By all accounts, Enzo Ferrari was an uncompromising and demanding taskmaster who didn’t suffer fools gladly. However, he and I agree on one thing. When he first saw the Jaguar E-Type, he described it as the most beautiful car ever made. That is high praise coming from a man who produced vehicles that were the E-Type’s direct competitors. This E-Type OTS has a story behind it because until recently, it has belonged to the same family since new. It last saw our roads in 1972, and limited use in those early years means that the odometer shows a genuine 8,134 miles. The time has come for the Jaguar to head to a new home. It has been listed for auction here at Gooding & Company in Monterey, California, this coming August. All images copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photos by Brian Henniker.
The Jaguar would’ve been a stunning car when it was new. Its triple-black color combination undoubtedly turned heads, and while the paint is now past its best, some real positives can be taken away from the supplied photos. There is no visible rust in any of the more vulnerable areas like the rockers and the rear valance. When you look at other areas of the car, like the engine bay, there is little in the way of surface corrosion that could indicate long-term exposure to moisture. The frame is also free from these issues, which all combine to provide a positive impression. All of the external chrome is present, and while some pieces will benefit from a trip to the platers, there is no evidence of physical damage. I was expecting the original soft-top to have started to rot after five decades of storage, but while the rear window is cloudy, there are no signs of any rips or splits.
Working on the “bigger is better” principle, Jaguar eventually shoehorned their complicated V12 under the hood of the E-Type, but I have always held a strong preference for those with the DOHC six in the engine bay. This motor was significantly lighter than the bigger unit, and it made the car a more balanced vehicle in the mold of a genuine sports car. Tilting the hood on this E-Type reveals the incredible 4.2-litre six that would have produced 266hp when the car was new. Backing this gem is a 4-speed manual transmission, while impressive Dunlop 4-wheel disc brakes provide stopping power in keeping with the car’s performance credentials. With a ¼-mile ET of 14.9 seconds and the ability to reach 147mph, the E-Type was more than a match for many vehicles with significantly larger engines under their hoods. The original owner purchased the Jaguar in December of 1965, and it took until August of 1966 before he clocked 1,650 miles to justify its first service. In the following years, he used the car sparingly, and by the time he parked the car for the final time in 1972, it had accumulated a mere 8,134 miles on the clock. The car hasn’t seen the road since, so it will require a careful inspection before anyone hits the key to coax it back to life. The buyer would be well-advised to take their time with this process because the vehicle still features all of its original drivetrain, and it would be a tragedy to damage something in haste. It is also worth considering that its current odometer reading could make it one of the lowest mileage ’65 E-Types in existence today. I know that is speculating, but you rarely hear of one of these classics with a four-figure reading on the clock.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when we reached the interior of this Jaguar because the potential was there for significant deterioration after five decades in storage. However, what we can see looks enormously positive. The overall condition has undoubtedly been helped by the soft-top remaining intact because that has prevented dust, dirt, and other contaminants from finding their way into the car. It is upholstered in Black, and once again, the lack of surface corrosion is an encouraging sign. The dash is close to perfect, while the gauge lenses are clear and free from cloudiness. The wheel is a thing of beauty, and what can be seen of the seats and remaining trim suggest that the entire interior might respond exceptionally well to some careful cleaning and conditioning. To me, the dash of the Series I perfectly encapsulates the stereotypical appearance of a classic British sports car. The later vehicles featured rocker-style switches, but Jaguar produced these earlier cars with toggle switches. To me, they offer the perfect look in a car like this.
I have been fortunate during my life to have driven some extraordinary and desirable cars. I will never forget my first experience behind the wheel of a Series I Jaguar E-Type. It was older than this car and featured a 3.8-litre engine. The owner of that car had recently completed a nut-and-bolt restoration, and I approached the experience with a certain amount of trepidation. I looked at the cockpit ergonomics before I slid behind the wheel, and I’m not ashamed to say that I was expecting it to be uncomfortable. What a revelation! All of the controls fell easily to hand, and the car felt beautifully light and agile. Once its magnificent six-cylinder engine had a few revs on board, the entire car burst into life. It is more than three decades since that day, and it remains vividly clear to me. That is the kind of experience that could be available to the buyer of this E-Type once restored, and if you are the successful bidder, I will genuinely envy you that experience.
Time capsule. Work the paint, replace all the soft parts, do a judicious restoration of the mechanical elements, replace the top. But then have a Jag you’re going to be afraid to add miles to. That interior will never look better than it does now. A quintessential E-type to be enjoyed just as it is. Big money.
The mileage claim is pretty unimportant, IMO. The next owner (if not a flipper) will have to strip everything down if only to make a safe driver out of this E-Type, never mind addressing what looks to me like several spots of incipient rot-through on the right-side rockers and, no doubt, more hidden corrosion.
When all that is done, there won’t be a single piece of original rubber on the car. Nor should there be.
Yes, it would be really, really expensive. But if I could, I would take a chance. And then drive it, regularly and enthusiastically.
Mileage claims on anything with Smiths speedometers should be suspect. The British speedometer cables are wound opposite of ours, and therefore transmission oil comes up the cable and gums up the instrument. They got replaced with a new one under warranty often, so all of a sudden you have a car with ZERO MILES!
Also my low mileage XK-150 was stored for 20 years, drained with oil in the cylinders, and when I tried to put it back in service the engine was seized! It turns out that the head gasket got eaten up by electrolysis and let coolant into the bores, and electrolysis also ate up the aluminum head! To save the head I took it to “Valley Head Service” in Northridge, CA and $2500 later they saved it! That’s why all of my old cars have “Evan’s Waterless Coolant” in them. It’s lifetime too. Jay Leno has a U-Tube on it
They didn’t shoehorn the V-12 into the Jag. They made the car physically bigger with proper room for the larger engine. It’s not the same car.
Those tailites are sooo tiny – hard to see brake lites on – in the daytime.
I would think this would have been compared to the corvette back then – was there a clear winner in handling & braking?
I remember seeing E-Types racing against ‘Vettes in SCCA and CSCC races back in the day. Memory tells me that fuel-injected V8s could outrun inline-sixes on long straights, but the Jags had superior braking and marginally better handling. So a well-driven Jag could beat a pre-Sting Ray ‘Vette. But not always.
By the same token, race-prepped Jaguar 3.8 sedans could outrun most ‘Vettes, especially if driven by Walt Hansgen and Augie Pabst. I saw it happen….
“Dead Man’s Curve” tells the story.
The custom LED’s that Moss/XK’s Unlimited sells are really BRIGHT! I have them on my E-Type XK-150, and Volvo P-1800
Joe, I saw them run at Riverside and PalmSprings in the ’70’s Corvettes and Mustangs were left in the dust at every turn only to catch em on the straights then watch em go very deep in all the turns. So Jags outbraked em by a lot!
I don’t have a problem with doing a restoration on another one of these, providing it’s for a customer with tons of money ! Personally, I’m not gonna lie, they are an evil mistress.
Evil perhaps, but beautiful beyond compare.
That’s usually how it works…
I don’t agree with you, Mr.Sawka, that an E Type is “an evil mistress”. I have a ’69 OTS that is overwhelmingly original, with 30 thousand miles. It runs like a dream. I service it correctly/competently per the owner’s manual, and it has no oil leaks, no electrical problems, no rust, and no overheating problems. These cars were more reliable than Ferraris of their era…but because they cost a third of what a Ferrari did and many who knew nothing about proper maintenance could afford them, they became the object of all sorts of Lucas jokes and petty chauvinism, because they were still exotic and needed proper maintenance. They never were like some utilitarian cars that can have the Dickens run out of them and be forgiving.While I respect your right to think what you like, something tells me that your E Type experiences were with abused cars that had lacked competent upkeep.
I always loved the XKE race in the movie “Vanishing Point”.
Sad ending spoiler for the XKE, Kulwalski was the better driver
A old friend of my produced the incidental music and wrote some tracks for the movie “Vanishing Point.”
First there is no frame on these as they are unibody! The engine is mounted with the engine rails or frames and those should be inspected as they rust from the inside out! Reproductions are readily available as is all sheet metal and mechincal parts! Same with the rockers as there are inner rockers and supports that can only be checked by close inspection and if any rot at all on t he sills or rockers expect the inners to need replaced!!! This E is begging for a complete rotisserie restoration which is not for the weak of money but would be a beauty once done!
I have a 66 E type 4.2 coupe ,and 65 L79 4 speed Vette, both completely original .The Chevy, with a 100 hp , and similar torque advantage, is much more powerful,Seat of the pants says at least two seconds in the quarter mile and over a second in the zero to 60 test . jags ride is far smoother ,and cornering slight edge to the cat .Styling is so subjective but I put both easily in the top 10 ,probably top 5.And yet neither is tops in my garage .thats a story for another day .😉
While I agree that the XKE is a beautiful car I think the Ferrari Daytona Spyder is the most beautiful car and I am not a fan of the Prancing Horse
Beware of Lucas, the prince of darkness. I’d put a new wiring harness in at the very least.
Someone has carefully massaged that dash since bringing it into the light of day. Including the chrome and steering wheel. Everything including wire harnesses is available to make this car whatever you want it to be. Just gotta be handy with money and have some time on your hands.
Will look really nice when it gets cleaned up.
Aaah….are we doing Most Beautiful Car Ever contest (and I guess “contest” will be the correct name!)?
Miura, hand down
It is not true that the V-12 “was significantly heavier” than the 4.2 liter 6. In fact, it was less than 100 pounds heavier due to the extensive use of alloys.
Yes, beauty IS in the eye of the beholder. I think the Series I is indeed stunning automotive art. Had 4 friends that had them. Wonderful to drive and ride in. Can attest to helping one of them adjust cam chains in his basement garage. But he’s the same guy that would have me do the same thing with his Alfa Spider in the Officer’s parking lot where we were stationed in Germany. Wish I still had my copies of Peter Egan’s restoration of one. Certainly one of the best automotive writer/mechanics in my memory…
Sold for $168,000 at Gooding & Company auction in Monterey, California on August 13 and 14 2021
Wow. “Big money” indeed.