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.
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