2022-10-21 12:58:13 | pauls writes:

Car at auction 10/22

www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1971-jaguar-e-type-v12-22-gZYqL8_aaid=a5ce63ed-6419-48b8-adb6-8692f74daf04&bsft_eid=e63dbf22-cfe5-49ad-a64 ...

Auction description:

1971 Jaguar

Colour Old English White

Odometer 35,680 Miles

Engine size 5343

Town Haslemere

Seller Type Private

Location Surrey

Country United Kingdom

Extensive history from new, including original logbook

Mileage reading of 35,680 miles appears to be genuine

Much recommissioning work completed in 2020

Invoices detailing thousands of pounds worth of recent expenditure

Absolutely exquisite example

Supplied new in Old English White and originally registered UWL 2K on 26th November 1971

Bought new by Mr. William Lea of Witney, Oxfordshire

Briefly owned by Colroy Homes Ltd. from December 1974 and Mr. Peter Cross of Dinas, Dyfed, from July 1975

Bought in November 1975 by Mr. Victor Cowan of Wordsley, Staffordshire, who would retain it until 2012

The DVLA describes the car as being first registered in 1995; this is when it was reregistered with the number AFD 1J

Mileage documentation suggest the Jaguar was not driven more than a few hundred miles, if at all, during Mr. Cowan’s ownership

The most recent V5 was issued in 2016 and is present with the vehicle

In 2020, the Jaguar underwent extensive recommissioning and refurbishment work

The paperwork file includes the original logbook and owner’s handbook, some correspondence between Messrs. Cross and Cowan dated 1976, a lubrication chart and wiring diagram, documents pertaining to the car’s reregistration in 1995, some early MoT certificates and some more recent ones, a huge collection of invoices dating back to 1994, plus a professional condition report written in 2021

The Interior

Believed to be mostly original with lovely, age-related patina

Period Motorola 114 radio converted for FM tuner and iPod connectivity

Well-stocked dash with working Kienzle clock

Almost all E-types today are kept in beautiful condition by their owners, and we expect that if we were describing any other E-type interior, it would be lovely. However, we can use one word in relation to this one that we cannot apply to many E-types: original.

It is a very low-mileage car, and the upholstery exhibits a most attractive light patina in keeping with a 50-year-old car which has seen little use. The leather of the seats has matured well, gaining a few creases but no splits or tears. There is some light cosmetic wear on the right-hand side of the driver’s seat, but it is nothing more than superficial. The rear seats, which may be brought forward to create an enlarged boot area, are also superb. They display just very light creasing, but have clearly seen little use overall. The door cards and fittings are lovely, with only very minor marks.

The dash and centre console are excellent, with just the most subtle veneer of patina. It is well stocked with instruments and switches, plus an original, period-correct Motorola radio which has been converted for modern functionality. Moving along the dash, we come to the steering wheel, which takes us back to that wonderful word ‘original’. It seems that, more often than not today, E-types have lost their original wheels in favour of Moto-Litas or other wood-rimmed items. As splendid as these aftermarket fittings look, it is a pity not to see more E-types as they left the Jaguar factory. The original wheel, complete with growling Jaguar mascot, presents beautifully on this car, with some very light patina around the rim.

The headlining is excellent, while the carpets are very nice and clean, although they show some signs of age in places. We did notice one significant tear in the carpet in the driver’s footwell, but it is obscured by the rubber floor mat.

Opening the boot reveals one of the most attractive load areas of any car, very cleanly presented. Under the floor, there’s a spare wheel in good condition, a wooden knock-off wheel spanner and a tool bag.

The Exterior

Finished in its original colour of Old English White

Hubs converted for wire wheels

Some bodywork repairs undertaken in 2020

Old English White is a lovely colour for a Jaguar, especially when it has worn it from the day it left Browns Lane, as this one has. It has received some work over the years, with evidence of some repainting in 1994 and further work in 2020 when some metalwork repairs were performed on the arches and wings. A consequence of that is that it now presents really beautifully, with very little to fault. We noticed one mark on the right-hand side of the rear door, and some very small, light marks at the base of the windows on the offside, but apart from that there is not much we can criticise about the paintwork.

The chrome is really nicely presented. Many people prefer chrome which displays some light patina as opposed to chrome which is absolutely flawless, as the latter usually belongs to cars which never get driven. The chrome on this car is beautiful. It is very mildly pitted in places and there are some marks on the rear bumper, but we don’t see anything the matter with that; it affords a certain texture which cars restored to clinical standards do not possess.

Sometime between 2012 and 2016, the E-type was converted to wire wheels; presumably, it had originally worn Jaguar’s familiar chromed steel wheels. We think both look great, but wires are especially nice when bordered with a tasteful whitewall. As with the rest of the chrome, the wheels are in lovely condition with a very light patina.

The glass on the car is in excellent order all round, as is the Tudor Webasto sunroof, a desirable feature for summer.

The underside of the car is a particular highlight. It is astonishingly clean and we might recommend you inspect some of the photographs to fully appreciate it.

The Mechanics

Brakes rebuilt with new callipers and pads in 2020

Front and rear suspension rebuilt with new bearings, seals, bushes, springs and shock absorbers in 2020

Carburettors rebuilt and electronic ignition installed in 2020

Following extensive recommissioning in 2020, we can’t think of anything else this Jaguar could possibly need. Since all the mileage records suggest the reading of 35,000 miles is genuine, it is very unlikely that the engine could have sustained much wear over the course of its life. Obviously, as there is evidence that it has been stationary for one or two prolonged periods in its life, they may have taken their toll on perishable parts, but any such problems were fully addressed.

As outlined above, the 2020’s recommissioning included but was not limited to a rebuild of all the brakes with new pads and callipers, a rebuild of both front and rear independent suspension systems with new bearings, seals, bushes, springs and shock absorbers, and extensive work to the engine, the most significant job being the stripping, cleaning and rebuilding of the four Stromberg carburettors. Various other components were also stripped and cleaned.

Thus prepared for the road, we were fortunate to be able to take the wheel and form our own impressions, which are resoundingly positive. Firing up from cold on the first turn of the key, the V12 proceeded to settle into a healthy-sounding idle as it warmed up. It really is the most relaxing and obliging car to drive, as it does everything effortlessly. It accelerates very smoothly as you come off the clutch, and the gear lever moves around the gate freely and engages easily every time.

With power steering, it really is manoeuvrable despite its length, and with such a long bonnet, it is very easy to gauge the car’s width when negotiating spots. The brakes responded firmly and efficiently, and we were resoundingly pleased with the whole operation. We might fault just one thing, which is the handbrake; it did not appear to hold the car when we stopped on a steep slope, so it may need some adjustment or possibly renewal.

Of course, the E-type is now exempt from MoT testing, but you may wish to test it anyway for peace of mind. Handbrake aside, we think it ought to do very well, with the footbrake, suspension and structure in such good order. It passed its last test in 2016 with no advisories, so that’s a positive sign.