Unique e-type up for grabs

Pete Waterman’s Series 3 is only LHD car fitted with 4.2-litre XK engine

A unique LHD Jaguar E-type Series 3 2+2 is up for sale in H&H’s 15 November sale.

The E-type, one of a handful of Series 3s fitted with a six-cylinder XK engine, is now offered from the private collection of music producer, Pete Waterman, who has owned the car since the late 1980s.

The Jaguar is also thought to be the first LHD Series 3 2+2 produced, though Jaguar Heritage was unaware of the car until last year.

Assumed by the vendor to have been produced to achieve Environmental Protection Agency certification for the 4.2 in the USA, the Series 3 found its way into the personal collection of then President of Jaguar North America, Graham Whitehead, shortly after being exported to New Jersey.

The Jaguar then moved between New Jersey and New York, benefitting from extensive restoration in 1980, before being repatriated from New Jersey in 1986.

The car was recommissioned and repainted during Waterman’s ownership.

The E-type’s indicated mileage of 53,800 is described as ‘credible’ by H&H, given the car’s condition, but is not warranted.

Damian Jones, head of sales for H&H, says: ‘Jaguar recently visited the car and have valued it at roughly £145,000. The best way to galvanise buying interest in a car is to offer it for sale without reserve. That way, any interested parties know they have to participate in the auction or risk losing the car.’

Following the car’s re-emergence, the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club’s magazine described the car as ‘a ghost of an E-type’ and ‘the one missing link’.