1965 Jaguar E-Type 4.2-Litre Series 1 Roadster
- Engine
- 4.2L DOHC inline-six with triple SU carburetors, 265 bhp
- Colour
- Opalescent Dark Green
The 520th 4.2-litre E-Type roadster produced, this 1965 Jaguar Series 1 was built on 20 January 1965 and first delivered to a private buyer in New York that February. Spending its working life in California as a secondary vehicle before entering prolonged storage, it was subsequently acquired for a comprehensive ground-up restoration to concours standard, finished in its original Opalescent Dark Green over Suede Green leather. It retains covered headlights and original slim lighting, with a matching hardtop, tools, and jack.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$253,000
- 1965-02-01 →Factory deliveryMary Jane A. McMahonfull documentation
Original purchaser; car delivered via Jaguar Cars of New York. Vehicle reportedly spent its working life in California as a secondary car before entering extended storage.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Acquired the car after roughly three decades in storage and commissioned a thorough restoration, including bodywork, engine rebuilding, and interior retrim using period-correct materials sourced from Britain.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Restoration
Full ground-up restoration including sandblasting of rust-free bodywork, refinishing in original Opalescent Dark Green, and complete re-trimming of the interior in correct Suede Green leather using period-appropriate materials sourced from the UK.
Carried out after roughly 30 years of storage; scope covered body, paint, and interior as a unified project.
- —Engine rebuild
The engine block was bored 20 thousandths oversize to accept new pistons, the rotating assembly was dynamically balanced, and the cylinder head was fully rebuilt. A higher-efficiency radiator and uprated cooling fan were also fitted.
Conducted concurrently with the bodywork restoration. The owner considers the low recorded mileage of approximately 26,685 miles to be original based on the internal condition of the components.
- —Mechanical
The gearbox and differential were overhauled; the original differential casing was refitted with a new 3.23:1 final-drive ratio unit to allow more relaxed high-speed cruising.
Part of the same comprehensive restoration programme as the engine rebuild.
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