1970 Jaguar E Type S2 2+2

This US market Jaguar E Type - known Stateside as the XK-E - was built in March 1970, making it a Series 2 2+2 Coupé. It was shipped out to British Leyland New York the following month. Powered by the 4.2-litre XK 6-cylinder engine, this car is fitted with a 3-speed automatic transmission (only available on the 2+2) and is left-hand-drive.

In early 2017, it was imported from California (where it had been at least since 1980) to the UK by Bure Valley Classics of Norfolk to be sold as a project car for restoration. It is a matching numbers car and understood to be complete with its original paint.

The first UK owner - an architectural designer also from Norfolk - did some work on it in 2019, mostly to make sure it would start, go and stop, and got it through an MOT and registered with the DVLA.

He sold it a year ago, for reasons unknown, but the second UK owner appears to have done little with the car since and it is now looking for someone with a passion to restore or preserve this running and driving, solid-bodied car.

Whilst the bodywork is pretty solid throughout, with no rust that we could see and nicely aligned panels and doors, the Willow Green paintwork appears to have barely been touched since new.

The paint finish is very flat looking - unlike the bonnet which has a number of gentle undulations in places there shouldn’t be - and is at times pitted, crazed, scratched and patchy across every part of the body.

The chrome around the car is mostly intact - with just a few dents in the front right overrider - but all of it is pitted to a greater or lesser degree. The lower nose below the front bumper is also a little misshapen.

The rubber seal around the windscreen was replaced a couple of years ago but the visible rubber elsewhere - particularly around the window and bumper at the rear - are perished and in need of replacement.

The 15-inch wire wheels were refurbished in March 2019 and therefore look in very good order - although one or two of the knock-off spinners have begun to dechrome in places. All corners are fitted with matching Bridgestone Insignia tyres dating from 2005.

Whilst those of us who reside in the UK can only dream about living in the hot sunshine of California, it can be a nightmare for classic car interiors. What looks to have once been Cinnamon coloured leather upholstery has dried out completely, cracking and peeling, and is probably beyond salvation.

The carpets and overmats don’t appear to be in bad condition and the steering wheel and period radio look good too. The dash top has cracked at either end but the vinyl trimmings like the door cards have fared a little better. We’re not sure what the headlining was originally made from but right now what is there resembles and feels like a large and very dry Ryvita.

Realistically, the cabin would benefit from being fully retrimmed, but at least this car provides an original and complete interior as a starting point.

Under the front hinged clamshell bonnet, the engine bay appears a little scruffy, with surface rust over most of the ancillaries, but otherwise it looks solid and in good order mechanically. Being a US model, the engine has twin Zenith Stromberg carburettors rather than UK-spec triple SU carbs which, along with changes to the valves, reduced power to 246bhp.

The underbody appears to be very solid with nothing more than surface rust that we could see on any of the sub-structures like the bulkhead and nothing required in the way of welding. There’s clearly still some work to be done refurbishing the suspension and steering components and replacing some bushes, but otherwise all appears intact underneath.

The luggage space behind the +2 seats is in a similar condition to the rest of the vinyl-lined areas inside the cabin, a bit tired looking but otherwise intact, along with its runner strips - one of which has detached. Under the floor is a space for a spare wheel and the fuel tank, which has seen recent attention along with a new fuel line and filter. The rubber seal around the hatch door also looks like a recent replacement.

Take some time to scrutinise the gallery of detailed photos to determine for yourself the level of work and cost required to restore this E Type. We have the car at The Market HQ in Oxfordshire during the sale, so if you’d like to inspect it in person just use the ‘Contact Us’ feature to arrange a visit.

The car passed its one and only UK MOT in June 2019, which - thanks to the COVID extension - expired back in December 2020. It was a first time pass with no advisories, which speaks volumes about the underlying strength of the car - the test not being concerned about aesthetic appearance.

Although exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it re-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 documents file with the car includes the last California title, correspondence with the DVLA for registration, and a number of invoices for the wheel refurbishment and various parts purchased during the spring and summer of 2019.

There’s also a Jaguar Heritage production trace certificate giving the factory build data and initial destination market information.

The current odometer reading of 90,871 is believed to be genuine - although without any history from the US it clearly cannot be warranted.

The car comes with a small crate of parts removed from the car, including the head rests and a seat swab as well as some replacement parts not yet added and a maintenance manual.

Finding an E Type in a condition worthy of restoration is harder than ever these days. The good cars have been sorted and now command a huge premium. At the other end of the spectrum, the real tat that’s fluffed up by ‘barn find’ hysteria isn’t economically worth the investment.

There’s a lot to like about this E Type as it sits somewhere in between the two extremes - whilst it starts and drives and stops, it is still a project, but one that only really needs to focus on the aesthetic appearance underneath, inside and out.

We think that this complete and highly original Jaguar E Type will sell for between £26,000 and £32,000, giving the winner the opportunity to enjoy the challenge of returning it to its former beauty, whilst still taking out for the odd drive.

Even if you pay a professional to do the work, at that price you could still come out close to cost neutral. If you have the skill, time and space to take this on yourself then you’ll likely have a super asset on your hands.

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’.