1962 Jaguar E Type Series 1

Finished in Opalescent Silver Blue, this left-hand drive E Type was restored out in its home state of California in the late 1990s before returning home in February 2021. As you can see, it looks utterly magnificent and is a credit to those talented craftsmen and women who restored it.

Mind you, it is a special example: a ‘matching numbers’ car, the first owner kept it from new until well into the 21st century, with the second holding onto it for another decade. Careful curation means it’s got its original service history booklet and warranty paperwork too, which means the recorded mileage may well be genuine.

Still in the hands of its only UK-registered keeper, despite not needing one the seller has MoT’d it until July 2024, which should provide further reassurance as to its condition - and his fastidiousness.

The restoration might be a few years old by now but it’s holding up very well indeed. The Opalescent Silver Blue still looks stunning against a backdrop of beautifully aligned panels and shows off the E Type’s swooping lines to perfection.

Of course, cars like this tend not to see hard use but its condition is still something of a welcome surprise; free of dents, dings, and other damage, the panels all align very nicely indeed. This sort of quality doesn’t happen by accident either, and workmanship like this hints that the bits you can’t see so easily should be equally impressive.

Throw in excellent chrome and a lovely set of wire wheels – shod with no lesser tyre than a set of period-style Michelin XVS tyres – and you’ve got what might be the perfect E Type coachwork combination.

Add twin upswept exhausts, slim lamps, and triple wipers and you might just have the recipe for the perfect 1960’s sportscar, too.

Flaws are few. There is a blemish in the paint on the nearside C-pillar plus some rust near the spokes on one of the wheels in addition to some developing corrosion on the base of the offside A-pillar.

Being an early car, the interior is gloriously simple. Finished in navy blue leather with plenty of chrome and alloy trim, it’s worlds away from the usual leather ‘n’ walnut we often see.

It works well though; the E Type’s cabin is a special place anyway and this one’s unfussiness is matched by its condition, which is very impressive.

The door cards, headlining, and dashboard are immaculate, and the instruments and switches are every bit as glorious as we’ve come to expect.

The early Series 1 seats are excellent being both well-presented and very comfortable. Their pronounced bolsters also give great lateral support to your hips, which is important given the Jaguar’s sporting prowess.

The cabin is full of lovely bits of design including a delightful Lucas rear-view mirror and a gorgeous Blaupunkt headunit.

The driver gets to enjoy a wood-rimmed steering wheel, a wand-like handbrake, a delicate gear lever, and a set of minimalist pedals: The E Type is a tactile car and every interface between man and machine has been carefully considered and perfectly executed.

The boot is as beautifully trimmed as the rest of the interior. A full-size spare wire wheel and tool kit lurk beneath the trim, trim that conceals nothing more than a well-painted and utterly solid floor.

As for faults, the side panel is coming adrift on the offside of the boot, steering column shroud is a bit untidy and the passenger door may require some adjustment to open more easily.

The E Type’s period looks are backed up by a modern electronic ignition system, a stainless-steel exhaust, an aluminium radiator, fresh hoses, and an electric fan, plus Coopercraft front brake calipers; all installed since its been here in the UK, the upgrades mean it goes and stops as well as it looks and should continue to do so no matter what the conditions or ambient temperature.

Like the cockpit, the engine bay features some lovely touches including a Lucas Screenjet washer fluid bottle. It’s nicely presented too, and we can’t see many people feeling the need to do anything with it other than give it a quick wipe with a clean cloth as they admire that silky-smooth straight-six engine.

And it is smooth; as you can see, it starts well and idles beautiful. With a keen engine note when it’s revved, the exhaust note is pitch-perfect.

Faults? Well, the offside front tyre is wearing quite heavily on its inner edge, so you might want to get the tracking checked. The other three tyres still have plenty of tread left on them but they are starting to crack with age, so all four could do with being replaced.

The underside is a delight. While there is a small amount of rust starting on the wheelarch lips and one area of the offside, it looks to still be in the early stages so should be easy to catch.

The Jaguar’s MoT certificate is valid until July 2024. Obviously exempt on the grounds of its age, it also passed with no advisories.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the E Type comes with its original book pack including the service history booklet and warranty. It also has some photos of its restoration.

Cars like the Jaguar E Type are so widely admired they’ve become a staple of the classic car scene. This popularity, which is driven by their staggering looks, great dynamic performance, and huge marque support, mean they’ve appreciated significantly over the years.

That’s both good news and bad. The bad is that we think this one will sell for somewhere between £66,000 and £80,000, which is a hefty chunk of money in anyone’s books.

The good news is that this is almost certainly going to be a safe place to keep that money while you enjoy your new Jaguar; the price of E Types has been steady for a while now and we don’t expect to see them drop anytime soon.

Of course, this isn’t a guarantee but it is worth remembering the market does value high-quality examples like this above all else.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ, Abingdon. Viewings are strictly by appointment. 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’.