1965 Jaguar E Type S1 4.2

“In the throes of a midlife crisis, a man buys a new Jaguar, and it immediately becomes his new love. What he doesn't know is that his wife is as attracted to the Jaguar salesman as he is to the car.”

This is how IMDB describes the 1986 British comedy film “Car Trouble”, which starred Julie Walters and Ian Charleson with a supporting cast that included a bright red Jaguar E-type, registration number FGP900C - this exact car. We won’t spoil the film’s plot for you but let’s just say that the car’s interior is the setting for frequent “action sequences”!

The car meets a rather grisly end in the film but thanks to “the magic of cinema” it was the five stand-in body shells that did the stunt work and this, the principal car, that survived with all but its modesty intact. Sadly no one has yet reunited the car with Dame Julie - one for the next owner to tee up maybe if she’s still game?!

Built in February 1965, this Jaguar E Type Series 1 4.2-litre Fixed Head Coupé was supplied through Henlys of London to the firm of Arnold and Harris of Hertford. Its original colour scheme was a dark blue exterior with a light blue interior, which a purist may well have restored had it not had its moment of movie stardom whilst painted red.

It was bought from the film production company in the late ‘80s and given a full restoration during the mid ‘90s. Some time after, it was bought by the late hill climb and sprint champion, David Render and the following year sold to his friend, the current owner.

Now 89, and with the pandemic further complicating any efforts to drive the car, he is selling. But he has no regrets as he’s had a fantastic couple of decades with the car. He’s enjoyed numerous club events and outings, including London to Brighton and the odd trip down to the Cognac region in France.

Regardless of the car finding fame in this colour, the Carmen Red is a much more appropriate colour for an E Type just begging to be looked at - and why wouldn’t you? Although the restoration was a while ago now, the paint finish has light scratching but is still incredibly good looking and the bodywork is near to flawless.

There is a small scrape on the very edge of the driver’s door, a blemish under the passenger door, the tiniest bubble on the rear below the boot opening, a touched-in scratch at the top of the boot, a few stone chips on the nose and what look like a couple of holes for previous attachments which have been filled - but otherwise, it looks pretty fantastic. The chromework too is bright and some of the best we’ve seen.

It is a testament to how well this car has been stored and cared for in the intervening years. It’s not been a garage queen though - it has seen regular use - as evidenced by the numerous Jaguar club and event stickers around the car.

The car sits on the correct 15-inch wire wheels, which look in good condition and are fitted with classic-profile Avon radial tyres.

The interior looks even better than the outside. Upholstered and trimmed all in black - aside from the beige flock headlining - the seats and gaiter are black leather, whilst the other trims look to be in a very well matched and good quality vinyl/leatherette. All of it looks clean and with no wear or discernible damage.

The steering wheel is the correct style, mahogany rimmed, 3-spoked affair with each arm drilled with five holes and the chequered E-type horn button in the centre.

In the lower centre console, a later-period (but not modern) Clarion radio cassette player has been installed. With the plethora of retro-look modern units available these days - or even restored period units - it always seems a bit strange to see such an incongruous looking stereo in a classic car. However, with an engine noise like you get from this E-type, why have a stereo at all?

The black carpets are clean and intact throughout and have overmats for extra protection. Underneath, the floor pans appear to be sound and in good order.

The car is fitted with a Brantz Retrotrip rally tripmeter - located in front of the navigating passenger - which is suited to regularity competition and widely approved by historic rally organisers across Europe and beyond.

Tipping the iconic front hinged clamshell bonnet - which itself is quite a construction and in great condition underneath - the engine bay looks fabulous. The cylinder head of the triple-carbed XK is painted in the correct gold for a 4.2 S1 and has polished cam covers. Everything else is very clean, well painted and tidy looking, probably to a near concours standard.

There’s a little bit of surface rust here and there on the subframe and suspension components under the car and the odd cracked patch of body-coloured underseal, but largely the undersides of the car appear in a very good, clean condition with no sign of any significant damage or corrosion.

Inside the boot, the metal-ribbed vinyl lining is in great condition and underneath is a full size spare wheel and tool roll, including a mallet for knocking on and off the hub spinners. The floor under the spare wheel is intact and everywhere appears free from corrosion but the rubber seal around the boot opening is starting to perish and crack, particularly in the corners.

The car’s last MoT expired in April 2019, which it passed with no advisories. Prior to that it had been tested annually back to 2006 and beyond. Although exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it tested at the earliest opportunity.

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 is also invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies.

The car comes with a box of running spares (complete with “repair anything” duct tape) and a reproduction operating manual, as well as a thick history file containing an original “Car Trouble” movie poster, a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate, a handful of expired MoT reports and numerous invoices for parts and work done - mostly from 1992-95 and 2000-05.

Of significance among the dockets was an engine rebuild and conversion to unleaded fuel in March 1994, we believe as part of its restoration.

In current ownership, it’s been incredibly well looked after, properly garaged and kept up to date and fettled by the owner’s trusted mechanic. The result is what you can see in the detailed photos - an amazingly well cared for car.

The E Type starts (literally) on the button and the engine runs very sweetly and reliably. It drives well too and the current owner has made good use of the car until recently.

We’ve handled several E Types of late, but given that this example is a desirable UK RHD, 4.2-litre Series 1 FHC, in excellent condition with cinematic credentials, it’s by far the best of the bunch. So we think it will sell for between £90,000 and £110,000.

What better time to buy a Jaguar E Type than in its 60th anniversary year? There are numerous events planned and whilst there’ll be plenty of others like it on show, there’ll be few that can boast so much silver screen time and even fewer to have been witness to Julie Walters in her prime and in flagrante!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.