1965 Jaguar E-Type Series I ($195,000)

By Fantasy Junction

May 20, 2016

Photography by Nima Salimi

Written by Shayan Bokaie

AT A GLANCE

Location: Emeryville, CA
Seller: Fantasy Junction | @fantasyjunction
Chassis #: 1E31973
Engine: 4.2L I-6 Cyl (7E59909-9)
Mileage: 1905 Miles
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Color: Opalescent Silver Gray / Oxblood Red Leather
Production Run: 4248 LHD Fixed Head Coupes
No expense spared, complete restoration

PRICE: $195,000

The Jaguar E-Type really needs no introduction. If Enzo Ferrari, a highly competitive man to say the least, declared it “the most beautiful car ever made“, that pretty much sets the ceiling in terms of praise. 50+ years later though, the E-Type continues to be celebrated and hold its place in history.

The E-Type was unique in that it simultaneously disrupted automotive performance, price, design AND popular culture. The shape is appreciated for its balance of feminine and masculine features, which could be why it’s a car that is beloved by both men and women.

Pretty much every celebrity or popular figure owned one (or two). It was the third automobile shown at MoMA as an art piece. Even Mad Men worked the E-Type into their story line, all of which supports this was potentially the most iconic car of the ’60s.

THE CAR

This 4.2L Jaguar E-Type was the second development of the Series I cars featuring a fully synchronized gearbox, higher torque, and adjustable, more comfortable seats (although they don’t look as sporty). Famously advertised for being capable of 150MPH, the E-Type makes great use of its 265HP.

This fully restored E-Type was delivered to Mrs. B M Murphy at the Jaguar Works in Coventry. Mrs. Murphy immediately put the Jaguar to good use and toured Europe, with initial services in Cannes and Genoa, before shipping the car to California.

Mrs. Murphy sounded pretty awesome.

CONDITION

Exterior Highlights

Respray in top condition and done to very high standards
Body is straight and panels are strong
Glass, lights, and chrome are in excellent shape
Fitted with Lucas PL headlamps and amber European turn signals

Exterior Blemishes

Several small marks on the front end from road use
A few light swirls in chrome

Interior Highlights

Fully restored interior: new leather, carpet, vinyl, and Hardura trim
Fully restored rear compartment: spare, tire well, and fuel tank
Fully restored dashboard: instrumentation, switches, and controls
Renewed headliner is the correct wool broadcloth
Correct Jaguar rubber floor mats

Interior Blemishes

A smaller, 15 inch steering wheel installed to provide more legroom

Mechanical Highlights

Fully restored and polished engine compartment: firewall, chassis, and suspension
Cylinder head, engine block correctly finished in gold
Exhaust manifolds were recoated with porcelain
Correct windscreen washer fluid tank and battery in place

Mechanical Issues

None known/stated.

How does it drive?

All together, the car is a delight to drive and its restoration quality is clear. Due to the recent restoration, the car feels very fresh, surprisingly modern, and easy to operate.

Engine: The car starts right up and has a functioning choke. Linear power delivery and

Shifting: Gearbox feels brand new, allowing driver to shift effortlessly without having to worry about the shift linkage or synchromesh.

Brakes: The brakes give direct feedback and work very well.

Handling: Steering and suspension and both very tight and communicative.

RESTORATION

This E-Type is a no expense spared, total restoration. When acquired by it’s present owner, photos show the car in original condition before the restoration. Details below:

Restoration in 2010

Body

Body was completely stripped and refinished
No sheetmetal was replaced in the tub, doors, bonnet, or rear hatch
All chrome renewed
All weather stripping replaced
New Dayton wire wheels fitted

Engine

New bearings, timing gears, guides and chains
Cylinder head rebuilt with new valves, springs, tappets, and reground seats
Rebuilt carburetors, stainless exhaust, electric fan, stainless bulkhead coolant transfer pipes, Pertronic ignition, high torque starter, and rebuilt alternator

Gearbox and Driveline

New bearings, synchromesh, flywheel, pressure plate, clutch and throwout bearing

Brakes

Hydraulic system renewed, master and slave cylinder sleeved in stainless steel, rebuilt calipers, new pads and rotors, new brake lines

Suspension

Springs and torsion bars replaced, new shocks fitted, new bushings throughout (including polyurethane suspension bushings)

Steering

Wheel bearings, tie rods, steering column assembly, and steering rack rebuilt or replaced

Electronics/Components

New wiring harness (correctly color coded), instruments restored (including upgraded clock), Lucas PL headlamps, rebuilt heater fan motors and windscreen wiper components.

ORIGINALITY

The car was originally Pale Primrose on Black, and changed to the current Opalescent Silver Gray on Oxblood Red.

The car comes with the following original items:

Original book set
Jack with bag
Tool roll w/ tools

DOCUMENTATION

Jaguar Heritage Certificate
30 years of service records
Photos of recent restoration
Original books set

OWNERSHIP TIMELINE

1965 – late 70’s – Mrs. B M Murphy | Pacific Palisades, CA
Late 70’s – 1985 – Owner 2 | Seattle, WA
1985 – 2010 – Owner 3
2010 – present | Portland, OR

OUR THOUGHTS

We love the Series 1 E-Type and picked this one out of Fantasy Junction’s inventory for a few reasons.

Series I is it: E-Types are all great, but the Series I is considered the most desirable since it avoids much of the emissions equipment that detracted the styling and performance. The 4.2 is also has the fully synchronized gearbox and a torquier engine. The Series I is the purest of the design iterations, and we think the best looking.

Thorough Restoration: The car has been completely restored as we mentioned earlier which means it’s a turnkey car, and we value that.

Community: The E-Type is also a great classic to get into because they have a very strong and knowledgeable community, from collectors to restorers to historians. Having a knowledge base available for parts and maintenance can be extremely handy.

Mad Men: “At last, something beautiful you can truly own.” – Don Draper