For this price you’d expect an E-type of the highest quality, and Dale Vinten says this recently restored car is impossible to fault
This fully restored Jaguar E-type coupé comes with the addition of a few modern touches and up-grades that make it a much more driveable and useable proposition compared to a standard one.
The big straight six starts first time, with the application of just a little choke from cold. It soon comes up to temperature, maintaining a healthy 60°C at idle – and as the engine ticks over the adjacent oil pressure gauge returns a reassuring 40psi, with the motor appearing to be in top oper-ating condition.
The fully-hinged bonnet allows easy scrutiny of the engine, along with the front-end running gear, suspension and braking components. This makes it clear to see that the restoration was carried out properly – by marque specialist The Splined Hub in Oundle, Northamptonshire earlier this year – and to an incredibly high standard. The car features a rebuilt 3.07:1 ratio rear axle, along with four-piston front brake calipers. There are no fluid leaks, untoward noises, overheating issues or smoking from the exhaust. With 265bhp on tap, it’s a fast car even by today’s standards – and all of that power is delivered smoothly, with no jerking or faltering under acceleration. The gearbox is tight and the clutch is perfect – we accidentally pulled away in third on our test drive and the car happi-ly took this in its stride. The steering can feel a little heavy at low speeds, but lightens up when you get going and remains precise throughout. The brakes are sharp and more than up to the task.
Another reflection of the fact that the car’s professional rebuild was only completed earlier this year is the fact that the exterior is in immaculate condition. Originally white, the car has been re-painted in Jaguar Indigo Blue and the finish is spotless. All of the chrome on the car is in equally impressive condition and the slightly wider-than-standard wire wheels have a mirror finish that we couldn’t fault. All of the tyres fitted to the car are practically new Pirelli P4000s. As you would rightly expect after such a recent and comprehensive restoration, there is not a speck of rust visi-ble and the underside presents just as well as the bodywork.
The same levels of workmanship and attention to detail have been lavished on the interior, do is in amazing overall condition. The black leather seats and carpets show no signs of wear whatsoever, while the matching doorcards and roof liner are spotless. The refurbished wood and aluminium steering wheel looks fantastic, with all the Smiths gauges and associated switchgear on the dash-board working as intended. There are no blemishes to any area or aspect of the interior and the car has been fitted with a modern Jaguar infotainment system with DAB radio and satnav. A heated front screen has also been fitted as part of the restoration process.
All the work is fully-documented in a casebook, which goes some way to compensate for the car’s lack of service history, which otherwise begins with its 2018 US export papers.
This Jaguar E-type is one of four Ads on Test in the latest issue ofClassic Cars.
Engine 4235cc in-line six-cylinder, dohc, three SU HD8 carburettors Power 265bhp @ 5400rpm Torque 283lb ft @ 4000rpm 0-60mph 6.8sec Top speed 147mph Fuel consumption 12-24mpg Length 4451mm Width 1657mm
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