2023-09-09 18:29:39 | pauls writes:

Car offered at:
www.classicdriver.com/en/car/jaguar/e-type-si/1961/981142

Seller's description:
Bicester Heritage
September 23rd 2023
1961 Jaguar
Mileage 17 mi / 28 km
Lot number 220
Registration UK taxes paid
Chassis Number 875403
Odometer reading 17 miles
Estimate £135,000 - £160,000

Restored to a high quality over a long period
Superb colour combination
A very early car with flat-floors

This fabulous E-Type has been lovingly restored over a long period, the result is a beautiful example of a ‘flat-floor’ very early 3.8 roadster. Finished in the delightful colour combination of Golden Sand with Tan interior, no stone has been left unturned in this nut and bolt restoration. The matching number engine has been rebuilt, as has the Moss gearbox. The rear axle has been overhauled and a new clutch fitted. The brakes, suspension and hoses have all been replaced. The paintwork has been carried out to a very good standard as has the re-trim. Early E-Types have lots of unique features to later cars, the doors were built in three parts and the rear boot drain tubes in the centre to name a couple. Eagle eyed enthusiasts will note this car has outside bonnet locks on the bonnet. This feature was only on the first 500 cars manufactured, with the feature stopping on chassis number 875385 on the US specification roadsters. This car is 18 cars outside of that range, it is thought the bonnet locks were fitted at a later date. The vendor has applied for the car to be UK registered and it is hoped this will be completed prior to auction. This really is a stunning E-Type that has covered minimal mileage since its nut and bolt restoration and will therefore require a shakedown period, with minor adjustments and repairs expected for a few weeks.

2023-11-04 19:36:11 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 11/23

www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2023-11-25/cars/ref-23-1961-jaguar-e-type-se ...

Auction description:

Mercedes Benz World, Brooklands,

November 25th 2023

1961 Jaguar E-Type Series I Roadster Flat-floor (3.8 litre)

Registration 665 XWA Chassis Number 875403 Engine Number tbc Odometer reading 26 miles Estimate £98,000 - £118,000

Restored to a high quality over a long period

Matching numbers

Otherwise same as above

2024-03-06 20:22:35 | pauls writes:

Car now offered at:

www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1961-jaguar-e-type-series-1-38-ots-flat-floor-4aA ...

Seller's description:

1961 Jaguar E-Type Convertible

Colour Gold

Odometer 31 Miles

Engine size 3800

Seller Type Private

Town Richmond

Location Surrey

Country United Kingdom

Extensively restored including a recent £40,000 interior retrim 

One of the first 500 LHD Flat Floor cars

Retains many of its early Flat Floor features 

Long MOT to September 2024 with no advisories 

Just 60 miles covered since restoration completed 

Matching numbers with Heritage certificate

The History and Paperwork

Factory specification recorded on Jaguar Daimler Heritage Certificate number 3761:

Confirms that this is a matching numbers 

Originally Gunmetal metallic with red interior and black roof 

Built on 26th August 1961 

LHD car despatched to British Leyland New York on 13th September 1961 

Repatriated to the UK on 3rd September 1984

Just two registered keepers in the UK since returning 

Vendor acquired the car on 5th October 2023

Little history is known of the car prior to vendor’s acquisition 

Invoices from CMC dated 2020 to 2023 covering retrim and mechanical work 

We are told the car has been dry stored since the restoration was completed 

Factory correct car except for sill strengthening added during restoration to improve rigidity 

Current MOT valid to 11th September 2024 with no advisories and 24 miles showing on test 

Currently UK registered with V5C in vendor’s name 

Flat floor cars have many unique features not found on later models, which this car retains in full:

Flat floors (of course) with no footwells - (some of these cars were converted by dealers to have footwells)

This car had the passenger footwell so converted but has been returned to correct factory specification 

500 early cars had side locking bonnets, flat floor cars retain the body pressings for this system but have internal locking

Rubber boot lid seal is on the boot lid rather than on the body

Straight bulkhead behind the seats without a cut-out

Short exhaust tailpipes

Small bottle jack and original handle 

Early type steering wheel where you can see the metal and with finger positions differently located to later cars

Round brake and clutch bottles

Interior has early rear view mirror rod, early aluminium trim patterns and early type glove box lid

Hessian under carpet 

Original bucket seats

No sun visors

Aluminium floor-hinged accelerator with no rubber trim

Bumpers bolted inside out rather than outside in

Second version of door chrome with ribbed bottom edge

Door skin constructed in two parts 

Twin bullet door mirrors

The E-Type’s story is well known, but that of the flat floor cars perhaps less so. Jaguar did not expect the car to be as successful or as long-lived as it was so early ones were not engineered for volume. Consequently they have many features subsequently lost as the cars were re-engineered for mass production.

The first 1,583 E-Types off the production line from 1961 were equipped with ‘Flat Floor’ rather than footwells. This shorthand is now used to describe very early cars, which inevitably are the most sought-after. The first 500 of these cars had side-locking bonnets. This car retains this feature and its chassis number indicates this is factory correct. 

This car returned to the UK in 1984 and had one owner to October 2023. At some point during that period it was extensively restored, as the photographs show. There is little history with the car but we are told it was dry stored on completion and the odometer records just 60 miles. Between 2020 and 2023 high-end Jaguar restoration specialist CMC of Bridgnorth attended to the car and completed a £40,000 retrim alongside some other mechanical work documented in the photographs of the history file. 

The Condition

Comprehensively restored car refinished in popular Golden San metallic with tan interior 

Finished to a very high standard as shown in photographs 

Retains its ‘flat floor’ features which can be checked against the list above 

Tan roof with matching tonneau cover 

Recently retrimmed at cost of £40,000 by CMC

Interia reel seatbelts fitted and upgraded Motorola radio but otherwise standard inside

Structurally excellent as confirmed by recent MOT 

Such is the minutiae that differentiates ‘flat floor’ cars from later models - even ones produced within the ‘Flat Floor’ run - that restoring an early ‘Flat Floor’ E-Type is the work of experts. This car has clearly been renovated by experts. 

It retains many of its original early E-Type features such as the short exhaust, side locking bonnet, rubber boot lid seal on the lid rather than body and absence of sun visors. We were unable to check every detail but the presence of these features indicates the level of care applied during the work.

It has been finished to a very high standard in Golden Sand metallic with a complementary tan leather interior, retaining the slim bucket seats of the early cars. Much of the recent work since 2020 has been done by CMC, one of the best-regarded specialists in the Jaguar restoration world. 

The car has covered such 60 miles since the work was completed. The condition throughout is immaculate, giving the buyer an opportunity to acquire a showroom-standard example that has been very carefully restored. 

The Mechanics 

3.8litre XK engine with triple carburettors

4spd ‘Moss’ gearbox 

Engine and gearbox have been rebuilt 

Retains the early flat floor features such as the round brake and clutch bottles

MOT to September 2024 with no advisories and just 46 miles covered since test

Has only been drive 60 miles since the mechanical restoration was completed

Extensive invoices from CMC covering mechanical and fuel system overhaul

Matching numbers car confirmed by Heritage certificate 

The mechanical specification of this early E-Type will need no introduction. The car’s key features are its matching numbers status - as confirmed by the Heritage certificate - and the comprehensive mechanical refurbishment it has received. We are told the engine and gearbox have been fully rebuilt - which the photographs support - and there are reams of invoices from specialists CMC relating to further mechanical refurbishment since 2020. 

The mechanical restoration has clearly paid attention to the detail specification of these early cars - even the round brake and clutch bottles typical of ‘flat floor’ cars are replicated. 

Since completion the car has covered just 60 miles. It therefore arrives with the buyer in ‘box fresh’ condition.