1969 Jaguar E Type

Originally a left-hand-drive US-example, ‘UBD 869G’ is a Series 2 OTS that was restored on its repatriation in 2021 and sold to the owner as a one-family-car-from-new example.

The restoration included a full bare metal respray and a new hood, to which the seller added a RHD conversion, new leather seats and centre console, re-chromed bumpers, and new wire wheels with period-correct Pirelli Cinturato tyres.

The seller believes the indicated mileage of 41,000 is genuine and says it drives “amazingly.”

The panel alignment is very good with tight and consistent shutlines, great lateral alignment, and an absence of dents and dinks. The canvas upon which all else is hung is, therefore, excellent.

And yet, this would count for little without good paint and in this regard the quality of finish is every bit as good as the underlying metalwork. It’s a classic colour scheme that shows off the E Types sublime lines to great effect and if there’s anything that needs doing to the coachwork, we can’t spot it.

That new hood is still in a fabulous condition. It fits beautifully with nary a mark much less any rips or tears. It also furls and unfurls as it should and is clearly a high-end item.

The car’s badges, light lenses, window glass, and windscreen are also all good. But then you’d guessed that by now, hadn’t you?

Given they’re so new, the condition of the 15-inch chrome wire wheels won’t come as a surprise. What might is the fact that the seller has gone to the expense of sourcing and fitting a matching set of new classic Pirelli Cinturato tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for future work, the chrome trim at the top of the doors is a little pitted and some of the hood fastenings are likely to be a little too patinated for most tastes.

That’s it.

The freshly retrimmed interior, which was done by BAS International, is a delight. Of course, the usual E Type staples like the horizontal array of instruments and rocker switches are present and correct, as are the simple round gearknob and thin-rimmed wooden steering wheel that help give the E Type its legendary tactility.

The rest of the details in the cabin also stack up: the seatbelts look new, as do the tailored rubber overmats. The writing on the switches is bright and vivid, and the carpets and door cards are excellent.

The retrimmed leather seats are a delight. Supportive enough for a cross-country blast, they’d also provide plenty of comfort if you wanted to range further afield. 

Like across Europe.

The radio is a period-sympathetic Continental Custom radio that plays through modern speakers that have been cleverly hidden behind chrome covers in the centre console.

The boot is clean and nicely trimmed and lifting the (matching and new) spare wire wheel and Pirelli Cinturato tyre out shows only solid metal underneath. 

If we are being picky then some of the instruments would benefit from being refurbished as they aren’t to the same high standard as the rest of the interior appointments, and the brake pedal is missing its rubber trim.

So, again, there’s little to worry about in here.

In addition to its restoration, the seller has carried out the following work:

• New brake servo, water pump, SU fuel pump, engine mounts, and silencers
• Refurbished radiator, speedometer, and rev counter plus a modern double fan assembly

The vendor tells us that the “engine bay is original” and says he’s been told by an E Type specialist that “you can tell the engine has never been out.” 

He advises prospective bidders that “the only thing it needs are interconnecting exhaust pipes which are blowing on the joints”, however, new ones will be supplied but not fitted with the car (for the down tube and silencer box connecting tubes). The tail pipes and intermediate silencers are both new. 

As you can see, the 4.2-litre engine starts very well and shows good oil pressure. It idles nicely too, and flexing your right foot allows you to enjoy the induction rasp of the twin Stromberg carburettors and the crackle of the exhaust.

The engine and underbonnet area are very clean and tidy and we can’t see many people finding much to fault under there.

As for the underside, it looks solid and well protected by underseal. As the seller mentioned, the exhaust joints do need some attention and it looks like there might be a small oil leak somewhere, too.

In addition to the invoices and bills on file, the E Type comes with a handwritten book detailing its time in the United States, a tradition the owner has continued. The history file also contains the Operating, Maintenance and Service Handbook.

The E Type doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, as being "Historic" it does not require one. 

The Jaguar E Type has been popular for decades for a number of very good reasons, not least that it’s as rewarding to drive as it is beautiful.

There’s also a huge network of enthusiasts and specialists out there who can help make restoring and running one as painless as possible.

Freshly restored, beautifully presented, and featuring well-sorted mechanicals, this Series 2 E Type would make the ideal choice for an enthusiast seeking a sportscar that needs only very modest fettling to allow it to fulfill its considerable potential. 

And, while the guide price of between £60,000 and £70,000 isn’t exactly cheap, it’s likely to be way more cost-effective than buying a shoddy one and getting it restored yourself…

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Newport, Wales. 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’.