1969 Jaguar E Type 4.2 2+2

Finished in Carmen Red with black trim, this 1969 Jaguar E-type Series 2 was the subject of a no-expense spared restoration by well-renowned marque experts The Splined Hub Ltd. As aficionados will know, The Splined Hub only restores a maximum of six cars a year, leaving it free to lavish an almost obscene attention to detail.

Which is just as well because the owner is, by his own admission, fastidious to the nth degree. He’s in the motor trade but wanted an E Type for his personal use and having restored them previously, he knew exactly where to go to get it done properly.

The result is sublime. Complete with a Jaguar Heritage Certificate confirming its build, it’s only covered around 700 miles since being completed so is still minty fresh and ready to thrill and delight its new owner.

The restoration of the bodywork was obsessive. The bodyshell was completely stripped by Revival Vehicle Restorations (RVR) of Kettering before being sent up to Nottingham to be dipped. It was then returned to RVR and put on a rotisserie for the restoration/rebuild by The Splined Hub.

RVR noted some rust to the lower door skins and some dodgy welds to the floor but as this is an ex-California car, the absence of rot and corrosion wasn’t too much of a surprise.

And yet, while it only needed repairs the owner decided to have them fit new door skins and floor panels, a decision that marked the escalation in costs; what started out as a £10,000 project rapidly gained momentum as the owner simply refused to compromise on the quality given how good the base car was.

He’s a man who derives as much pleasure from the doing as the driving, and he poured years of experience into getting it right.

RVR then complicated the issue even further by giving it what can only be described as a superb paintjob.

Complicated the issue? Well, yes because you can’t put anything that’s even slightly sub-par on a paint job like that, can you?

And, if you’re going to buy an E Type then Carmen Red is the colour to go for, isn’t it? After all, the E Type is anything but discreet, so why not go all-in and shout its sixties credentials from the roof tops.

New hubs and splines were also fitted, along with new chromed 15-inch wire wheels and matching Michelin XVS tyres. Even the spare matches and there’s a brand new jack and mallet should you ever need to fit it.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The rest of the chrome is, of course, every bit as good as everything else; this restoration was clearly worth every penny of the exorbitant amount it cost.

The vendor is keen to point out one notable cosmetic upgrade that the eagle-eyed may have spotted - the standard, and rather unattractive, original reversing lights that hang off the bumper have been replaced by the rear light units from a contemporary Lotus that incorporate reversing lights. These fitted perfectly and result in a much cleaner look.

The interior is, well, you get the picture, right?

Cars like this are great to buy but a nightmare to describe because you get as tired of reading words like ‘excellent’, ‘very good’ and ‘like new’ even faster than we get writing them.

So, the highlights are that the interior is excellent and like new, with very good attention to detail…

But, seriously, the interior is all new and was supplied by BAS, the same folk who supplied the originals to Jaguar.

This means the seats, all four of them, are firm and comfortable and supportive. They are fitted with inertia reel seatbelts.

It was also treated to a new dashboard, carpets, and headlining.

The instruments have been rebuilt and the owner even went to the trouble of finding and fitting a period FM radio and aerial - and then hiding the speakers away, along with a discreet USB point.

There’s a proper Lucas rear-view mirror in there plus a gorgeous wood-rimmed steering wheel. Lashings of round dials and rocker switches, too.

It’s the archetypical E Type interior, just in a better condition than you’re used to seeing.

The Jaguar was rebuilt using uprated torsion bars, a reconditioned rear axle, a new fuel tank, a full stainless-steel exhaust with six-branch manifold, an alloy radiator, a new brake servo, and new brake and clutch master cylinders.

Other work included refurbishing the front and rear suspension and fitting a new right-hand drive steering assembly as part of the conversion to UK-spec.

The engine was obviously stripped down and found to be the original size. It needed nothing doing to it other than to be rebuilt with new piston rings, big end bearings, and oil seals.

The carburettors were also rebuilt and some extra mechanical work has been carried out by Ken Jenkins, the well-known Jaguar specialist.

Originally an automatic, it had already been converted to a four-speed manual previously but they’d left the old, wider transmission tunnel in place. As you might have guessed, this didn’t go down well with the owner, who had RVR strip that out and rebuild it with a new and correct manual gearbox tunnel.

Electrical work included a new complete wiring loom and the installation of a 321 electronic ignition system for increased reliability.

The engine wasn’t over-restored; this was a conscious decision as he was keen to keep it looking stock, so you won’t find polished carburettors and the like, which is just how we like it.

It’s only covered 600 - 700 miles since being finished, all of them as part of the car’s shake-down. He’s been back to The Splined Hub three times for them to tweak stuff but he’s satisfied now, which must be as much of a relief to them as it is reassuring for you.

We are told it starts on the button, drives extremely well, and sounds wonderful.

Oh, and the underside is – and you’re ahead of us here, aren’t you – every bit as nicely finished as everything else.

As you’d expect, the E Type has a vast history file with many invoices plus a current V5 and a memory stick with photos of its restoration.

The E Type doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The E Type is an icon for a very good reason; few classic sportscars offer a better support network and none are better looking.

They’ve been a good investment over the years too, with the most desirable having breached six figures years ago – and make no mistake, this one is as desirable as they come.

Which makes the £70,000 - £80,000 estimate incredible value, especially because it means you’re essentially getting the original E Type for free if you take the restoration cost into account…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.