2004-04-15 19:34:21 | pauls writes:

This car is discussed in the June '86 issue of Jaguar International magazine in an artical written by Richard Lott. The synopsis of the article is that he found the car in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania garage owned by a man who intended to make a hot rod out of it but never started the job. It was found dirty but in good condition, complete and no rust. Upon inspecting the car he was able to get it started and completed the deal to buy it. There is no date given for the transaction but the article is written as though it were a relatively current event. The article says the car's original colors are opalescent dark blue with a dark blue interior.

Virtually the same article appears in the 6/87 issue of Ejag magazine.

2010-02-15 08:28:04 | Lofty writes:

possibly delivered new to John Surtees

2011-01-11 18:38:04 | Rich Iott writes:

This car was professionally restored with total disassembly of every component and factory correct rebuild. We learned two interesting things. The very early cars had 16" wheels rather than spec 15" wheels because the factory had some XK wheels to use up. Being that this was a domestic delivery, the wheels were painted rather than chromed. The seats were roadster seats because the new FHC seats had not yet arrived when the first few cars were built. I learned this from an old Jag collector in England and it turned out to be true. This car was shipped to the US as a dealer show-car but was never titled until it was sold in 1967. Hence, it was titled as a 67. After the restoration it was sold to a wealthy collector in Japan though a deal brokered by Doc's Jags in 1988.

2011-12-07 12:06:09 | Paul W writes:

My '63 FHC, 886845, has had the 'roadster' seats in it from new, as a data point.

2012-06-11 17:55:16 | pauls writes:

Car now offered at:

www.symbolicmotors.com/detail-1961-jaguar-e~type-fhc-used-8873400.html

Sellers description:

Year 1961

Make Jaguar

Model E-Type

Type Fixed Head Coupe

Steering Right-Hand-Drive "Type 860"

Completed 24 August 1961

Chassis No. 860005

Engine No. R1522-9

Gear Box No. EB 632 JS

Body No. V1026

Exterior Color Opalescent Dark Blue

Interior Color Dark Blue

Delivery Date 18 September 1961

Invoiced To Jaguar Cars New York USA

Options High compression (9.0:1) Engine

16 inch wire wheels

Chassis 5 (860005), our subject vehicle was originally assembled as the fifth E-Type Fixed Head Coupe with standard "right-hand-drive" steering. It was as those before it, a carefully hand assembled production prototype, initially incorporating a variety of changes most notable of which being the first E-Type to feature the thereafter standardized "inside" front bonnet opening latches. It also utilized a variety of other updates and production changes including a new generator and the use of OTS Roadster Seats. The engine was the optional high-compression (9.0:1) version and the car for unknown reasons was fitted with 16 inch rather than the standard 15 inch wire wheels. It retained otherwise what have now become the cult-classic attributes of these early E-Types, including the welded-in bonnet louvres and flat-floor pans and unique front and rear bulkheads.

Chassis 5 was completed on Thursday, August 24th, 1961 and initially invoiced to UK championship motor cycle racer, John Surtees who was coming to the end of his second full season racing a Cooper T53 in Formula One. At the last minute the order was switched and chassis 5 was instead invoiced new to Jaguar Cars New York and flown three weeks later on Monday, September, 18th, 1961 to New York City where the car was delivered to the president of Jaguar Cars North America via Alfred Momo the New York Jaguar Distributor.

The car was strikingly beautiful and very different than the other four previously assembled having been finished in "Opalescent Blue" with a dark blue interior. How and why a very specific UK market RHD FHC was selected and sent to the States remains even today very much a mystery.

Jaguar Cars New York retained chassis 5 untitled and un-registered for unknown internal use until 1967.

It was not until 1967 that chassis 5 was sold to the first private owner as essentially still a new car and then issued for the first time a new title and registration documents. Chassis 5 was then purchased by Stephen and Cheryl Mamros of Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania who also used the car sparingly and at one point intended to turn it into and "American-Engined, Hot-Rod" which fortunately never occurred. In 1986, Mr. Richard B. Iott of Monclova, Ohio learned of the car's existence and was able to purchase it. While a bit dusty and dirty from years of non-use and storage, it was remarkably original and completely accident and rust free. With a fresh battery and some clean gas, he was able to start the car and drive it away and documented his adventure in doing so in a June 1987 EJAG Magazine article, a copy of which remains with the car today. Mr. Iott eventually titled the Jaguar in his name in April of 1991 and retained it until just prior to it entering a full restoration.

In 1996 the car was sent to a Scottsdale, Arizona Jaguar Specialist where it was given an "as-new, no-expense spared" restoration over a six year period from 1996 until 2002. Upon completion this Jaguar was sold to Matsuo Yoshida's Museum Collection from which we acquired the car.

Chassis 860005 is both accident and rust free and documented as fully "matching numbers." It is regarded highly in E-Type circles as the benchmark by which all other early FHC E-Types are judged both on originality and authenticity.

2012-06-12 06:17:20 | Stefan writes:

Very nice car in deed.

However body number is V 1027 (visible in one picture), therefore 3rd inside latch fixed head coupe. Two LHD coupes were inside latch cars prior to this one not considering the potentially many roadsters, which came in between before this car was built.

2012-10-18 06:00:07 | Pekka T. writes:

This car will be auctioned by RM Auctions in London, UK on October 31st 2012: www.rmauctions.com

Curiously they have listed the engine number as R1522-7, I think this had got to be their typo as I find it hard to believe Jaguar would have made one of the first home market coupés with a low compression engine. BUT the dataplate on the car looks brand new and the stampings are a bit too perfectly aligned. A JHT certificate would be in order with an early car as this one, don't you think? Cheers!

2013-08-10 17:55:37 | Rich Iott writes:

What Paul wrote above was great deal of information and filled in a number of gaps. However, as the owner from 1985 until 1991 and the original restorer, there are some factual errors which I would like to set straight, as well as to correct dates I posted earlier. The current owner has been asking questions which has caused me to go back and dig into real files, not just my memory.
1. Paul is correct that the 1961 chassis was shipped to the US in 1961 to Jaguar Cars New York. It was then shipped around the country as a "show car". Interestingly, it's sister car (LHD FHC 885005) was the vehicle chosen to be unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show in 1961.
2. Once the car entered the American market in 1961, it had several owners before it was acquired by Mr. Mamros in 1984. During restoration I found a New Jersey traffic ticket under the driver's seat dated 1977. I tracked down the driver and called him. He claimed not to remember much about the car other than he had bought it at a used car lot, drove it a couple of years and then sold it. Maybe his memory was affected by the empty cocaine vials found under the same seat.
3. Mamros acquired the car as a rolling disaster. His intent was to use the rear end for a "hot rod" project but he never gotten to it and had run out of garage space. The bonnet had been stripped to bare metal and not refinished. The rest of the body had been painted white... with a paintbrush. Virtually all of the leather, vinyl, carpet and cloth was removed from the interior. The dash pad was split in half. The bumpers had been removed and thrown inside along with a few spares (like a NIB original dash and console aluminum set). But the car had never been wrecked except the under-nose pan (which had seen too many parking blocks) and was the only piece of sheet metal requiring repair or replacement. With fresh gas in a coffee can and a new battery, it actually started but it was not remotely drivable. But it was solid and all the original parts were there.
4. The restoration was not done in Scottsdale (more on that connection later) but by Elite Classics, a two-man body shop in rural Monclova, Ohio. One guy was an outstanding mechanic and the other was an artist at bodywork. They were brothers-in-law who fought like cats and dogs. But they were awesome. They knew absolutely nothing about Jaguars so I supervised and directed the restoration. The vehicle was totally disassembled and the monocoque dipped. Every component was rebuilt, renewed, or replaced. The restoration took from November 1989 until September 1991. At that point I transferred the title to my name and had it corrected to reflect the car's actual model year.
5. In July of 1992 the car was entered highly prestigious Concours d'Elegance in Dearborn, Michigan which was held on the grounds of the Edsel Ford estate. The car won Best of Show and was never shown again.
6. Until 1996 I drove the car sparingly and stored it in a climate controlled garage. I decided to sell it (to help finance a new home) and enlisted Doc's Jags of Scottsdale/Chicago to broker it. "Doc" was a character; he claimed to represent neither the seller nor the buyer but the best interests of the car. He agreed upon a sale price with the seller and then whatever more he could sell it for was his commission. Doc lined up Matsuo Yoshida from Japan to look at the car. He came to my home, my garage, to see the car and close the deal. However... Doc spoke English and Hebrew, I spoke English and German, and Matsuo spoke only Japanese. So we hired an interpreter from the university - who we found could not translate automotive technical terms. At one point, the deal was about done but Matsuo wanted Doc to replace the Moss "crashbox" gearbox with a synchro box. Doc refused to consummate the deal as it "wouldn't be right for the car". The session ended with a lot of smiling and bowing and the car was flown to Japan. This car probably has more air miles on it than most other passenger cars in the world today!
7. When I was researching the car in the late 80's, Jaguar Cars told me that only 860001 was known to exist, 002 and 003 were not accounted for, and 004 had been scrapped as a racing car. Subsequently, 002 and 003 have surfaced... which is awesome.
8. Someone commented that the data plate looked too good and may be 'questionable'. Of course it looked good: I made it! To put the original, gnarly plate back into this pristinely restored automobile would have looked foolish. The original plate - as well as a photo of it mounted in the vehicle - went with the car when it was sold.

2013-10-19 16:35:08 | Pekka T. writes:

Hi, yes thank you for the additional info. A bit funny that the data plate (the new one, we have not seen the original one) lists the body as V1026, when in fact the original body tag can be seen, and it is, as Stefan already previously noted, V1027. A typo? An error at some point? Interesting....

2013-10-25 07:41:37 | pauls writes:

Car appears on ebay 10/25/13
www.ebay.com/itm/Jaguar-E-Type-RHD-Coupe-1961-jaguar-e-type-right-hand-drive-/32 ...
Current bid $20,100, no reserve, 20 bids. Now said to be in San Antonio, Texas. Note this is a suspicious auction. Photos are from the Symbolic Motor Car Company listing in 2011 and of course no reserve and low opening bids are unrealistic. Description is only one sentence.

2014-07-31 11:16:22 | pauls writes:

Car not sold, High Bid of £90,000 at RM auciton London 31 October 2012

Lot 125

www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm

Description (tho redundant to above)

Completed on Thursday, 24th August 1961, chassis number 5 was initially slated for delivery to UK championship motorcycle racer John Surtees. Instead, the order and delivery were switched, and this E-Type was invoiced directly to Jaguar Cars, New York. Three weeks later, on 18th September 1961, it was flown to New York City, where the car was delivered to the president of Jaguar Cars North America via Alfred Momo, the New York Jaguar distributor.

The car was strikingly beautiful and finished in Opalescent Blue with a dark blue interior. How and why a very specific UK market right-hand drive fixed-head coupé was selected and sent to the States remains very much a mystery. Jaguar Cars New York retained chassis 5, untitled and unregistered, for internal use until 1967. It was not until then that this car was sold to the first private owner as essentially still a new car.

Chassis number 5 was then purchased by Stephen and Cheryl Mamros, of Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, who used the car sparingly. In 1986, Mr Richard B. Iott, of Monclova, Ohio, learned of the cars existence and purchased it soon thereafter. While a bit dusty and dirty from years of non-use and storage, it was remarkably original. With a fresh battery and some clean petrol, he was able to start the car and drive it away. Mr Iott documented his adventure in the June 1987 issue of EJAG Magazine, a copy of which remains with the car.

In 1996, it was sent to a Jaguar specialist in Scottsdale, Arizona, where it was given a no-expense-spared restoration from 1996 until 2002. Upon completion, this Jaguar was sold to Matsuo Yoshida's Museum Collection, from which the current owner acquired the car. [That sale in April 2012 by Masayuki Goto]. Today, the paint remains in excellent condition, with little chipping or scratches to be seen. The engine bay is equally impressive, as is the exterior chrome and trim. The interior is in very good shape, though minor flaws in the trim can be found when closely inspected. The car runs and shifts nicely, and it performed very well during a recent outing. Chassis 860005 is both accident- and rust-free and is fully documented as a matching-numbers example. It is very highly regarded in E-Type circles as the benchmark by which all other early fixed-head E-Types are judged both on originality and authenticity.

2014-07-31 16:30:55 | Michael DeBacker writes:

Is there factory documentation showing that 16 inch wheels were used on early E types. If 16 wheels had been used then speedometers for 16 inch wheels and the different axle ratios would have been needed. The tire diameter / circumference is different enough between the two wheel sizes that a different speedometers would be needed therefore they should have been listed in the parts book. (See above comments)

2015-10-26 00:46:53 | terry mcgrath writes:

I have posted a photo of the original ID plate
""this is the original ID and note the body number is V1026 so the problem with actual body tag fitted to car, what is recorded in factory records and stamped on the ID plate started pretty early.""
Also posted pics of carburettor dates july 1960

2016-09-06 14:39:54 | pauls writes:

From Jaguar Magazine 9/6/16
www.jaguarmagazine.com/jaguar-cleans-windsor-concours/

Winner of the Sportscar class was a Series 1 E-type, appropriately registered '1600 HP' and owned by Stuart Cardwell. Chassis number 5, this right hand drive fixed head coupe was the very first E-type to feature internal bonnet locks, and was presented in beautiful original condition.

2018-01-21 11:35:24 | Peter Ingram writes:

Huge Feature Jaguar Driver January 2018 p. 50 - 51 Champion of Champions Said to be " probably the best E-type in existence " Owner Stuart Cardwell

2020-05-10 08:29:13 | Stuart Cardwell writes:

Hi,

I'd be interested to hear from the person (especially if the owner at the time) that recently posted the photos of the car in Japan from back in the day. I have quite a few photos from that time, and would be pleased to learn more about the car's time in Japan. Readers will be aware that the photos from before 2015 do not reflect the current condition, since when it has secured a number of concours awards.

2022-05-27 04:00:19 | tim@nlg.Co.uk writes:

Too view CMC’s walk around video of the car see:

youtu.be/UEEXl622nNA

2023-04-16 20:43:17 | pauls writes:

Car appears to be at auction again 4/23

collectingcars.com/for-sale/1961-jaguar-e-type-series-1-flat-floor-3-8-fhc-1

Auction description:

34,071 miles (indicated)

manual

RHD

Opalescent Dark Blue

Blue

3.8L

VIN 860005

Lot #17623

private Sale

Harrogate, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Seller Ferrari1_1

An exceptional and especially coveted classic sports car; this is the fifth right-hand-drive Fixed Head Coupe built, and the first to feature internal bonnet locks as the first four RHD chassis cars 860001/2/3/4 all featured external locks. It retains all the desirable features of these rare early cars, including the more well-known features such as flat floors, the welded bonnet louvres and roadster style seats.  

Under the bonnet sits the matching-numbers 3.8-litre straight-six with triple SU carburettors, delivering 265bhp to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox.  

An original right-hand-drive E-Type FHC, it is believed that this car was originally intended for Sir John Surtees, but that the order was switched, and this car was subsequently flown to the US, where it was delivered to Jaguar Cars New York. 

This is a multiple concours-winning car. Its first known restoration was completed in 1991, and in 1992 it entered the prestigious Concours d’Elegance in Dearborn, Michigan, where it won ‘Best of Show’.  

Its owner at the time is understood to have kept it for around another 10 years, before a deal was agreed to sell the car to a prominent private collection in Japan. More recently, it has returned to the UK and is registered with the DVLA as ‘1600 HP’. 

In 2014, a meticulous nut-and-bolt restoration was commissioned at renowned early E-Type specialist Classic Motor Cars (CMC) in the UK. This restoration is well documented, with an array of pictures and even two books with text outlining its journey through the workshop’s various departments, all illustrated beautifully. 

The recent run of concours wins commenced in 2016, when the car was inspected by HRH Prince Michael of Kent at the Windsor Castle Concours of Elegance, and was subsequently awarded the ‘Best Sports Car’ trophy. In 2017, the car entered and won the ‘Premier Class’ Concours at Prescott, taking the Royal Brierley trophy presented by the legendary Jaguar test driver Norman Dewis OBE. November 2017 saw the car crowned the Jaguar Drivers Club ‘Champion of Champions’, with the trophy presented by Quentin Willson and Norman Dewis jointly. 

The car has featured in many Jaguar publications over the years, including those by the expert author Philip Porter, two editions of the Jaguar Drivers Club magazine, and the American magazine EJAG. 

Presenting the car in a video in 2021, CMC described the car as “the crème de la crème; the most exacting and correct E-Type that we know of”. 

EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES 

The earliest E-Types such as chassis 860005 have numerous features that are unique to this period, including the flat floors and the ‘roadster’ style early seats. 

Another early feature is welded bonnet louvres. This only appeared up until Christmas 1961, after which bonnet pressing machines were installed during the factory shutdown over the holiday period. 

Nuances found on 860005, which are well documented in one of three bound books with the car, include a flat rear bulkhead, tags to the gearbox tunnel, the gearbox tunnel made of GRP, bonnet buffers and screw holes to accept the bonnet lock catches, Lucas ‘Butlers’ stamped rear number plate lights, a 3-point carburettor linkage and early dipped water rail.  

The carburettors’ date tags are still present and show July 1961, as well as the wiper motor dated June 1961. The ‘Nivocode’ brake and clutch fluid reservoirs are original and correct and these, along with dozens of other items, are specific to the very early E-Types – and are accordingly highly sought-after by collectors. 

This car is finished in the particularly handsome shade of Opalescent Dark Blue, complemented by a blue leather upholstery for the interior trim. 

Inside, there are dark blue carpets, a grey headliner, three-spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel, and the correct aluminium dashboard and transmission tunnel inlays. 

Accompanying the car is the period tool kit (including original tool roll), Shelley jack, period owner documentation, original radiator caps, petrol cap and tax disc holder. 

Adding further to its history are numerous certificates from previous concours events, brochures, and of course the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate. 

The registration ‘1600 HP’ is included in the sale. 

CONDITION 

The paintwork is reported to be in superb condition, and is well documented in the photo gallery below.  

Likewise, the exactingly restored interior is in excellent order, with particular attention paid to the specific finishes and appearance of various components during its expert refurbishment. 

The seller is not aware of any mechanical or electrical faults. 

The most recent MOT test was on 6 August 2019 at an indicated 33,757 miles, which resulted in a pass with advisories for worn rubber gaiters on the front ball joints, and slight play in the offside front lower suspension ball joint.

2023-06-27 04:02:26 | Paul Knott writes:

To continue the very informative history of E-Type Jaguar 1600HP:

I acquired this amazing car from Collecting Car Auctions (CCA) in April 2023. Stuart Cardwell, who commissioned Classic Motor Cars (CMC) to restore the car in 2014, either sold or requested CMC to sell the car on his behalf in 2021. CMC posted a 'for sale' video on YouTube in July 2021 and Timothy Snowdon, a car collector, bought the car from CMC in April 2022. Tim then sold 1600HP to me through CCA.

1600HP will be maintained to its current superb condition and 'sunny day' driven to local car shows or cover trailered to car shows further afield.