1968 Jaguar E Type Open Two-Seater

The current vendor bought this car through us in 2022. At the time, we said it was in excellent condition and was a very good and largely original car.

Well, since then it’s got even better, primarily because the vendor has spent around £27,000, mostly with Southern Classics, ensuring that it is mechanically the best possible version of itself.

He has also followed the example of his predecessor, a man who owned the car for 40 years and who was never less than fastidious, diligent and conscientious in his care, maintenance and curation of this fine E Type Roadster.

The 40-year owner averaged fewer than 200 miles per annum over the last 16 years of his ownership, but he regularly started and ran the car, kept it warm and dry in a dehumidified garage (as has the present vendor), and always had the car maintained and serviced by a racing mechanic friend at the nearby Oulton Park circuit.

The current vendor has enjoyed the car on road trips to Norfolk, the West Country and the Champagne region, where the car’s upgraded cooling system didn’t miss a beat even in 34°C heat.

He has done whatever needed doing to keep this car in the condition you see today, regardless of expense.

The car presents exceptionally well from every angle.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are as crisp and consistent as you’d hope and want, and the doors close with plenty of weight and authority.

The ‘Carmen Red’ paint is as shiny and bright as you fancy and the years have done little to reduce its vibrancy, shine or lustre.

But this car is not concours and it’s not pretending to be.

It is hanging on to its authenticity and originality with commendable stoicism, and that inevitably means there are some deviations from perfection. Come and take a look at it.

The lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings are all broadly beyond reproach.

So too is the chrome-work, the wire wheels (save for one small patch of flaking) and the 5 matching Vredestein Classic tyres, which are only one year old.

The black mohair hood, which was fitted new at a cost of over £3,000 in December 2022 by Aldridge Trimming Ltd, is in first-class condition and goes up and down precisely as it should.

The interior is following the same script as its exterior counterpart.

It all looks and feels delightfully period, original and authentic and there’s a warmly welcoming patina to everything you can see and feel.

The black leather upholstery has some light cracks and creases, but no more than you’d expect to find in a car of this age.

The seats are comfortable, supportive and operationally functional.

The black carpets, being new, are in fine order, as are the door cards and roof lining.

Even the trim atop the wide sills is showing no signs of wear, and even the entirely standard scuffs and marks made by the ingress and egress of feet over decades are more notable for their absence than their presence.

A converted period stereo with Bluetooth and upgraded speakers has been fitted and, cunningly concealed in the ashtray, you’ll find access to USB and iPhone ports.

The car’s dials, instruments, switches and controls all look fine to us, as do the dashboard, steering wheel and gear lever.

The boot, you won’t be surprised to learn, is maintaining the same standards as the rest of the car in terms of quality, condition and preservation.

Two years ago we said of this car that ,“It feels lively; the ride is taut, with no knocks from underneath. Stopping power is good, and the gearbox shifts well, too.”

All of that remains true, but we think the work done by the highly respected specialists Southern Classics has taken it to the next level.

Highlights of the work carried out include, but are not limited to:

• Full rewire
• Full overhaul of the brakes
• Upgraded cooling (Series 2 radiator) and fans
• New alternator
• New distributor cap, rotor arm, HT leads
• Tuned, fettled and adjusted by Southern Classics to ensure optimal carburation

As a consequence, the car starts on the button, picks up pace with enthusiasm, and handles with degrees of poise, agility and balance not always present in E Types of this vintage.

We believe that this was one of the last dozen 4.2 Roadsters (Open Two-Seaters, to use the correct nomenclature) to leave the production line.

This belief is supported by a recent Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate, as is the fact that this is a matching numbers car.

There are numerous invoices, bills and receipts attesting to recent work carried out, and all sorts of older invoices, many of which were for work done by the famous Jaguar specialist, David Manners.

The car’s MoT certificate, with no advisories, is valid until 17.9.25.

The car comes with full sets of keys, a collection of original manuals, an ‘Airstopper' wind deflector designed specifically for classic cars, custom soft and waterproof covers, and an assortment of useful spares including belts, bulbs and fuses.

We liked this car a lot two years ago.

We like it even more now.

The current vendor’s willingness to part with large sums of money on all the right work has added to the appeal of an already very covetable car, and he’s achieved that entirely worthy and laudable objective without compromising the car’s authenticity or pedigree E Type DNA.

​Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am-12pm or 2pm-4pm. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.