1966 Jaguar E Type S1 4.2

The vendor Alan has owned this E-Type for about six months now. “I bought it on a whim as a bit of a project,” he explains. “It was for sale at a specialist up in Norfolk and it’d sourced it from the Netherlands. I sent my friend who’s a Jaguar aficionado up to inspect it – what he doesn’t know about E-Types… – and he said it was great.”

In fact, when it arrived it was even better than expected. The car, an original RHD UK example despite its European dalliances, had been restored in and around 2007. “It needed some bits doing to it; it had a few electrical faults, and needed new wheels and tyres. I’ve been through the suspension with a toothcomb and it’s perfect; it’s also been correctly set-up.

“I was going to use it this year for the E-Type’s 60th anniversary (all the conventions, rallies, etc) but unfortunately my personal circumstances have changed and I won’t be able to. I semi-regret having to sell it but someone else should do them.

“They won’t have to do anything to the car, as it’s ready to go. The mileage could be genuine but it doesn’t have the history to prove it. That’s the only slight negative – other than that it’s immaculate.”

The odometer currently reads 55,286 miles.

The 2+2’s paintwork is as good in the flesh as it looks in our photographic gallery, below. It is thoroughly striking looking and whoever chose the hue (possibly Azure Blue) knew exactly how well it’d complement the S1’s sinuous curves. The paint finish, panel gaps and details are all fabulous.

An invoice from Max Bidwell & Sons of Norwich, Norfolk for £1088.16, dated 7/11/19 for paint materials, sundries and labour suggests that the specialist Alan bought the car from had some minor refurbishment works completed. That’d certainly explain its current absolutely tiptop disposition.

As previously mentioned, new wire wheels have been fitted and these are shod in fresh Pirelli Cinturato tyres. The rest is a glorious visual story of S1 beauty; it’s all there, fared-in headlights, delicate mark-free chrome work and light clusters that sit in their rightful place above the bumpers! 

Stunning.

(Note that the vendor has the original wire wheels (5”) which have now been sandblasted, and powder coated in silver with the Michelin tyres - they will be available to the buyer by separate arrangement)

This car’s cabin is ready for action; it presents beautifully, and you can almost visualise the first owner picking it up from original supplying dealer Grosvenor Motors in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, back in July 1966.

Back then the interior was Black, but we think the Grey leather interior that it now sports is the perfect foil for that audacious exterior colour. It all looks new and practically unused.

The dashboard is chip free, the centre console trim unmarked and the leather seats (Grey, piped black) fresh and wonderfully supportive. New colour-matching lap belts are fitted. The carpets are in identical condition, with the rear hatch area also finished in the same colour and materials.

Back up front, the period-looking radio hides a secret, as it’s a modern DAB unit sourced by the vendor. It provides unobtrusive aesthetics allied to modern aural facilities and is mated to a pair of speakers either side.

Very smart, indeed.

“It’s lovely to drive. The gearbox is smooth as a nut and it goes as well as it looks. The front brakes have been upgraded to Zeus units.”

As Alan said, it drives nicely, really nicely; the engine fires instantly, and picks up and pulls without cough or splutter – it’s just smooth, six-cylindered XK glory. The ride is very well controlled and the gear-change slicker than a greaser’s pompadour. Braking is instant and powerful. The only minor thing we can mention is a very slight vibration through the pedal under a light foot – normally not something we’d comment upon, but there’s absolutely nothing else to nit pick about.

The underside (with well-protected metal, fresh-looking suspension components, an immaculate stainless steel exhaust system and evidence of comprehensive corrosion-proofing) is confidence inspiring in the extreme.

Up front, the engine bay is lovely. The chrome gleams (cue Heraldic fanfare, as you open the bonnet), while the vendor has spent a bit of time sourcing a number of heat shields as finishing touches.

In the car’s history file you’ll find a number of recent invoices. Reassuringly there’s an MWS Genuine Wire Wheel Quality Assurance Certificate for each of those worn by this 2+2. New 205/70 WR15 Pirelli Cinturato Tyres were fitted at the same time (05/01/21) at a total cost of £2380.96.

S.N.G. Barratt supplied new rear and front exhaust manifolds, an alternator heatshield, fuel filler cap, brake servo heatshield and cam cover gaskets at a cost of £529.60 on the 04/01/21.

There’s an invoice dated 05/01/21 for £224.17 for a CCS Classic 200 DAB Spindle Mount Radio from Autosound Ltd and another for £180 the following month from De Sheng Auto Diagnostics for a couple of electrical fixes.

Blackboot.co.uk & Wheels-inmotion (WIM) carried out a geometry calibration on the 28/01/21 (£234). There are also a number of other invoices from 2019 for minor items and consumables.

The final item is a Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate dated 16 September 2019, which details all the car’s salient information and also indicates that its original colour was Opalescent Golden Sand.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the paperwork to support our claim that this car has been restored to the highest of standards.

We include an online HPI report run at the auction start which shows no finance outstanding and no insurance markers for theft or damage.

Be in no doubt this is a lovely, lovely E-Type. It’s been painstakingly restored by a former owner and then further enhanced by the vendor’s attention to detail.

Bodily superb in an eye-catching colour, with a cabin to die for, and beautiful to drive it’s absolutely ready for its next owner. To buy a tired, (hell, even a reasonable) example and bring it up to this standard would involve very serious outlay.

We think that this delectable and rare S1 4.2 2+2 will sell for somewhere between £57,000 and £70,000, which (as Mr Kipling has been known to say) represents exceedingly good value for the next owner.

Their only job on taking delivery of the E-Type would be to enjoy it for the next thirty to forty years – first world problems, indeed.

Inspection is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.