1961 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 'External Bonnet Lock' Roadster

Lot details
Registration No: 655 MYC
Chassis No: 850064

- Chassis No.64, one of the earliest right-hand drive E-Type Roadsters known to have survived

- Matching chassis and engine numbers, original registration number and numerous correct features such as welded-in bonnet louvre panels, flat floors and external bonnet locks

- Supplied new to W. Sparrow & Sons of Yeovil, Somerset for use as a demonstrator with period photo of it outside Browns Lane

- Treated to an extensive 'ground up' restoration by acknowledged marque expert XK Engineering which was only completed in April 2018

- Presented in its original livery of Opalescent Silver Blue with Dark Blue leather upholstery

- Historically important as a home market example of the iconic E-Type in its purist form

Jaguar made 943 E-Type 3.8 Roadsters to right-hand drive specification the first 92 of which featured the same external bonnet locks as '77 RW' the open two-seater that had taken the motoring world's breath away at the March 1961 Geneva Salon. 18 of the 92 were allocated according to an internal `Priority List' with recipients including `Lofty' England, John Coombs, Tommy Sopwith, Sir Gawain Baillie and Bruce McLaren etc, while 56 were supplied to Jaguar's UK dealer network for use as demonstrators. Intended to boost showroom traffic and fill order books, the demonstrators were all dispatched from Browns Lane during July 1961 with their onward sale being embargoed until at least September.

One of the highly coveted 56, chassis 850064 served as the demonstrator for W. Sparrow & Sons of Yeovil, Somerset. Issued with the local registration `655 MYC' on 25th August 1961, the Jaguar was obviously cherished by its early owners who ran it under the number plates `PKN 1' and `275 GJB'. Belonging to Richard Main of Kidlington by 1971, the E-Type then passed through the hands of Dennis Dark of Cardigan, Stephen Harvey of Aberystwyth and Roderick Thompson of Nottingham before being acquired by William Jones of Porthcawl on 6th January 1984.

Determined to restore the historic open two-seater to its former glory, Mr Jones enlisted the help of renowned marque specialist Martin Robey to carry out a `System 3 Rebuild' of the bodyshell that incorporated such correct attributes as the flat floor, single drain hole for the boot, welded-in louvre panels / external locks to the bonnet and special door chrome trims etc. The original engine, number R1232-9, was reconditioned by Classic Power Units of Coventry, while the gearbox and rear axle were entrusted to Alan R. George of Dyfed (another member of the Jaguar Specialists Association). Jones and Rand of Porthcawl repainted the car in its initial Opalescent Silver Blue and by the time that surveyor and valuer A.E. Fogg BSc, LLB inspected the car in December 1990 it lacked only an interior.

A copy of Mr Fogg's report is on file and notes: `This vehicle is one of the earliest surviving Jaguar E-Type Roadsters in right-hand drive form . . . There is no doubt about the authenticity of the vehicle, all numbers agreeing with the production records revealed by the Jaguar Car Company . . . The car has the appropriate early production features, including the flat floor and the teardrop covers for the external bonnet locks . . . The vehicle has been extensively refurbished and is totally rust free . . . All mechanical components have been overhauled, and the car runs very sweetly with good oil pressure and normal running temperature'.

The renovation was completed circa 1992 and the car re-inspected by Mr Fogg in March 2005 who found chassis 850064 to have been finished to a very good standard, well maintained and to have covered some 8,000 miles since his last visit. Offered for sale at the Goodwood Festival of Speed auction that same June, the Jaguar was bought by marque specialist Twyford Moors. Purchased from the latter by Mr A.J. Connolly in late 2005, the E-Type was sparingly used and kept garaged alongside an Aston Martin DB6 Volante. Entrusted to The Carrosserie Company (UK) Ltd by Mr Connolly for some £6,156.41 worth of fettling to its brakes, engine, ignition system, exhaust manifolds, hood and dashboard etc during Spring / Summer 2016, the open two-seater entered the current ownership the following year.

Despite presenting as a well-executed older restoration that had covered some 11,000 miles since its late 1980s / early 1990s rejuvenation, the vendor decided to have chassis 850064 treated to an extensive `nut and bolt' refresh by renowned marque specialist XK Engineering. The engine was stripped, checked over and reassembled with new gaskets, while attention was also paid to the cooling system, carburetion / fuel system, brakes, suspension, clutch and back axle / differential. The Jaguar was repainted again in its original Opalescent Silver Blue livery and the Dark Blue interior trim / soft-top suitably smartened too. The original bulkhead retains its original body tag (number R1241) and the engine cylinder block and head are stamped with R1232-9 as per the accompanying Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Production Record Trace Certificate.

Almost as sharp underneath as it is on top, this potential concours contender retains early fittings such as its wiper motor (date stamped March 1961) and shows patina to items like the bonnet-mounted heater intake duct and air filter housing. Too pristine for the seller to feel comfortable using following its April 2018 completion, `655 MYC' is offered for sale with optional works-specification hardtop, Jaguar tool roll, restoration invoices (encompassing a full parts breakdown from XK Engineering), UK V5C registration document and Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate.

One of the highly coveted 56 UK dealer demonstrators and among the very earliest E-Types known to have survived, this magnificent Jaguar would grace any serious collection and is worthy of close inspection.

It is worth noting that the last 'external bonnet lock' Jaguar E-Type to go under the hammer - a left-hand drive fixed head coupe - made $720,000 at RM Sotheby's 2018 Monterey auction.

PLEASE NOTE: The unrestored hardtop and early-type jack for this lot are available for collection from the vendor.