1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Roadster
- Engine
- 4.2L DOHC inline-six with triple SU carburetors, 265 bhp
- Colour
- Opalescent Silver Grey
A March 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Roadster, chassis 1E 10804, delivered new in New York and confirmed by its Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate. Originally traded in at a Ford dealership, it was acquired by its current owner from a believed second owner and subjected to a nut-and-bolt restoration after years in storage, encompassing bodywork, a full engine rebuild, new interior, and drivetrain overhaul. The design is held in MoMA's permanent collection as an exemplar of automotive sculpture.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$297,000
- 1965-04-01 →Factory deliveryHomer W. Guernseyfull documentation
Original recipient of the car, delivered via the New York Jaguar Cars distributor. Later traded the vehicle into a Ford dealership in exchange for a Mustang.
- Date unknownPrivate saleSecond owner acquired from Ford dealershippartial documentation
Purchased the car from the Ford dealership where the first owner had traded it in. Believed to be the second owner; car reportedly showed around 23,000 miles at this point.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent caretaker and restorerpartial documentation
Acquired the car from the believed second owner and undertook a thorough nut-and-bolt restoration after the previous owner had begun the work in 1987 and then left it in storage for many years.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1987Restoration
Disassembly for restoration was begun by a prior owner, but the project stalled and the car remained in storage for many years without completion.
Work was abandoned by that owner before any significant restoration was achieved.
- —Bodywork
After sandblasting revealed weaknesses in the floor area, new floor panels and sills were fitted to achieve a solid, correctly-fitting shell. All body panels were individually painted in Opalescent Silver Grey to eliminate masking lines.
Carried out as part of the current owner's full restoration.
- —Restoration
Complete nut-and-bolt restoration by the current owner covering all major systems; interior retrimmed in the UK using period-correct Connolly-type leather, Wilton wool carpet, and British vinyl; new six-inch wheels with Michelin tyres fitted.
JDHT certificate confirms original engine block and head stampings are intact.
- —Engine rebuild
Engine rebuilt with new pistons, reground crankshaft, resized connecting rods and new rod bushings, then dynamically balanced. An aftermarket aluminium radiator and new water pump with a larger fan were also installed.
Original block and head retained and confirmed by JDHT certificate.
- —Mechanical
Gearbox inspected, found in sound condition consistent with low mileage, and reassembled with new gaskets and seals. Differential rebuilt with a new higher 3.31:1 final-drive ratio to improve acceleration and high-speed cruising. Brake system completely renewed including master cylinder, servo, lines, and hoses.
Differential ratio change constitutes a minor modification to the original specification.
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