Vehicle Description
If you ask a thousand people to name the 10 most beautiful cars
ever built, the only car to appear on every single person's list
would probably be the Jaguar E-Type. This 1967 Jaguar XKE OTS
(that's open two-seater to us Yanks) is often called a Series 1
model, incorporating dozens of performance and reliability
improvements over the Series I, and unquestionably more handsome
than the later cars, making it one of the most desirable E-Types of
all. If you're looking for a Jag to drive and enjoy, this is your
E-ticket ride.
Finished in stunning Carmen Red, there's no way you can mistake
this car for anything else. Imagine, if you will, that you're the
guy who owns this car in the 1960s. There's just nothing else like
it on the road and everywhere you go, you're a 1-car parade. Women
throw themselves at you, and it never rains. Well, OK, those last
two aren't true, but if you have this car in your garage, you are
well and truly The Man. The shape is so seductive that you'll be
tempted to just run your fingers along the chrome spines that top
each of the front fenders each time you park it and walk away.
Beautifully restored, this one exhibits none of the usual E-Type
issues: the long bonnet fits beautifully, the doors open and close
effortlessly, and both the front and rear bumpers are tightly
fitted to the body. Never a rusty car, it has obviously spent its
life in a warm climate, and that's especially critical on Jaguars,
which can rust in the most demonic ways possible. The finish is
immaculate, and while we don't say "perfect" around our showroom,
this one is absolutely jaw-dropping. Note the small grille opening,
slender bumpers, and taillights still perched above the rear
bumpers, all indicative of the Series 1 cars and making it one of
the prettiest of all.
The Biscuit leather buckets invite you to come in and stay a while,
and with the 1965 upgrades, they became more comfortable for long
trips. While an automatic transmission was added to the options
sheet with the Series II later in the year, this one still sports a
proper 4-speed manual, a revised gearbox that's almost as silky as
the bodywork. Toggle switches, not ordinary rockers, still control
all the secondary functions, and big, round Smiths gauges are a
right British way to monitor the engine. That Moto-Lita steering
wheel is real wood, and sumptuous carpets give it a plush,
luxurious feeling inside, especially with those sisal mats on top.
This car also includes a rare Blaupunkt AM/FM radio that has been
upgraded for iPod operation. There's not a lot of trunk space, but
enough for a weekend getaway, and the tan convertible top fits
snugly when you need it in an emergency.
The Series 1 cars got a nice bump in performance thanks to a
revised 4.2 liter DOHC inline-six. Still silky smooth and willing
to howl to redline in every gear, it also produces more torque for
American tastes. Polished cam covers and a gold spark plug valley
easily identify this as an early car, not an SII, and all the
wonderful Jaguar details are still there, from the gorgeous
porcelain exhaust manifolds to a trio of side-draft SU's (SII cars
dropped to only two carbs). It fires easily with a racy growl from
the twin tailpipes, and pulls with the ferocity of a much bigger
engine. You'll be pleased to note the chassis is beautifully
detailed but it has been driven, so you aren't erasing perfection,
and it wears proper 185R15 blackwall radials on gorgeous chrome
wire wheels.
It is as fast as it is beautiful, it is fully documented with a
Heritage Certificate, and thanks to a high-quality restoration,
this E-Type roadster can be driven and shown anywhere with
confidence. Call today!