1964 Jaguar E Type

This 1964 Series 1 FHC E Type has been restored to a very high standard indeed, with the restoration (on both sides of the Atlantic) taking several years to complete.

A Jaguar Heritage Certificate from 2012 (issued at the behest of the current vendor) states that the car left the factory on 9.3.64 as a RHD manual with a ‘Opalescent Maroon’ exterior and a ‘Maroon’ interior.

We know from the vendor that when he bought the car from a Connecticut classic car restoration business in 2012 it had been purchased by that company as part of the deceased owner’s estate. 

At that point the car was mid-way through a restoration, had a black exterior, and had been converted to LHD at some unknown earlier date.

We know that the car was in Illinois in the early 1990s and may have been in the States for a considerable time before then, although there are no records to support this.

The vendor had the car shipped back to the UK and, in 2014, commenced upon a three-year, no-expense-spared restoration project with E Type restoration specialists Butlin & Sons Classic Cars of Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

The car was restored to its factory RHD configuration, the bodywork was stripped back to bare metal, and all necessary repairs were carried out. 

All mechanicals were also refurbished, repaired or replaced as appropriate, although the engine was believed to have been rebuilt as part of the earlier US restoration. The carburettors, differential (which retains its original, and desired, UK ratio), suspension and gearbox were all rebuilt by Butlin.

Among countless other jobs - there are some eye-watering bills and receipts from Butlin and SNG Barratt - the UK restoration included a new bonnet and new front engine frames, a new wiring loom, wheels, tyres and exhaust, and a full re-trim in its original maroon colour.

The car also benefits from a few upgrades, the sum of which at least partly explains why this car is so much better to drive than many (we’d say most) of its Series 1 contemporaries.

These upgrades included a 4.2 E Type gearbox, 4.2 E Type seats, a Mallory distributor and aluminium radiator, all of which were already in place when the vendor acquired the car. He continued the improvements by fitting uprated front brakes, a removable steering wheel and an alternator conversion.

The restoration was completed in 2017, since when the car has been serviced and maintained by Butlin & Son. 

The vendor has used the car to complete the NC500 and Classic Le Mans (twice).

That should tell you something.

The driver-appeal of most Series 1 E Types usually begins to pall after a quick trip to the shops, never mind 500 miles of twisty mountain roads. 

Yes, they’re beautiful and everyone loves to look at them, but they can be hard work, hard to drive, hard to live with and hard on your shoulders, arms, hips and back.

Not this one.

It is an absolute joy to drive and it’s easy to see how epic events like the NC500, which could easily become gruelling in lesser Series 1s, might well be truly enjoyable experiences in this splendidly sorted, fettled and expertly curated example.

The bodywork is really very straight and in decent order wherever you rest your gaze, being free from any dinks, dents, bangs, crumples, creases, ripples or folds of significance anywhere that we can see.

The panels, panel gaps and shut-lines are entirely consistent with the best tolerances achievable by 1960’s engineers, and the whole car feels, and looks, very well screwed together.

The doors, windows, bonnet and tailgate all open and close properly and as the good folk of Browns Lane would have hoped and wanted.

The Opalescent Gunmetal Grey paintwork looks fabulous and has an impressive depth of shine and lustre throughout. 

The chrome work is exemplary and beyond reproach everywhere, with the minor exception of the trim around the n/s/r window, which has a few scratches and scuffs to show for itself.

The wire wheels are excellent and the matching Blockley tyres look to have a good deal of life left in them.

There are a few light, swirly scratches on the roof, a handful of small stone chips on the ‘nose’ of the car and around the front valance, and a couple of small scuffs beneath the nearside headlamp cowling. 

There are a couple of thin scratches to the glass on the inside of the windscreen, and a couple on the outside of the rear screen.

The lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings all appear to be in good order.

The condition of the interior is every bit as impressive as its exterior counterpart and all the restoration work has clearly been carried out to very high and exacting standards. 

The soft, supple maroon hide upholstery is a pleasure to both look at and sit on. 

The seats are supportive, comfortable and functional.

The headlining is excellent, as are the door cards, carpets and mats.

The steering wheel, gear lever, instruments, dials and controls all look equally beyond reproach and in first-class condition, as does the rear luggage compartment, which contains an assortment of spares, a car cover, and a few new parts that didn’t get used during the restoration. 

The vendor tells us that, as far as he’s aware, everything works as it should, aside from the clock (they almost never work in E Types of this vintage), and the map light switch, which is currently wired to operate a fan (but could easily be recommissioned to fulfil its original purpose). 

The engine and engine bay look impressively clean, shiny and dry. 

The undersides look to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity and nothing we’ve seen has prompted us to tut or raise an eyebrow.

This car comes with plenty of bills, receipts and invoices covering restoration expenditure, plus accompanying photographs of its progression towards its current exemplary condition. 

It was serviced by Butlin & Sons last year, at considerable expense, and has done very little since.

The car comes with a Jaguar Heritage Certificate and a recent, clear HPI report.

We see a lot of E Types here at HQ, plenty of which are Series 1s.

Of those, some are decent, others are excellent and one of two need a bit, plenty or tons of work, as applicable. 

In reality, most Series 1s are rather more enjoyable to look at than they are to drive.

This one, however, is superb, needs nothing whatsoever doing to it and, best of all, is genuinely a delight to drive.

It’s really, really good.

We estimate that it will sell for £70,000-£80,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. 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’.