard top

The Appeal 

Confused? Don’t be. This car is the clever evocation of a car that Jaguar planned to sell but never got around to putting into showrooms. A 4.2L version of the Series 3 E-Type got as far as featuring in contemporary advertising but no cars were ever built. 

Until now. This car combines a Series 3 body shell - one that was discovered by the seller but never previously fitted to a car - with the running gear from a 4.2L 1966 Series 1 FHC. Pretty much, in fact, what the factory planned for the Series 3 4.2. 

It is the result of a 35 year labour of love that was completed around eight years ago. Everything has been renewed or replaced, the work supervised by its engineer keeper to feature the best of the E-Type’s long production run from Series 1 to Series 3. Now finished in red with black interior, it has covered just 2 miles since all that work was completed. It has been stored in a dry, carpeted garage and regularly started and moved to lubricate the mechanicals and prevent the tyres flat-spotting. 

As you would expect of that care, investment and lack of use, it is in superb condition. This is about as close to buying a new Series 3 4.2 as one is ever likely to get. It is a collector-quality example, a fascinating one-off and an unrepeatable opportunity for the buyer. 

The History and Paperwork

Car wears the identity of the 1966 donor vehicle 

First registered 1st September 1966

Chassis number identifies this car as one of the last 1965-built RHD FHC Series 1 4.2 cars 

Previously painted blue which was changed in July 2017 

DVLA records show one keeper since 1966 but this is misleading 

Acquired by the current keeper in 1979 after several years of owning previous E-Types

Restoration began in 1990 and completed around 2008 

Stored in a dry, carpeted garage and started and moved regularly 

Some invoices supporting restoration process 

Featured in Classic Jaguar magazine issue 40 

Any car approach 60 years old will likely have led an interesting history. Yet the story of this 1966 E-Type stands out. According to chassis numbers this car was one of the last built in 1965, a RHD 4.2L FHC which was then first registered in September 1966. 

The current keeper had owned previous E-Types - used as daily drivers - before acquiring this car in 1979 with 50,000 miles on the clock. It was used regularly but increasingly sparingly until 1990 when a mechanical strip down began. 

Due to work commitments, the restoration stalled. In 1981 the vendor had chanced upon an unused Series 3 roadster shell that was hidden away, forgotten, in the warehouse of parts supplier Weathershield. He later discovered an unused Series 3 roadster hard top and folding roof. 

With the Series 1 car’s body in a poor state, he had an idea. Knowing these cars well, he decided to create the model that Jaguar planned but never actually built - a Series 3 4.2. This car got so close to production that Jaguar featured it in launch advertising for the new Series 3. No cars were ever built. 

The car was gradually assembled between 1990 and 2008. The specification was carefully chosen to blend the best of the E-Type’s long production run. This process was helped by Jaguar planning to build a Series 3 4.2 because it meant many of the fittings to enable the marriage of early and late features were already fitted to the Series 3 shell. 

The car has been fully rebuilt across the mechanicals, trim, bodywork and paintwork. It features Series 1 front and rear suspension and mechanical throttle linkage. The engine and gearbox are also from the 1966 Series 1 car. The rear silencers are the split versions fitted to the Series 2. 

Since completion the car has covered just 2 miles. During that time it has been carefully stored in a dry, carpeted garage. The vendor has started the car regularly and moved it to prevent the tyres flat spotting. 

The paperwork supplied with the car confirms that the DVLA recognises it as the 1966 car due to the high level of content from the donor car. 

The Condition

Fully restored car in Signal red with very rare black hard top 

Series 2 chrome wire wheels with Series 3 specification tyres

Folding soft top is included with car but not fitted

Extensive use of new panelwork and car professionally resprayed

Retrimmed black leather interior with Series 1 ‘toggle switchgear’ interior 

Three spoke Jaguar E-Type wood-rimmed steering wheel 

Underside presents well as car is essentially unused

Some light flaking to paintwork on underside that buyer may wish to address

New chromework throughout using Series 3 aesthetics 

You are essentially looking at a brand new E-Type. Virtually everything has been replaced or renewed, as is evident from the photographs. 

The car features a previously unused Series 3 shell and a very rare Series 3 hard top. A folding soft top is included with the car but not fitted. 

The quality and scope of the work is notable from the photographs. As is the attention to detail. This car neatly blends late, mid period and early E-Type features. The only point to note is some light flaking to the underside, which the buyer may wish to address - it would be a very easy fix - to preserve the excellent condition of this collector-quality car. 

The Mechanics 

4,235cc ‘7E’ prefix Series 1 E-Type engine 

Engine and gearbox from the 1966 car and fully rebuilt 

Car has only covered 2 miles since mechanical restoration completed

New clutch, upgraded brakes and uprated radiator fitted

Fully rebuilt running gear including new suspension and shock absorbers

Fitted with an uprated 18in Kenlowe fan 

Features Series 1 fuel tank 

No reported running or driving issues

Regularly started and moved during storage

This car has been built to replicate the specification Jaguar planned for that still-born Series 3 4.2. It features the running gear from the seller’s donor 1966 E-Type, which was an early example of the uprated 4.2L car, originally with a FHC body shell. That means the improved fully synchromesh box too.

Both have been fully rebuilt. The same is true of the suspension and running gear, which have also been taken from the 1966 car. The quality of the components is evident from the photographs. We are told the clutch is new and the radiator and brakes have been uprated. 

The car has only covered 2 miles since the work was completed. In the intervening years it has been carefully dry stored in a carpeted garage and regularly started and lightly moved. We are told that the car arrives with the buyer requiring nothing and ready to use - or simply admire.