1970 Jaguar E Type Series 2 FHC

Believed to be one of only six Series 2 cars fitted with fully flared rear wings, ‘ACH 534H’ is an older restoration having been restored by P&K Thornton in 1999.

We believe this car may be one of the 'Lost Six' that were modified by Jaguar Dealers in 1970 with flared rear wheel arches and an S3-style bonnet to give an idea of what the forthcoming new model might look like.

Details are sketchy but it seems that Jaguar asked its top six dealers, of which Mann Egerton of Derby was one, for their input as to what the next model should look like. They did but no one is even sure who did this conversion as Mann Egerton said it arrived with them already done – and Jaguar has lost its records.

More recent improvements include the installation of low-speed ‘EZ’ power-steering and Clayton Classics air-conditioning, both of which were fitted in 2019 and both of which were “added without detriment to original specification” and could be easily removed if the new owner prizes originality over all else.

Not that this is, or was ever intended to be, a 100-point concours car because it also boasts a few subtle engineering upgrades that give it 300+bhp with the brakes to match; the seller’s taken it to Goodwood on numerous occasions where it attracted an awful lot of attention. 

The coachwork, which is still finished in Midnight Blue just as it was when it left the factory back in 1969, is very straight and aligns well with good shutlines. Squatting down and peering along the flanks also reveals nothing other than ripple-free panels and very shiny paintwork.

Which is remarkable because a blue as deep as this ranks second only to black in the way it highlights flaws; if they’re there, this colour will shine a spotlight on ‘em.

But they aren’t and the good news continues with the bonnet louvres, which run straight too. The lamp lenses are all bright and free of damage too.

The 15-inch chromed wire wheels are also in fine fettle. Fitted to replace a set of aftermarket Wolfrace wheels that the seller didn’t like, they’re still recent and therefore free of rust and pitting.

They’re fitted with a pair of Continental EcoContact 6 tyres on the front axle, and Pirelli P600s on the rear – and don’t the rear 235/60VR15 tyres fill those flared rear wheelarches beautifully?

The rest of the chromework is as good as the wheels; not perfect but very far from needing any remedial work that’s any more intensive than a morning with a tube of Autosol and the cricket on the radio.

Oh, and just the one door mirror is fitted, which gives the E Type a pleasing asymmetry as well as a classical look.

The rear screen features a sticker proclaiming membership of the E Type Club, and membership of the relevant enthusiasts’ club is never a bad sign is it? It’s also got what looks like it might be the original Jaguar decal too, which, though faded, is yet another positive indication as to the car’s quality.

As for work to do the driver’s door could fit more neatly as the lower trailing edge, there’s light damage/bubbling to the paintwork behind the nearside bonnet louvres, the rubber boot seal is perished, the windscreen is delaminating, the trim is coming away from the top of the nearside door, and there is blistering at various points around the car including the boot lid and fuel filler cap.
 

The black leather interior has clearly been retrimmed at some point, and if its condition is anything to go by then this happened only a few years ago because the only visible wear is a slight softening of the base of the driver’s seat along with a little general rumpling.

The iconic row of instruments and rocker switches dominates the centre of the dashboard, with the pilot, sorry driver, enjoying an unobstructed view of the tachometer and 160mph speedometer through the leather-covered Mountney steering wheel.

Other goodies include a simple black gearknob and a chromed handbrake handle plus a pair of Britax harnesses and a period Chub fire extinguisher.

The headlining, which is clean, taut, and undamaged, is light in colour and this, along with the extensive glazing, helps alleviate any gloom the otherwise-black cabin might suffer from.

The headunit is a Bluetooth-equipped Sony and two large Pioneer speakers have been fitted behind the front seats, which supplement two rather more discreet ones that are located either side of the transmission tunnel.

The boot contains a tool kit and a spare steel wheel.

As for any issues you should be aware of, there aren’t too many. While the dashboard top is free of splits, cracks and other damage it is starting to ease away from the far nearside air vent.

The boot trim is also more patinated than the rest of the interior, and we can see a new set of carpets featuring in the E Type’s future.
 

Prior to the restoration by by P&K Thornton in 1999, we understand the carburettors, brakes, suspension, flywheel, exhausts, camshaft, and valves were upgraded by Ron Beattie of Forward Engineering. The result is 300+bhp and a ”lovely, lovely car to drive”.

Last serviced by Stanbridge Motors of Wimborne in April 2024, it is running perfectly and, as you can see, the 4.2-litre engine starts very well with good oil pressure from the off that builds nicely as the car is revved – and while the voltmeter takes a while to catch up, it gets there in the end.

It makes all the right noises too, especially when provoked when the induction rasp hardens and the exhaust note deepens. Of course, being a six-cylinder it’s vibration free and revs like a sewing machine, which is handy because the seller tells us “the modifications were designed to be driven”, a claim we found nothing to argue with.

The easy accessibility of the engine bay is one of the many joys and owning an E Type and lifting the bonnet on this one uncovers a nicely presented engine that boasts niceties such as a tubular exhaust manifold, what looks like a recent alternator and bracket, heated-wrapped air-conditioning pipework, and much more.

Including that clever electric power-steering system from EZ that only cuts in below 10mph, leaving the feel unadulterated and exactly as Jaguar intended at anything faster than running pace.

The underside continues to benefit from having been stripped, injected with Waxoyl, and painted with Mercasol in July 2017. This preventative work built on restorative work that was carried out in 2014, and while the finish is holding up well, it is starting to flake off in places and it would be prudent to wire-brush it off and touch it up.
 

Having won the car earlier this year in auction with us, our vendor is only re-selling as he is regretfully too tall to fit inside comfortably. The previous owner had the car for around twenty years, and the one before that was enthusiastic enough about his E Type to invest (presumably vast sums) in upgrading the engine and braking system. 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes a Production Record Trace Certificate from the Jaguar Heritage Trust, the invoices from P&K Thornton for the restoration in 1999, the official Jaguar service manual, the Operating, Maintenance and Service Handbook, and miscellaneous bills from over the years plus a number of expired MoT certificates.

If you were to ask members of the non-motoring public to name THE definitive British sportscar, it would probably be an E Type and this is a very nicely presented and driving example.

The older restoration has held up well and it benefits from discreetly installed power-steering and air-conditioning; if you’re in the market for an E Type coupé then this one has a lot to commend it.

And all of that is without figuring in its possible status as one of fabled Lost Six, the semi-mythical cars that everyone claims to heard of but few have actually seen.

But you could go one better because not only can you now say you’ve seen one, if you’ve got somewhere between £40,000 and £45,000 burning a hole in your pocket you could tell people that you actually own one.

How cool would that be?

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