Lot details
Registration No: 399 ELC
Chassis No: 860553

- Matching numbers car with heritage certificate

- In storage since 1983

- One of 1779 RHD cars built

H&H are indebted to the vendor for the following information:

"The car was purchased by a friend of mine, an avid car collector in the late seventies / very early eighties but as was the case with most of his vehicles it was run for a while and then put into a large barn and forgotten about. The E-Type's last tax disc expired in 1983 and it has not been driven since. It still sports what appear to be its original headlights and everything under the bonnet looks pretty much complete and correct. The engine condtion is unknown at this time but there is no frost damage etc. and the Jaguar was driven into storage all those years ago".

According to its accompanying Jaguar Heritage Trust Production Record Trace Certificate, this wonderful 'barn find' E-Type was manufactured on May 11th 1962 and supplied new by Henlys of London to J. G. Clarke Esq.

Migrating to Scotland sometime thereafter, the Fixed Head Coupe was taken off the road during 1983 whilst owned by a friend of the vendor. Dry stored for the past thirty-five years, the two-seater retains a host of original features:

- Bodyshell (numbered as V2634)
- Engine Cylinder Block (numbered as R5310-9)
- Engine Cylinder Head (numbered as R5310-9)
- Gearbox (numbered as EB 4542 JS)

The bonnet is thought to be original too because it still carries early type Lucas PL headlights. The picture frame similarly looks to have been factory fitted and is numbered as 860553. The windscreen wiper motor dates to December 1961, while the windscreen washer bottle has been replaced with a Baxters Sliced Beets jar!

The Jaguar was reportedly running and driving when placed into storage and appears to be substantially complete. Initially finished in Opalescent Dark Blue with Grey upholstery, the E-Type now sports British Racing Green paintwork and Grey / Blue trim (an amount of leather paint seems to have been applied in the past).

Intending to restore his late friend's car himself, the vendor has since realised that he has enough projects on the go. However, he did get as far as obtaining a new V5C Registration Document for '399 ELC' (a London number plate in keeping with the car's Henlys of London origins).

Jaguar only made 1,799 right-hand drive E-Type 3.8 litre Coupes and survivors are now highly sought after. A potentially rewarding project, chassis 860553 is being offered for sale at no reserve in the hope that a new owner will restore it to its former glory.

Launched at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show the Jaguar E-Type was nothing short of a revelation. With its heady blend of supercar performance, breathtaking styling and low price tag, the newcomer left rivals reeling and customers clamouring. While, early sportscar racing success at the hands of Graham Hill and Roy Salvadori amongst others helped cement its reputation. Built as a monocoque with a front sub-frame to cradle the engine, the model's combination of all-round independent suspension (torsion-bar front / coil-sprung rear) rack and pinion steering and four-wheel disc brakes gave it excellent roadholding and handling capabilities. Fed by triple SU HD8 carburettors and topped with a 'straight port' DOHC cylinder head, its indomitable 3781cc straight-six engine was quoted as developing some 265bhp and 260lbft of torque. Allied to a four-speed Moss gearbox (with synchromesh on 2nd, 3rd and 4th), it reputedly enabled the E-type to sprint from 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds and onto 150mph. Achingly beautiful yet viciously quick, the E-type remains for many the ultimate production Jaguar.