1970 Jaguar E Type 2+2

In the care of the seller since 2011, ‘TFS 131H’ is a British Racing Green Series 2 Jaguar E Type fitted with the 4.2-litre engine and manual gearbox.

Its 2+2 interior is trimmed in a matching green leather, and it sits on a set of very good wire wheels. The seller has also changed the headlamps to the Series 1 enclosed style, something that prompted a respray of the bonnet only a month ago.

It also benefits from a recent clutch and an engine that was rebuilt just 500 miles ago, so wasn’t a surprise to be told it’s “running great”.

The British Racing Green coachwork looks terrific, doesn’t it? An iconic hue that’s always pleasing to see, the impression this one makes is bolstered by that recently resprayed bonnet.

Done only a month ago, the seller had it repainted to tidy up the Series 1 headlamp conversion he carried out a few years ago – and even purists can still rejoice because the original parts were retained and will come with the car.

The E Type also comes with a tin of paint that has the colour code on it, something that will make colour-matching any future bodywork much easier than it would otherwise have been.

Not that we can see much need for work in the near future because it not only sports shutlines that are as tight and consistent as any we’ve seen on the model, but everything else also aligns impeccably, including the hard-to-line-up exhaust tailpipes, which sit perfectly level with each other.

The panels are also free of dents, dinks, ripples, and other damage, and the BRG paintwork gleams wonderfully thanks to its sunny-day-only use over the past 13 years.

The chromework is both expansive and unsullied. It too is free of damage and obvious aging because what pitting it does show is minimal in both reach and impact.

The badges are also bright and undamaged, and the lamp lenses are free of cracks and chips.

Overall, it presents very well indeed.

Further good news comes with the 15-inch wire wheels, which are painted rather than chromed to the benefit of both longevity and ongoing maintenance. They’re in a great cosmetic condition too, with no visible rust and gleaming chromed spinners.

The tyres that are fitted are Hifly HF201 on the front and Kumho Power Star 758 on the rear.

As for flaws, the windscreen might be starting to delaminate at the top, but it is limited and could almost certainly be left for a good while yet.

So, if you can live with a gentle patina – and it is gentle – there’s nothing else for you to do other than to polish it every now and then.

Speaking of a patina, the green leather interior is wonderfully patinated – and before you think we’re damning with faint praise can we reassure you that nothing could be further from the truth; the reason many of us buy classic cars is for the romance they hold, and few things are more evocative than a relaxed classic car interior.

And this one is only gently lived-in; as you’d expect, the driver’s seat shows the most cracks and creases and while these are noticeable, the hide covering isn’t damaged or holed, just a little rumpled and creased.

The front passenger seat is even better, and the rear 2+2 seat is better still; all the seating is delightful and it’s a place your children or grandchildren will thoroughly enjoy – and who wouldn’t want to be able to look back at a childhood that included a Jaguar E Type?

The green leather extends to the front armrest, the transmission tunnel, the sills, and the door cards, all of which are good with only the armrest showing any real wear.

The green carpeting is free of holes and fraying, the three-spoke wooden steering wheel is as glorious to hold as it is behold, and the dashboard instruments and switches are as impressive as everything else in the cockpit.

A modern headunit is fitted, along with speakers in the front footwells.

The boot is both usefully large and very nicely trimmed. It also plays host to a freshly repainted wire wheel that is fitted with a Kumho tyre.

The cabin is a lovely place to be and what little work you might want to undertake could be delayed until money and motivation coincide.

The most obvious job, and probably the most costly, is the headlining, which might be clean and undamaged but is starting to droop between the supports. However, given its condition a skilled trimmer might be able to refit it rather than replace it.

There is also a mark on the nearside sill trim.

Recently fitted with a new clutch, we can also spot what looks like a recent Yuasa battery and Bosch coil; clearly, no expense has been spared in fitting top-name brands.

As you’d expect given the rebuilt engine (of which more anon), it starts well with a lovely burble to the exhaust, especially when it’s revved, something it thrives on. The seller, who’s only used it on the occasional sunny day throughout his tenure, says it “drives great!”

However, he did mention that he thought the rear differential might be noisy, going on to clarify that it may just be a normal noise as he hasn’t driven another E Type. We haven’t been able to check it ourselves due to the car’s location but the fact he’s so keen to mention it bodes well as to his honesty.

As for its cosmetic condition, the engine is neat and clean without being overly prissy; it therefore balances ease of maintenance with its aesthetics rather well because few things are more dispiriting than feeling you can’t use a car for fear of getting it dirty and then having to spend an age cleaning it after every drive.

Mind you, if you wanted to show your new toy at the local classic car show then the base standard is good enough than bringing it up to a very good condition wouldn’t be unduly onerous – and if detailing is your thing, there is fun to be had.

The underside is really rather nice too. With a shiny and newish-looking exhaust system and good underseal, the MoT record might stop in 2018, but no MoT tester ever mentioned rust or structural corrosion.

(In fact, bar one mention of a ball joint, it was a straight run of advisory-free tickets from when the record starts in 2006.)

We did spot one patch of flaking underseal, so you will need to get your hands dirty sooner rather than later but that that is all we spotted speaks volumes.

The Jaguar doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file, which comprises two well-stuffed box files, includes many old invoices including gone for an engine rebuild in 1995. Big deal we hear you say, and we’d agree but for the fact we’ve been told that the engine has only covered around 500 miles since then…

The E Type also comes with a genuine Jaguar Service Manual and a Haynes workshop manual, which will come in handy when you need to fit the spare parts that are also included: please see the photos for details of what they comprise.

With a guide price of between £38,000 and £43,000, we think this delightful British Racing Green offers an awful lot in addition to that wonderful colour scheme, not least the recent clutch and rebuilt engine.

Yes, it’s going to be a bit of a trek for most folk to go and see it but it’s only just north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and you could make a bit of a road trip of it and visit the Falkirk wheel while you’re up there.

Throw in a fancy hotel for your other half and you might even come out of it ahead on Brownie points.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Bo'ness, Scotland. To arrange an appointment to inspect this vehicle, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.