This Series 1 E-Type comes with the best provenance you are going to find with a history file dating back to when the car was new. There is an early service history at the famous Coombs of Guildford who supplied the car new in 1962 and then again to the current family custodian in 1965 and after that the invoices go on for decades! The information contained within the file suggests the car has a modified gas glow head which gives a 9.5:1 compression ratio with 3.07:1 differential through a competition clutch and a full synchromesh gearbox which was retro fitted by Jaguar in the 60s. Quite a combination for a series 1 car which according to the file was clocked at 160mph on the Newport Pagnell section of the M1!

The car itself will need recommissioning/restoration. The current custodian has repaired and preserved the car over many decades, but the car will need some work before returning to the road having been off the road since 1998. The body is corrosion free and the engine runs, but at the very least the carbs will need attention to achieve smooth running.

The history file is very thick indeed and documents the purchase of the car from Coombs of Guildford in 1965 with the original invoice present and other writing describing the upgrade made to the head. Following on from there are lots of invoices from the 60s relating to work carried out by Jaguar. The father of the current custodian used the car in Vienna for a number of years in the 60s and there are invoices on file from its time in Europe. The file includes invoices from the 70s, 80s and 90s until the point in 1998 when the car was taken off the road. The file itself is incredibly comprehensive and one of the best we have seen. There is even a several page narrative written by the father of the current custodian shortly before he died detailing his experiences with the E-Type over the previous 33 years. It includes some great stories and really adds to the huge appeal which this car has. Plus there are a number of photographs of the car with some dating back to the 60s.

This is a matching numbers car apart from the gearbox which was upgraded in the 60s. We have a heritage certificate on file confirming the car remains in the original colour of Carmen Red with a black leather interior. The certificate also confirms that the car was supplied by Coombs of Guildford. The car retains its original registration number.

In summary this car really does tick all of the boxes with a box full of provenance and the interesting feature of the gas flow head. This will undoubtedly prove to be a rewarding project for the next custodian.