1969 Jaguar E-Type S2 Coupe

Description

Fresh from a total nut-and-bolt restoration; retrim alone cost £10k; a gorgeous 'matching numbers' E-Type that was driven 30 miles to the sale 

Visually distinguished by its slightly higher, uncowled front headlights, wider front grille and different tail lights, the Series Two E-Type was launched in October 1968 and had many detail improvements over its Series One predecessor.

These included twin fans for better cooling, an all-synchro gearbox, better seats, improved switchgear and slightly more room in the cabin. Under the bonnet the S2 can also be readily identified by the ribbed cam covers which aided cooling and were stronger than the old smooth type.

Power still came from the same magnificent 265bhp 4.2-litre triple-carb XK engine which endowed the car with a top speed nudging 140mph. During the short two-year lifespan of the Series Two, only 4,857 were produced as fixed head coupes, all but 1,071 in LHD for the thriving US market, before it was replaced by the V12-powered Series 3 in late 1970.

As the Heritage Certificate confirms, this early Series Two Fixed Head Coupe was built in early December 1968 and, like the vast majority, was a LHD model destined for the American market. It left for British Leyland, New York, on 23^rd December and was originally finished in Sable with a Beige interior and a 4-speed manual gearbox. The chassis number indicates that it was the 458^th Coupe made in LHD.

Nothing is known of the car’s subsequent history but it returned to these shores about 12 years ago (with all duties paid) and was acquired by our vendor’s father as a project to keep him busy in his retirement. He had already restored a couple of other E-Types and XK Jaguars and enjoyed the process, doing some of the work himself and enlisting professional help when required.

Sadly he passed away before this car was finished and his son, who is a professional mechanic and garage proprietor, has spent the last couple of years finishing it off. Although there are only a few invoices to show the full extent of the work carried out, the car speaks for itself and it was clearly an extremely thorough job with no corners cut.

The engine (which is original to the car) was fully rebuilt and all other mechanical aspects were attended to, with many new parts in evidence everywhere you look. Converted to RHD, it was also fitted with new triple SU carbs and manifold supplied by Guy Broad, an invoice showing that these alone cost £5,657 back in 2015. These are far superior to the power-sapping Strombergs fitted to all the American E-Types in period.  

The interior was also retrimmed at a cost of £10,000 using the correct materials and perforated leather seat covers and mighty fine it looks too. Even the steering wheel is new, as are the pedal rubbers and the attention to detail is most impressive. The Regency Red paintwork suits the car beautifully and is generally very good with just the odd slight imperfection here and there.

Issued with a V5C in April this year which records no former keepers, it states the year of manufacture as 1969 although the Heritage Certificate and VIN number prove that it is actually a late-1968 model.

Since the restoration was completed, the car has only covered 29 miles which were all on the car’s maiden voyage from our vendor’s premises to Brightwells. He tells us that it completed the journey with ease although he does advise that the tracking will need to be set up properly, the throttle pedal needs a stronger return spring because it idles a bit high unless you pull it right up with your foot and the spare tyre will need an inner tube.

Starting promptly and running sweetly as we have moved it around on site, this freshly rejuvenated 'matching numbers' E-Type looks a million dollars and would be the pride of any collection.

Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com