1966 Jaguar E-Type Roadster
- Engine
- Inline-six, bored over 20 thou, rebuilt with new valves and balanced rotating assembly
- Colour
- Opalescent Silver-Blue
A Series 1 Jaguar E-Type roadster, built on 18 January 1966 and originally dispatched to Jaguar's New York operation for Thomas J. Watson, the IBM chairman and noted automotive enthusiast. Later acquired by a marque specialist who undertook a comprehensive restoration encompassing a fully rebuilt engine, gearbox, and differential, bare-metal repaint in Opalescent Silver-Blue, and a retrimmed interior using period-correct British materials. The finished car was described as suitable for concours presentation or spirited road use.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$240,800
- 1966 →Factory deliveryThomas J. Watsonpartial documentation
Believed to be the IBM chairman and noted car enthusiast; car was delivered new via Jaguar's New York operation specifically for him.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent owner, marque specialistpartial documentation
A well-regarded specialist in the marque who acquired the car some years prior and commissioned a thorough mechanical and cosmetic restoration.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Restoration
Comprehensive bare-metal restoration covering the full drivetrain and body. The engine was bored over, the crankshaft reground for new bearings, connecting rods resized, small-end bushings replaced, and the rotating assembly dynamically balanced. The original cylinder head was rebuilt with new valves, springs, and tappets.
Work performed under the current marque-specialist owner, acquired several years prior to sale.
- —Engine rebuild
Engine overhauled including a 20-thousandths overbore, crankshaft regrind, new bearings, resized connecting rods, new small-end bushings, and dynamic balancing of the rotating assembly. Cylinder head rebuilt with new valves, springs, and tappets.
- —Mechanical
Gearbox rebuilt with new bearings, synchro rings, layshaft, and seals. Differential rebuilt with new bearings and seals, and gear ratio changed to 3.07 for improved road performance and lower cruising revs. New aluminum radiator and 16-inch electric fan fitted. Entire brake system replaced from master cylinder through to rotors. New wiring harness, fuel tank, and fuel pump installed.
- —Bodywork
Body stripped to bare metal and refinished in Opalescent Silver-Blue, a factory-correct colour for the model. Interior retrimmed using authentic British materials. Six-inch-wide 15-inch wheels fitted, one inch wider than standard, shod with Michelin 205/70/15 tyres.
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