8 Jaguar E-types for sale at NEC show

Eight opportunities

In the year the Jaguar E-type has been celebrating its 60th anniversary, Silverstone Auctions is offering eight examples at its 13-14 November sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show – including five that come from the same collection.

You might ask why you would want to own five E-types but, as you’ll see, they are all very different – one in particular – and each has a special story. And if you are in the market for one, with so much choice, there is surely something for everyone’s taste here.

So let’s take a closer look before they cross the block. And if you’re tempted, happy bidding and good luck!

1. 1966 Jaguar E-type 4.2 ‘Quad-Headlight’ coupé (est: £70-80,000)

We’re starting with arguably the most distinctive E-type of all – certainly of all those for sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show this year, but possibly of all time, too?

Yes, this is a quad-headlamp E-type, built to order for the 6th Earl of Cawdor, Hugh John Vaughan Campbell, by Abbey Panels, where it went soon after leaving the Jaguar production line in November 1965.

1966 Jaguar E-type 4.2 ‘Quad-Headlight’ coupé (cont.)

You might be surprised to learn that this car is not unique. It is thought to be the second of maybe three produced – not a one-off, but super rare, then.

Its spec when new included a Webasto roof, which it is said saved the Earl’s life when, after about 18 months on the road, he had a crash and was ejected through that roof.

While its owner survived, damage to the E-type was such that it was put away… For almost four decades.

1966 Jaguar E-type 4.2 ‘Quad-Headlight’ coupé (cont.)

This black, matching-numbers Series 1 E-type has since been rebuilt and, we’re pleased to hear, enjoyed on tours and rallies, keeping it in fine fettle – it heads to auction with a fresh MoT certificate.

Like four other E-types in this sale, it comes from what Silverstone Auctions is calling ‘The Devon Collection’, these cars being let go because of ‘a change in direction by the present custodian’.

Whatever the reason, when this goes under the hammer on 14 November, this will be a rare opportunity.

2. 1961 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 ‘flat floor’ Roadster (est: £125-145,000)

You’ll have to dig a little deeper to be the new owner of this Carmen Red E-type, that also comes from The Devon Collection.

It is an early, flat-floor example that departed the factory on 18 October 1961 and was first supplied by Henlys to GC Cussens of Enfield, Middlesex.

1961 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 ‘flat floor’ Roadster (cont.)

It hasn’t been restored for around 30 years, when XK Engineering in Coventry undertook the work, a photographic record of which is included in the car’s paperwork.

This S1 E-type has also received a few upgrades, including vented front brake discs with beefed up brake calipers, as well as an uprated cooling system.

1961 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 ‘flat floor’ Roadster (cont.)

Indeed, Silverstone Auctions says this car comes with a large history file, which should be music to the ears of any potential bidder.

Unusually, this includes a video which, if you can find a machine to play it, will show you footage of this car when it appeared in The Avengers.

3. 1961 Jaguar E-type Roadster chassis number 39 (est: £275-295,000)

Whoever assembled The Devon Collection certainly has an eye for good, early Jaguar E-types – one look at the £275-295,000 pre-sale estimate attached to ‘ENO 39’, pictured here, tells you that.

This is chassis number 39, one of the earliest E-types and of the few ‘external bonnet lock’ cars. And this is more special than most.

1961 Jaguar E-type Roadster chassis number 39 (cont.)

From new, this E-type was assigned to the Jaguar Experimental Department and the radio aerial deployment feature is understood to have been fitted by that division.

It has been with its present – lucky – keeper for more than 40 years, dry stored until a meticulous restoration was carried out, during which all its original features which set this apart as an early, ‘external bonnet lock’ car were retained.

1961 Jaguar E-type Roadster chassis number 39 (cont.)

Its Opalescent Dark Blue paint and the Blood Red leather upholstery are the same colours as it rolled off the production line 60 years ago.

This car’s careful rebirth was a labour of love and that work has been documented through paperwork and photos which will be sold with the car, as well as its Heritage Certificate and handbooks.

It has covered very few miles since this work was completed, so should this special E-type’s next keeper cosset it or enjoy it?

4. 1962 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 coupé (est: £80-90,000)

You’ll have seen a pattern here: The Devon Collection’s E-types are early, special and super-original examples. Well, almost always.

This is another Carmen Red Series 1, except this car was first finished in Opalescent Silver Grey when it was sold new to the Channel Islands, first to Jersey and then to Guernsey.

1962 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 coupé (cont.)

Its keeper in Guernsey was Lester Torode, a dealer, collector and racer who repainted the car Old English White, so it did a better job of showing off his race numbers and sponsors’ logos when he campaigned it in hillclimbs and sprints.

During Torode’s time with the car he also equipped the E-type with Restall seats, a later, all-synchromesh gearbox, plus uprated brakes and a stainless-steel sports manifold and exhaust system.

By the time the car was imported to the UK in 1976, it was in the red with a black interior you see today.

1962 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 coupé (cont.)

Since then it has been on Top Gear, where it was driven by the late Norman Dewis who signed photos and the car’s sunvisor, and these are included in Silverstone Auctions’ NEC Classic Motor Show sale.

Its engine was rebuilt back in 2012 and the car’s odometer read 68,409 miles when consigned to this auction.

5. 1964 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 coupé (est: £70-80,000)

The fifth and final E-type from The Devon Collection that will cross the block with Silverstone Auctions on Sunday 14 November is this ’64 coupé.

Arguably, it is the most run-of-the-mill of the five, if we can dare to say such a thing, but that shouldn’t detract from what appears to be a very fine example of the breed.

1964 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 coupé (cont.)

This Opalescent Dark Blue right-hand-drive, 11,146-mile E-type was the subject of a bare-metal restoration around a decade ago.

Work undertaken included significant engine fettling, the addition of a lightened and balanced flywheel, an alloy radiator and a new clutch, a new manifold and exhaust, and a tweaked breather system.

The brakes were upgraded, too.

1964 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 coupé (cont.)

Despite that work, it is thought this car hasn’t been used much recently, so some TLC before it returns to the road could well be in order.

It heads to auction with a £70-80,000 pre-sale estimate.

6. 1973 Jaguar E-type Series 3 (no reserve)

While we were browsing the catalogue for Silverstone Auctions’ sale at the 12-14 November Classic Motor Show at the NEC Birmingham, we thought we’d share the other Jaguar E-types on offer, starting with this later, Primrose Yellow, V12-engined example.

And, as you might have already seen, it’s heading to auction with no reserve.

1973 Jaguar E-type Series 3 (cont.)

Its listing says it should be considered a ‘reference’ car for Series 3s, because it has covered just fewer than 12,700 miles, and it still has its PDI marks and notes, wiring tape and other features that mark it out as being extremely original.

Its paint and chromework have had some attention, but this is otherwise an unmolested, unrestored example.

1973 Jaguar E-type Series 3 (cont.)

Bought via Mann Egerton, this striking Series 3 E-type was specced from new with a Webasto sliding sunroof, an automatic gearbox and chrome wire wheels.

Low miles, a super, very period colour and a burbling V12? Sounds tempting…

7. 1961 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 ‘flat floor’ Roadster (est: £130-150,000)

You’ll have to dig a little deeper for this 1961 E-type, if its six-figure pre-sale estimate is anything to go by.

But then this is a restored example, and while that work was carried out the team was careful to preserve all the details found only on these early cars, such as the flat floor, twin boot hinges and the welded bonnet louvres.

1961 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 ‘flat floor’ Roadster (cont.)

As you can see, this is a left-hand drive car. It was sold new to Rome via Fattori & Montani in October 1961.

It didn’t return to the UK until 2013, not long after it was restored. We’re pleased to hear it was driven and enjoyed some more before further work was undertaken in 2019.

That said, it has just 16,800 miles on its odometer, so it has plenty more to give.

1961 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 ‘flat floor’ Roadster (cont.)

It is believed that this matching-numbers E-type was sold new with a factory hardtop, which is still with it. It was not, however, fitted from new with a soft-top, which the auction house says isn’t unusual in cars sold to Italy.

Any potential bidders might be pleased therefore to discover that this car’s current custodian has equipped it with a hood frame and a new black fabric roof, making it much more usable in the rather less predictable British weather.

8. 1970 Jaguar E-type Series 3 2+2 Coupé (est: £54-58,000)

Last but not least, it’s our second British Racing Green car on the bounce – and the second with a tan interior, although this one didn’t start life that way.

When it left the factory on 16 December 1970 it was British Racing Green, but at that point the cabin was trimmed in black leather.

1970 Jaguar E-type Series 3 2+2 Coupé (cont.)

When new, this E-type was shipped to San Mateo, California, returning to the UK only in 2009.

The car then was the subject of a body-off restoration and a full mechanical rebuild, during which time it was converted to right-hand drive – this was carried out by a specialist and photos of the work will be sold with the car.

At that point it was refinished in its original colours, however when its current keeper took ownership the interior was retrimmed in light tan. At some point the carburettors were replaced with fuel injection, and it has gained a Getrag five-speed gearbox and a stainless-steel exhaust.

1970 Jaguar E-type Series 3 2+2 Coupé (cont.)

Now with an odometer reading approaching the 53,000-mile mark (that mileage is not warranted), it is looking for a new home and it will cross the block at the NEC Birmingham.

Silverstone Auctions’ Classic Motor Show sale will be held on 13-14 November, with the show’s opening day, 12 November, being reserved for viewings.

To see the auction’s lots, please click here.