Age: 1968

Mileage: 69000

Model: Coupe

Transmission: Manual 

+44 (0) 1664 840088
[email protected]

Description:

This vehicle was originally purchased from John Holland Car Sales of Sheffield over 11 years ago.

It is a Jaguar E-Type 1968 FHC 4.2 Series One and a Half. The car benefits from a longer body and longer doors. It also benefits from the Series One front and rear lights which are much smaller and better looking. The car also has the smaller front mouth air intake.

The car was first registered in California before a gentleman in Ireland bought it 20 years later. It was then converted to RHD as far as is known. Please see the history file for years of different service and work records.

When the previous owner acquired the car it had a 3 speed automatic transmission and ran on US twin Solex low power low emission carburettors. The car performed poorly; it seemed to rev high even in top gear, resulting in a very low top speed.

The interior and bodywork were in good condition and the car was fitted with new modern safer wheels. These are slightly wider than the originals and accept a wider tyre for better road holding. The wheels do however look like originals and lack the deep dish found on some aftermarket wheels.

The car’s engine bay looked unsightly because underseal had been applied to the bonnet as well. The previous owner therefore employed a renowned E-Type Jaguar specialist rebuilder, which also included his top employee at the time, Phil Gibson, who has restored over 200 E-Types over the last 25 years.

The engine bay, including the bonnet underside, was fully stripped and repainted to match in Jaguar Signal Red. New engine frames were fitted and bulkhead panels replaced as necessary.

A full mechanical restoration was carried out with several upgrades. This included converting the car to a manual gearbox with a Tremec 5 speed, where the first four ratios match the original and the 5th gear is an overdrive for lower engine revolutions at higher cruising speeds.

The engine was fully stripped, featuring a reground, balanced crankshaft and new bearings. New Mahle pistons were fitted and the block was fully cleaned, recored, and painted. The head was ported and skimmed with new valve guides installed and valves cleaned and checked. A new clutch, bearings, slave cylinder and arm were fitted. Fast road Piper cams were fitted for added performance. Engine parts were polished or replaced, including the all new intake manifold. The engine has a full breather system, which keeps the engine running cleaner for higher power.

New Triple Weber 45 DCOE carburettors were fitted and balanced to support the engine’s new high flow work. The carbs are fitted with period-correct mesh-type gauze and foam covers, which look great if displaying the car at a show.

The exhaust manifold was also replaced with a high flow stainless steel performance system. To make all this work together, a whole new ignition system including special leads, coil, and an electronic distributor was fitted with the very best Ignition123 system. This was then mapped and tuned for great driver performance and reliability.

The cooling system is fully upgraded with a best-quality alloy radiator and expansion tank. New high-performance cooling fans and shrouds also complement the radiator and look very period in design. A Mocal oil take off plate and cooler are fitted to aid oil cooling and long term reliability. The oil filter now uses a modern system, which provides better filtration and easier servicing.

The propshaft was fully reconditioned to new specifications, as was the differential, which included a basic LSD. All wheel bearings and ball joints were replaced. The entire drivetrain is effectively new for reliability. It is fitted with a master cut-off switch and cable pull, a fire extinguisher, and a battery charging port.

All suspension was rebuilt, all brakes upgraded to Fosseway 4 pot vented all around, front and rear. Separate handbrake calipers were fitted with an all new cable system. New adjustable dampers were fitted all around, along with a new adjustable four-spring rear setup, and new torsion bars fitted to the front.

The engine bay also benefits from a full new wiring loom and most ancillaries. The steering is fully uprated and upgraded to power-assisted, including a new pump, pipework, and reservoir. This makes the car feel very light and nimble when driving quickly. It is also great when parking with the original light steering feel.

The car benefits from a good spare wheel and tool kit, including the all important jack and knock-off wheel mallet. Modern Vredestein tyres are correct for this car. The car has upgraded speakers in the centre console and a modern radio with adapters for USB, iPod, etc. A new windscreen and new wipers were fitted. Several new and reconditioned parts are inside, like the clocks and a genuine early style rear view mirror.

The front and rear bumpers were de-horned (over riders), welded, then brass coated over weeks of work and then re-chromed to look like new. This provides a much cleaner look without the over riders. The front air intake was also de-barred giving it a D-Type inspired racing look. A bird cage is fitted for radiator protection.

This is not an original E-Type — they look great but do not drive as well. This is a fast road car for driving enthusiasts who want reliability and the capability to contend with most modern sports cars. Its top speed is well in excess of 160mph. The engine’s torque is perfect for fast road and cruising conditions. The fuel economy is good when cruising at 70/80 mph in fifth gear because the engine revs are so low.

It is far from standard and would leave any E-Type for dead. It stops, steers, handles and has a better ride quality than any other E-Type. The previous owner’s plan from the start was to create exactly this kind of car.

The vehicle is not mint; the body shows some signs of age and patina that have remained during the previous ownership. The interior isn’t perfect but is quite original and functional. Some of the interior electrics are less reliable and a new interior wiring loom is planned in due course. Many specialists, including Phil Gibson, can easily carry this out.

Please review all the receipts for the work carried out. Full details are included in the history file. The car is registered as a Historic vehicle and therefore benefits from no VED or MOT requirement. Insurance is approximately £130 per year on a classic policy.