2013-11-11 21:22:40 | pauls writes:

Car offered at:
www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/1415-Jaguar-Series%20I%20E-Type%20Roadster-4.2%20Li ...

Sellers description:
1966 Jaguar E-Type Roadster
s/n 1E12966 engine no. 7R36672-9
Black with Black Leather Interior

This particular matching-numbers car has known history back to the early 1980s, when it was owned by a fellow in Canada. A woman in Minnesota bought the car in 1985, eventually moving to Oregon. The car was black when she acquired it, although it was originally primrose. The engine was rebuilt during this period and there are extensive service records showing regular maintenance. The car's current owner purchased it in 1993 and has continuously maintained it, fitting a new clutch, rebuilding the transmission, front suspension, and brakes. A new master cylinder and brake booster were fitted, the shocks were rebushed and repainted, the interior retrimmed as necessary, and a new top fitted. The engine compartment was detailed, with the subframe and inner bonnet being repainted. The rear subframe was removed and rebuilt as necessary. A new fuel pump and exhaust system were also fitted. A new tool bag was procured and the car is very complete with hard top, tool bag with tools, jack bag with jack, book set, grease gun and Dunlop tin for brake bleeding hose.

The car is in very good cosmetic condition. The paintwork is outstanding for being over twenty years old, with minor wear only. There are some light scratches, a crack in the paint by the trunk aperture, and a mark from the seal for the hard top. There is a handful of small chips on the front of the car from road use. The right door has a few small dents and an area of bubbling at the bottom the size of a penny. The body is straight otherwise and has good gaps and panel operation. The chrome is very good, with some minor scratching and no pitting. The top is excellent and has never been down since being installed in 2008. The lights are in excellent condition and the glass is good, with light wear to the windscreen from road use, and some scratches in the side windows.

The interior is extremely nice. The dashboard and center console were recently retrimmed and are excellent. The carpets are very good and the instruments and switches are correct and in fine shape throughout, as are the door panels. A wood shift knob is fitted and the original black item is included with the car. The iconic steering wheel is in excellent unrestored condition. The leather on the seats in great shape, with a small amount of patina but strong overall presentation. The clear surround of the light switch has some cracks. The car comes with a pair of original visors and a pair of new visors, neither of which is currently installed because the car's owner is tall and they would otherwise interfere with his line of sight.

The engine is tidy and correct in appearance. It is quite clean but not detailed for show. The correct Champion spark plug leads are in place, as is the correct gold finish on the cylinder head. Both the block and head are matching numbers to the chassis. The trunk has been trimmed in black carpet to match the interior. The trunk floor is extremely solid and the car has its correct spare. The undercarriage is in nice unrestored condition. The suspension and driveline are correct in appearance and quite clean for a regularly-driven example. The floors are in very good shape, being impressively solid throughout. The foot boxes appear to have been replaced in the past.

The car runs and drives very well. The choke works correctly and the car starts easily and idles well. The engine is responsive and powerful, and is well-tuned. The clutch works effectively and reassuringly, and the brakes work exactly as they should, with good pedal feel and bite. The gearbox is excellent, with the welcome addition of synchromesh compared to the 3.8 liter cars. The chassis is composed, the steering tight, and the suspension properly sprung and damped. The driving experience is coherent and reminds the driver that Jaguar once produced sports cars that were directly descended from Le Mans winning race cars.

This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a lovely 4.2 liter Series I E-Type Roadster. A matching numbers car that is attractively presented and ready to enjoy, the car is a very nice driver that is complete with tools, books, and service records back to the early 1980s. The records show an indicated mileage of 56,000 in 1982, and support the gradual accumulation to its current reading of 89,000. 15,000 of those miles have been accumulated since the current owner purchased the car in 1993, ensuring that the car has been regularly enjoyed and is less likely to suffer from the problems associated with cars that sit. Indeed, this car's excellent driving experience and attractive but not perfect cosmetic condition make it a perfect example to use and enjoy frequently.