JAGUAR E-TYPE 4.2 2+2

Year of manufacture 1968 Recorded mileage 6338 Asking price £70,000 Vendor E-type UK, Hadlow, Kent; tel: 01732 852762; https://etypeuk.com

WHEN IT WAS NEW Price £2245 Max power 265bhp Max torque 283lb 0-60mph 6.7 secs Top speed 145mph Mpg 17

This standard-looking 2+2 was restored in c2003 and is, in fact, a Series ‘11/2’, but because it needed a new bonnet, the opportunity was taken to fit the cooler, closed-headlights style. It has the taller cabin, but the lack of sunroof (common on these), keeps it fairly discreet. According to the Heritage Production Trace Certificate, this home-market car was originally cream, and the black trim was piped in white, some of which remains.

It appears really sound and rot-free, with clear sill drains. Underneath, the suspension is clean and the stainless exhausts don’t look that old, but the spotweld dimples under the rear pan have been filled – as was the habit on older rebuilds. The wheels pass the spoke test and the tyres are welltreaded Michelin XVSS to the rear and newish Blockleys up front, in the correct 185 section. There’s an older Vredestein on the painted wire spare. The chrome is all smart because most of the trim was new, but the doors have dropped slightly on their hinges (very common) and need a slam.

Inside, the leather is only lightly creased and wearing in attractively, and there’s a smallish Moto-lita wheel plus modern face-off stereo. The dash and headlining are all good, with mats protecting the decent carpets, and there’s a soundproofing kit in the boot, still to be fitted. There’s a hint of static play at the wheel rim, which disappears on the move.

The 9:1 compression motor is standard, aside from the earlier-type smooth cam covers it wears to match the bonnet, and was rebuilt by VSE in 2002. Judging from old Mots, the mileage has been accumulated since that time, which would mean it’s only just run in. It starts easily and once warm shows 40psi at 2500rpm and above (healthy for an XK). It pulls well, with the temperature needle just at the bottom of the ‘normal’ sector. The ’box was changed in 2004 for an overdrive unit from a low-mileage crashed XJ6, and shows the wrong location for reverse on the knob, but you soon forget that. Overdrive works promptly on third and top, while the smooth brakes pull up straight. It will be sold with repro handbook and a new MOT.