1964 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 FHC

When the current owner bought the vehicle it had just 17,882 on the clock to show for its then 47 years; fast forward to the here and now, and it’s covered 51,200, which means that our chap bought it and has bloomin’ well used it as Jaguar intended.

Everyone in this world knows that when a classic car sits around doing next to diddly, that’s when the problems start. No such worries here this car has been a regular runner and serviced properly and is all the better for it.

Having had a professional body restoration around the turn of the century (makes me feel old writing that), it’s since been well cared for and maintained to the highest standard.

A quick flick through the comprehensive history file shows that the car wasn’t used very much during the Sixties and Seventies. It then sat in a barn for a considerable period of time (which explains its then low mileage), before being pulled out for that restoration.

The timing chains wore out recently and during the engine’s top end rebuild the engineers took pictures showing just how clean the inside of it was, which means there’s a pretty good chance that mileage is absolutely spot on.

It’s an older restoration, but looking at the car you wouldn’t know it as it presents beautifully. The paintwork remains in splendid condition, although there are a few stonechips on the lower nose section – to be expected on a car that’s driven regularly.

Panel fit remains superb, and a testament to the time and effort of the body shop that completed it. Door fit is very good, although we’ve noticed that the rear hatch is a little wobbly on its hinges and the bottom inside edge of it has one of the only little bits of rust that we can find on the car.

The chrome wire wheels are fresh, each with a good amount of rubber remaining, and the rest of the brightwork remains in brilliant condition.

Roll the video below to demonstrate just how superlatively tidy this car is, and also just how sweet that legendary XK unit sounds when fired up – throaty induction roar, combined with meaty exhaust note. Three words: Oh. Yes. Please.

Glory, glory, what a colour scheme – we’re not sure it gets better than a Grey exterior/Red interior combination in the world of E-Types. It’s been recently cleaned/restored (see invoice photos in the History Highlights section) and both the leather (with just a light creasing) and the carpets remain in lovely condition.

The instruments are all good, and the radio works, with even the courtesy lights coming on. Up top the headlining remains in perfect condition, and the sunroof opens and closes easily. It’s quite a cabin to sit in, and one the next owner will garner a considerable amount of pleasure from. Lift the carpets and there’s evidence of a wax-type substance; it’s now taken on a dark brown hue and there’s a little surface corrosion mixed in, so it’d be sensible to have it taken back and redone.

Just along from The Market is Frontline MGB and one of its very experienced trimmers walked past the E-Type yesterday, after peering in he stated: ‘I’ve done a few of these, but it’s nice to see one on its original leather.’

The underside remains very smart. There are one or two scrapes on the underseal but nothing that’s broken the surface. Wheel arches, sills and floorpans all look to be in rude health and it’s free of road dirt. Suspension components look to be very good and there are no signs of any surface corrosion on anything other than a couple of brackets.

A beautifully detailed engine sits under that long bonnet, and for a car that receives regular use the bay itself is very clean. An up-rated Kenlowe fan is fitted, and all cooling system pipes are pliable and crack free. The headlight inner mounting panels have some slight surface corrosion, but this should prove to clean up easily.

Included is a wonderful history file, which tracks the E-Type’s history from original purchase up to and including the present day.

The original Green logbook (stamped with the original registration on 23 July, 1964) and original bill of sale from Henlys, of The Hyde, London, are both included in the car’s history file. The latter shows that the original owner Robert Holton Esq. of South Harrow paid a total of 1955pounds 10s 2d, for the Fixed-Head Coupe. There’s another invoice from the same dealer, dated just under a month later, for work including the fitment of two front seatbelts and supplying and installing an Allard Motor Co ‘Golde Continental’ sunshine roof.

Also included and in similarly outstanding condition is the original stamped Jaguar Cars Ltd. Coventry Manufacturer’s Warranty certificate (the upside down dealer’s stamp demonstrating the salesman’s keenness to make the sale!). Finally complementing all of the above is the original Jaguar E-Type Operating, Maintenance and Service handbook.

A Classic & Sports Car magazine Case History written prior to the current vendor’s purchase in is also present, in which it gained 8 out of 10 stars and the writer highlighted both the ‘irreplaceable original paperwork’ and car’s originality as making it ‘very desirable’. Of key importance is a full picture history of its bare-metal restoration (carried out 10 years prior to the article) along with a comprehensive collection of all invoices also present. Milton Brothers of Buckie, Scotland, using mainly Martin Robey body panels, carried out the body restoration.

The vendor approached Jaguar Heritage Trust in October 2018 and was supplied with a Production Record Trace Certificate, which details make, model, date of manufacture, production numbers (chassis, engine, body and gearbox), supplying dealer and colours. This is of course also included.

There are a multitude of MOT test certificates dating back to the late Seventies, with almost all from the year 2000 onwards present. A Footman James agreed value certificate of insurance issued on 22/11/2018 shows an agreed valuation of £100,000.

Pictures of recently carried out engine work (9/10/18) are present, alongside invoices from independent Jaguar specialist Nottingham Jagtech Ltd. This involved a full top-end rebuild (including new valves, timing chains and tensioners, exhaust manifolds, and a whole raft of fresh gaskets) at a cost of £3554.11. Other receipts from the current vendor show the interior was restored in 2012, and then cleaned and small repairs made in 2018.

The car drives exceedingly well, which as a regularly used example you’d expect it to, and took the 150-mile journey to us in Abingdon in its elegant six-cylindered stride. In condition, originality, provenance, mechanical integrity, colour, history and mileage, this really is one of the best E Types available on the market today, and its available to all of you.

I said it earlier that this is an example that’d been regularly driven, and can’t emphasise enough how important that is in keeping one ticking over and absolutely on the button. Factor in a high level of maintenance since its restoration and all that lovely un-repeatable history, and it’s clear that – to quote Frank Carson – it’s a cracker.

E-Type prices have softened since their high of a few years ago, but because of all of the above we believe this example will sell for between £70,000 and £85,000; that’s an understandably broad estimate as there’s no reserve. One thing is clear: the next owner is going to receive a thoroughly superb example of this exalted breed and they could get it at a very fair price.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located at The Market HQ near Abingdon, Oxfordshire; where we would be delighted to show around this E-Type to fully appreciate how good it is. 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.