2023-04-01 09:43:11 | pauls writes:

Car offered at:

www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1962-jaguar-e-type-semi-lightweight-45Q3E4

Seller's description:

1962 Jaguar E-Type

Colour Green

Odometer 0

Engine size 3800

Seller Type Private

Town Seine-Et-Marne

Location International

Country France

Recently rebuilt engine 

FIA paperwork 

Ideal for use in prestigious international events

Prepared for the competition and ready to race

First registered in 1962

Purchased by the current owner in 2015

The car came with Italian documentation

The car was then brought up to homologation specification

Engine recently rebuilt

Stored in a dehumidified garage during current ownership

The car has reportedly covered about 50km since the engine rebuild

FIA VHRS paperwork

Eligible for use in many international events

French Certificat d’Immatriculation on file

Invoices on file for extensive work, including the engine rebuild

The Interior

Stripped back racing interior

Roll cage, bucket seats, integrated fire extinguisher system

Drilled aluminium pedals and aluminium door cards

A true racing sports car, this E-Type is fully fitted out with a roll cage, bucket seats, harnesses, a battery kill switch and more. Alongside these sporting modifications, the interior is pared back to the bare essentials, with barely a gramme of excess weight allowed. The vendor tells us that the seats and harnesses are due to be replaced if used in competition. 

The dashboard is fully stocked with gauges to keep the driver informed of the condition of the car and, although the odometer is registering zero miles, the vendor tells us that the car has been driven roughly 50km since the engine rebuild.

The driver is presented with a padded steering wheel and lightweight drilled aluminium pedals. And the door cards have been replaced by aluminium sheets, with a slot for the window raising/lowering arm. 

There are no unnecessary carpets or headlining, and the high capacity aluminium fuel tank is on display to the rear. And nestled in amongst the roll cage bars is the fire extinguisher, plumbed into an integrated system which can be operated from the front seats. 

The Exterior 

The body and paintwork are beautifully presented 

Underneath, the car is extremely clean and tidy

Pared back lightweight styling

The unmissable styling and sweeping lines of the Jaguar E-Type need no introduction. It is one of the most universally adored works of automotive styling and elegance. But this particular example is a little bit special, with its pared back styling and no-frills approach to doing business. 

There are no unnecessary items such as bumpers to be seen, and the car benefits from an enlarged air intake in its bonnet. The British Racing Green paintwork is beautifully presented, along with white ring roundels. We couldn’t see any obvious scratches or other imperfections in the paint. This paint sits upon beautifully sculpted body panels, which appear to be very well preserved, with very good shut lines and panel gaps. 

Underneath, the car is supremely well presented. Many of the subframe and suspension components are clearly painted in gold, and the rest of the body shell is also extremely clean. There are no signs of corrosion or damage that we could see, and the car has clearly been well looked after and carefully stored when not in use. 

The Mechanics 

Recently rebuilt engine 

Five-speed ZF gearbox 

Extensive mechanical overhaul with many new parts

Lifting the bonnet reveals the 3.8-litre straight-six XK engine below, resplendent with its polished aluminium camshaft covers gleaming and a wealth of gold-painted subframe components proudly on display. Three Weber carburettors adorn the side of the engine and are fed by braided fuel lines. The throttle linkage is supported by rose joints and all the fuel line connections are marked as being correctly tightened. 

The most significant fact about this car’s engine is that it has been fully rebuilt, following an overheating incident at Le Mans Classic in 2018. This work is detailed in a €22,000 invoice dated September 2021. The car has reportedly only covered 50km since, so its running-in period is still to be completed. 

Power is sent from the engine to a five-speed ZF transmission, as used in period on factory homologated cars. In parallel with the engine rebuild, the brakes and shock absorbers were seen to, along with fitting a new stainless steel exhaust, a new radiator and cooling fan. Many of the engine ancillaries have also been replaced, as well as the six shock absorbers, brake pads and direct steering rack.