1963 Jaguar E-Type S1 Roadster

Finished in the classic combination of dark blue coachwork and a black leather interior, this wonderfully restored early Jaguar E-Type convertible is a ‘matching numbers’ example that benefits from a raft of subtle upgrades and improvements to make it one of the nicest and most usable examples we’ve seen in a long time.

Originally supplied by Ritchie's of Glasgow in 1963, the V5 registration document shows just three previous owners, the last of which (who is now sadly deceased) owned the car from 2004 until last year.

As an engineer, he restored the vehicle himself over the years to make it more suited to the sort of long distance European touring he and his wife used to enjoy. With this in mind, he fitted a five-speed all-synchromesh gearbox, an upgraded braking system, an aluminium radiator with an additional cooling fan, an electric power steering system and more.

Offered with a sensible reserve, this is your opportunity to get your hands on an early convertible Jaguar E-Type that has been sensitively restored and updated to bring it in line with the demands placed on it by modern motoring conditions.

The dark blue coachwork is almost flawless; the result of a colour change from its original shade of metallic Sea Green, the work has been done to a very good standard and looks fabulous.

With ripple-free flanks and a complete absence of the sort of car-park dinks that can blight even the most carefully curated example, its condition is as close to unblemished as it is possible to achieve with a vehicle that was until recently in relatively regular use.

The exterior chromework might be minimal, but what there is is in a very good condition. The light lenses are all bright and unmarked too, as are the badges and the exterior glass.

The chromed wire wheels, with their chromed centre-lock spinners, look practically new, and are shod with matching tyres all of which have good tread.

As we will never tyre of explaining, our 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 but do give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The black folding hood is new, and so fits perfectly and seals effectively. It’s not in the same league as a modern MX-5 of course, but it’s almost certainly better than it would have been when new and so offers the occupants the best of all worlds: effective weather sealing when it’s cold and wet, and open-air motoring when the sun is out. It opens and closes easily too, enabling its new owner to take advantage of even the briefest glint of sun.

We could waffle on about tight, even shutlines and mm-perfect panel alignment and we could gush about how well the doors open and close too. We could even rave about the crispness with which the door handles work but all this should be apparent from the photographs, photographs that in no way flatter the car and serve only to accurately portray its condition.

The low-back leather sports seats are supplemented by four-point Sabelt harnesses, which keep both driver and passenger snugly restrained during even the most spirited driving. The condition of both seats and belts is like new, and the combination is as practical and comfortable as it is pleasing to the eye.

The huge wooden steering wheel is wonderfully vintage in both looks and feel, and offers a direct connection to the front wheels via the electric power-assisted steering system that was fitted at a cost of 1,850 Euros for the parts alone. (It appears that a new steering rack was fitted around the same time, too.)

The rest of the interior is simply, but beautifully, executed; the row of black-faced Smiths’ gauges have simple black bezels, and the trademark row of toggle switches are neatly, but subtly, marked with their function as per the factory finish.

Discreet flashes come courtesy of the spoked steering wheel and chromed gearlever and handbrake, but the interior is as understated as it is timeless – and all the better for it.

The carpets are good too, as are the door cards, dashboard, and inside of the folding hood and frame. A lot of time and money has clearly been expended in getting it to look and work this well, and all we can add is that it really is as good in the flesh as it looks in the photos.

The boot contains the spare wheel, which is a matching wire wheel. Lifting the tan carpet shows good, painted metal and none of the rust and corrosion that can afflict the model.

Work to do is pretty much limited to replacing the passenger door lock and cleaning the underside of the hood as it has a few marks on it, which you can see in the pictures.

The engine bay is as clean as the rest of the car, and is beautifully detailed and presented. Many believe the straight-six, 3.8-litre to be the optimum engine for the model, offering sprightly performance and a lovely noise – and this one is no exception.

The vendor tells us that it has “great oil pressure and runs beautifully.”

We’ve driven it and can confirm that it starts, runs and drives exactly as it should but with a lot of the convenience you would associate with running a more modern classic.

The five-speed gearbox and power-assisted steering systems are the two most obvious, but the E-Type’s extra cooling and braking capacity will be appreciated when the car’s new owner starts to undertake some longer journeys in the summer. The car is also running wheels and tyres that are slightly larger than standard. Also remember that this sort of work does not come cheap.

The underside has been neatly and professionally undersealed. It looks and feels solid, and should be fit to face the next 60 years with equanimity.

The Jaguar doesn’t have a current MOT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have the car re-MOT’d at the earliest. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The online MOT history shows nothing of concern and the car also comes with a number of expired MOT certificates and tax discs. It also has a few old invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years but sadly the majority have been lost since the last owner’s death.

The E-Type also comes with its original blue cardboard VE60 registration book, a certificate from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust confirming its status as a ‘matching numbers’ example, plus a photographic record of the restorative work that was carried out on it. The original chassis plate has also been retained.

As for the recorded mileage, the speedometer failed and was replaced in 2013 at which point it was reading 33,915. The replacement unit is a secondhand item, and it was displaying 94,084 at the time it was changed. It was calibrated during the E-Type’s restoration in 2017.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained in recent years to the very highest standard.

NB. We know that you will be limiting your social exposure over the coming days and weeks, so please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on. Or, even better, contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call, where you can direct us in real-time.

Regular E-Type watchers might remember the gorgeous early red fixed-head coupe we sold recently for a little over £90,000; well, this one is in much the same condition while having the advantage of being subtly retro-dated to help it better meet modern traffic conditions - and it’s a convertible.

For these reasons we think the final hammer price will be somewhere between £100,000 and £130,000. Strong money for sure, but then this is an unusually well-presented and restored example that features a raft of subtle upgrades that make it a joy to drive, even on crowded 21st century roads.

And remember, when the market softens, investors and collectors default to what they know – and everyone loves and knows the E-Type. They also want early convertible cars in the very best condition – and this example ticks those boxes too. For that reason, we think this is a car that will appeal to the Jaguar E-Type enthusiast with an eye to maximizing their investment over the coming years.

This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon. 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, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

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.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.