1967 Jaguar E Type FHC

This car is being sold on behalf of the seller’s brother’s estate. He restored the car over an approximate 10-year period with the aim for originality in mind. The vendor has supplied the following information about his brother:

'Derek Hastings, owner of Ace Performance Cars located in the borders of Scotland and 1988 SMRC Scottish road car champion, had taken ownership of this E Type Jaguar. He completed an exhaustive ground up rebuild and refurbishment. Derek was instrumental in the racing scene in Scotland and was usually found at the weekend with a race entry of some kind. His mechanical and engineering prowess, along with an adoration of classic cars made Derek a well known figure within the racing community. Derek’s talents and love for this E Type Jaguar is a testament to the craftsmanship embodied in this car.'

 It now presents in its original specification of dark blue exterior colour, paired with red upholstered interior. The car was destined for wedding and chauffeur work along with racing and hill climbs, and as such minor tweaks to the driveline were made, gearing the car up for quicker acceleration. This was done within the initial aim for originality and as such the car still uses as many of its original parts as possible. The seller also informs us that the car will come with a plethora of spares. 

Lot of love, time and resources have gone into making this car as good as you see it before you today. In 1968, the US automotive world was being forced to adapt their offerings due to impeding changes to emissions and safety standards. Jaguar was savvy to these changes as the E Type had originally been destined for export only and it was a market they were keen to keep. The most significant design-related alterations were the loss of glass covered headlamps in favour of raised, chrome trimmed open units. 

Because these changes weren’t implemented all at once with the launch of a something like a ‘face-lift’ model and Jaguar were busy changing the metal dies at the Coventry factory, some of the late Series 1 cars received open headlight body panels intended for the Series 2 cars, leading some enthusiasts to call them Series 1.25 and then Series 1.5 cars. 

The example you see here was destined for the UK market so would have been unaffected by the US regulation changes, but nonetheless it still received this updated body panel whilst keeping all details of the Series 1 cars. 

If this car being one of those extremely rare Series 1.25 (only 200 believed to be made) examples isn’t enough, the car was also once under the ownership of renowned post war motor racing figure Rivers Fletcher. Rivers Fletcher was a seminal figure for motorsport before, during and after the war, with both active competition involvement and his extensive writings forming an impressive legacy. 

The exterior of the car is in fine condition, with the seller telling us that as the car had sat for about 4 years whilst the small collection the car came from was being sorted and sold, the Jag had some corrosion issues developing. A bill for £2,500 was paid to ensure all the corrosion form the vehicle was rectified meaning this car should be good to survive another 56 years.

It's obvious to see this car has been a real labour of love for the owner as the finish of the exterior is done to a high standard. The panel gaps are all tight and uniform around the car and the paintwork shows few imperfections. The chrome trim is all in good condition too with no pitting or damage and the chrome spoked wheels are too in great condition with some Vredestein tyres which give the car a period look. 

The front exposed headlights are the signature feature on this ‘S 1.25’ car and the rest of the S1 design and details are all in fine fettle too. The hardtop model comes with a fabric sunroof section which again is in good condition and is wonderfully clean around the aperture where you’d expect rust to be. A stunning car to look at and one that has had a lot of love, time and care spent to ensure it is in its best condition.  

The seller informs us that the interior has been retrimmed and the red upholstery looks stunning contrasted against the subtle blue exterior. It looks like a new car in here as everything has been finished again to the same high standard as the exterior. The seats all look to be in great condition and the seller states that everything in the cabin is working as intended. 

A wooden rimmed steering wheel is typical S1 Jag but somehow, against this red interior, the steering wheel just gives the interior so much more character, especially against that black dashboard which houses all the dials and gauges you’d need to keep an eye on the car's vitals. 

The headlining, carpets and the rest of this interior are just as good as the main sections and with the tactile ergonomics of the E Type we’d assume fans of the marque will be quite happy in here. 

A 4.2 Litre singing straight six, part of the reason these big cats enjoyed such fame and favour worldwide. This unit has been rebuilt and is reported to be in great condition; the addition of three Weber carburettors was a personal choice from the owner, however, should the winning bidder prefer the SU units, then they will be supplied along with the spare parts previously mentioned. 

Just like the exterior and interior, the mechanicals have not missed out on the same care and attention, backed up by multiple invoices which you can see in the gallery. The car starts, idles and drives fantastically and it sounds sublime, there have been many new parts fitted and refurbed to ensure the car is mechanically sound. 

Those tags on the passenger side of the dashboard are scrutineering slips from when this car has seen a hill climb or other racing event. It was the owner’s intention to race the car as well as have it for weddings and chauffeur purposes, so the mechanicals needed to be in as reliable condition as possible. 

The car comes with the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate showing its heritage, build date and numbers and along with this, the car comes with one set of keys, a V5C and a clean HPI check. 

The car comes with a huge stack of invoices with much of them sating between 2003 and 2006. The most significant showing a spend of £12,040.06 for refurbishment and restoration work along with various other invoices for parts and work along the way for this car. 

There are photos of the car having its restoration completed with it undergoing a full body respray in its original colour. There are also scans of documents showing the previous ownership under Rivers Fletcher along with the aforementioned literature. There are also stacks of paper MOTs and some previous keeper records before the DVLA moved to its computerised systems. Please do take some time to look through the gallery at all the invoices or arrange a visit at our HQ here in Oxford. 

This car is a bit of a gem, a rare production example dubbed a S1.25 as the company was making alterations for the US market. Not only is this car believed to be one of the rarest production cars with only 200 thought to be made, it was also owned by a seminal figure in British motor racing. 

We are happy to offer this vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £40,000-£50,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.