2006-09-02 23:39:41 | godfrey miller writes:

the correct serial # for this car is 1W70001... this is the FIRST series 3 E. 2+2. not a V12 but a factory installed XJ6 engine.. sent to the US for EPA .. silver with a red color code CDD interior.. I owned this car for a while.. was sent to the UK late 80s sold thru Lynx Engineering . this was the ONLY series 3 6 cyl car factory built LHD there are 2 others both RHD. will happily provide further info on request

2014-10-14 08:11:42 | pauls writes:

10/14/14 JHT has confirmed Godfrey is correct. 1W70001 is indeed one of the rare 6 cylinder S3 cars. It has been reported alive 10/14, seeking more info.

2017-09-17 15:04:07 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 11/17

www.handh.co.uk/buy/1970-jaguar-e-type-series-iii-42-22/14340

Auction description:

Date 15/11/2017

Location Imperial War Museum Duxford

Lot No TBC

Make Jaguar

Model E-Type Series III 4.2 2+2

Year 1970

Vehicle Registration GPF863J

Chassis Number 1W70001

Engine Number 7R39503-9

CC 4235

Body Colour Grey

Trim Colour Red

Estimate No Reserve

- Chassis Number One and Body Number One

- The first left-hand drive Series III 2+2-seater made and the only example fitted with a 4.2-litre XK engine

- Referred to by Jaguar Enthusiast magazine as 'A Ghost of an E-Type' and 'the one missing link' (August 2017 issue)

- Offered from the collection of music producer Pete Waterman and in his care since the late 1980s.

Rarer than any other E-type variant including the fabled 'Lightweight', marque authorities have suggested that between four and six Series 3 cars were factory-fitted with XK DOHC 4.2 litre engines. The earliest Series 3 brochures mention 'A new Jaguar Engine - the 5.3 litre V12 to supplement the 4.2 litre six cylinder 'XK' engine' and even feature pictures of the latter but in reality derivatives equipped with the smaller powerplant were never made available to the general public.

Presumed lost for many years and thus referred to as 'A Ghost of an E-Type' and 'the one missing link' by Jaguar Enthusiast magazine (August 2017 issue), this particular example is wrongly referred to on various websites as chassis number 1S70001 or 1W700001. In fact, the number clearly stamped into the 2+2-seater's original chassis plate reads '1W70001', while its body and engine numbers are recorded as '4W50001' and '7R39503-9' respectively.

Although Jaguar Heritage quote the first left-hand drive Series 3 2+2-seater as being chassis number 1S70001 with body number 4S50001, '1W70001' would most likely have been identified as such many moons ago had it not formed part of music producer Pete Waterman's private collection since the late 1980s. A long-term Jaguar enthusiast whose stable has included C- and D-Types as well as other significant E-Types, Mr Waterman acquired the unique Series 3 via marque specialist Lynx.

Apparently built to obtain US EPA certification for the 4.2 litre XK engine ahead of the 1971 model year (which began during the fourth quarter of 1970), chassis 1W70001 was despatched new to Jaguar Cars North America in Leonia, New Jersey. Rumoured to have been used by a female member of the Whitehead family thereafter - Graham W. Whitehead was President of Jaguar Cars North America for several decades and his involvement might well explain why the E-Type wore the distinctive New Jersey-issued registration plate 'JAG UR' - it is understood to have covered some 10,000 miles before being sold to a second-hand car dealership in Queens, New York.

Driven a further 17,000 miles by its next keeper, the 2+2-seater was laid-up for five years following his death. Covered with plastic sheeting during that time (to the detriment of its paintwork), it was reportedly resprayed and brought up to concours standard by James Johnson of New York in 1980. Shown by Mr Johnson at various events, the Jaguar later passed to Godfrey Miller who is its last known American custodian. A sticker affixed to the car's windscreen suggests that it was enjoyed on The Garden State's roads until at least 1986 and although not warranted its present odometer reading of 53,800 miles is highly credible.

Carefully dry stored during Mr Waterman's custodianship, chassis 1W70001 has been recommissioned and repainted in recent years but remains notably original. Boasting a number of unique features aside from its six-cylinder engine (which have been chronicled by marque specialist XK Engineering), this decidedly special E-Type would grace any Jaguar collection.

Winning Bid £81,000

Late added additional description:

PLEASE NOTE: The Jaguar Heritage Trust Production Record Trace Certificate for this lot states that it was initially sent to the Jaguar Cars Ltd Experimental Department. The manufacturer's Car Record Book further confirms that the E-Type was originally finished in Warwick Grey with Red interior trim and quotes its chassis, engine and body numbers as: '1W 70001 BW', '7R39503-9' and '4W 50001' respectively. The chassis plate currently fitted to the car appears to be a factory installed item but lists the chassis number as '1W 70001'. Furthermore, the 2+2-seater is equipped with four-speed manual rather than Borg Warner (hence BW) automatic transmission. We queried this anomaly with the Jaguar Heritage Trust and they replied as follows: 'It is entirely possible that during its time as an experimental vehicle a variety of gearboxes were fitted'. They also commented: 'Jaguar did build chassis 1S 70001, but not with the body number you suggest. We would describe chassis 1W 70001 BW as the first and only LHD Series 3 with a 4.2 litre six-cylinder engine'. So there you have it, this historic E-Type is 1 of 1.

2018-01-02 14:59:20 | pauls writes:

An article about this rare car and some of its history is at:
journal.classiccars.com/2017/09/27/ghost-e-type-reappears-and-heads-to-auction/

2018-05-10 20:54:46 | pauls writes:

Car to return to auction 6/18
online.handh.co.uk/m/lot-details/index/catalog/86/lot/188/

Auction description:
An Auction of Selected Classic Cars
Auction Venue
Woodcote Park
Wilmerhatch Lane, Epsom,Surrey
Tuesday 5th June 2018 at 2.30pm

Otherwise same as above.

2018-07-21 16:26:42 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 7/21/18
www.ebay.com/itm/332718055425
Classified ad price: GBP 59,995 seller minisneaker, 53k miles.

Seller's descirption:
Jaguar E-Type known as the ghost e-type, previously owned and restored by Pete Waterman, if you google the car there has recently been much written about its history and very good article in Car and Classic which sums the car up very well.

Vary rare, being the only series 3 e-type in existence manufactured by Jaguar with a 4.2 engine.

Recently recommissioned after a period in storage, Restored originally by Lynx in the late eighties/early nineties and used very little since.

Enjoys the benefits of power steering, air conditioning etc all fitted by the factory. Matching numbers, heritage certificate etc etc

A great usable e-type and/or a great addition for any Jaguar collector, and rarer than a lightweight. Try and find another.

Here's some more info:
Originally dispatched to the Jaguar Cars Ltd Experimental Department

- The only left-hand drive Series III 2+2-seater to be built with a 4.2-litre XK engine
- Referred to by Jaguar Enthusiast magazine as 'A Ghost of an E-Type' and 'the one missing link' (August 2017 issue)
- Featured in Classic and Sportscar magazine January 2018 issue.

Reconfiguring the E-Type to house Jaguar's freshly-designed V12 powerplant was no easy feat. As well as a change in bulkhead and front subframe, the Series 3 gained revised steering, brake and suspension assemblies, plus a host of bodywork and interior amendments. With the new engine representing a relative leap into the unknown and the XK unit having a loyal following courtesy of its five Le Mans 24-hours victories, Jaguar engineered the Series 3 to accept both. Nevertheless, it is now understood that this is the first and only lefthand drive Series 3 Coupe ever fitted with an XK engine, making it unique and the rarest of all E-Type variants!

Presumed lost for many years and referred to as 'A Ghost of an E-Type' and 'the one missing link' by Jaguar Enthusiast magazine, it is wrongly listed on various websites as chassis number 1S70001 or 1W700001. In fact, the number clearly stamped into the chassis plate reads '1W70001', and the car would most likely have been identified as such long ago had it not formed part of music producer Pete Waterman's private collection from the late 1980s to Autumn last year. Waterman's a long-term Jaguar enthusiast whose stable has included C- and D-Types as well as other significant E-Types, and he acquired the Series 3 via marque specialist Lynx.

The salient points of a letter published in the December 1980 issue of Jaguar Driver magazine by the then owner James Johnson of Brooklyn, New York outline its early history:

'The car is original and concours save for a new paint job, carpeting and exhaust system. Its won second and third prizes in Empire Division Jaguar Club Concours. The only work needed is having the engine paintwork detailed. After purchasing the car I became interested in its history and confirming my suspicions it was extremely rare, so wrote to Mr Bob Lewis at Jaguar Service, Radford, who responded through Cindt Greico at Jaguar Rover Triumph in Leonia, New Jersey. It seems this crossed the desk of Mr Graham W Gardener, Manager - Engineering Liaison of JRT in Leonia - who wrote to me personally. Mr Lewis confirmed the car is what I thought it to be. Mr Gardener told me it is the Series 3 E-Type 6-cylinder imported by JRT Leonia into the US and was used to obtain certification for the 4.2 litre engine for the 1971 model year. Its York air conditioning compressor is unique, as Delco-Air compressors were normally used. Mr Gardener stated that at c.10,000 miles he sold the car to a used car dealership in Queens, New York City. The next owner added 17,000 miles before passing away, at which point his wife wrapped the car in plastic and dry stored it for five years. Unfortunately, the plastic discoloured and mottled the paint, which peeled off with the cover during my purchase.'

The next keeper was marque enthusiast (and former Works D-Type 'OKV 2' owner) Godfrey Miller, who later passed it on to Guy Black of Lynx. A windscreen sticker suggests it remained in the US until at least 1986 and, although not warranted, its present odometer reading of 53,807 miles is highly credible.

Carefully dry stored during Mr Waterman's custodianship, chassis 1W70001 has been recommissioned and repainted in recent years but remains notably original. The accompanying Production Record Trace Certificate lists the Date of Manufacture as 'Not Recorded', but confirms that the 2+2-seater was initially finished in Warwick Grey with Red upholstery and built for 'Jaguar Cars Ltd Experimental Dept'. A great Jaguar with great history that can only become more significant with time.

2018-09-27 08:35:52 | Nigel FH writes:

This car appeared in Dec 88 issue of Jaguar enthusiast, awaiting restoration somewhere in North Kent..