Older repaint, nice interior, extensive mechanical renovations. Rebuilt engine, carbs, transmission, suspension, and brakes. Ice cold A/C, upgraded radio, lots of receipts included. The Jag to own if you like to drive.
The color is called Sable, and it’s an elegant chocolate brown that looks great on the long, lean E-Type bodywork. It’s subtle but in 1974 it was one of the more popular choices. The car was repainted perhaps 25 years ago but it’s got a great shine today and the bodywork underneath is in good condition—not perfect, but we’re talking about a car you’ll drive without a second thought, right? The facelifted bodywork changed to meet American regulations, but it’s still stunningly beautiful—long, low, and there’s not an extra ounce of fat anywhere on it. Body gaps are good, the bonnet (hood) snugs down easily, and the subtle flares on the fenders give it some presence that the earlier cars didn’t have. OK, so the big rubber bumpers aren’t the prettiest solution to the 5 MPH regulations, but that’s how it was built and this car sticks to the original formula.
Inside, there’s a handsome tan leather interior that was probably restored at the same time the car was repainted. The buckets are supportive and comfortable, and unlike the earlier E-Types, you actually feel like you’re sitting IN this car rather than ON it. It wraps around you, and the British are still better than almost anyone else at building beautiful interiors. The wood-rimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel is a dramatic way to manage something so mundane as steering and the big, round Smiths gauges are elegant in their simplicity. They all work except for the clock, and it’s awesome to see them all slowly come to life when the engine fires. There’s a newer Sony AM/FM/CD stereo head unit that sounds OK, but the V12 sound track will always be better, and remarkably enough, the factory A/C blows ice cold. Weather equipment includes a light tan vinyl convertible top that has some signs of age (replacements are commonly available and not terribly expensive) as well as the original black vinyl boot. There’s a bit of storage behind the seats plus a bit of a trunk, which includes a matching spare tire and chrome wire wheel.
We have nearly $25,000 in receipts for mechanical work on this Jag, and as a result it runs superbly. The matching-numbers 5.3-liter SOHC V12 starts quickly and easily with a little choke and once it’s warmed up you’ll realize that more torque is always better. The rebuilt engine pulls the roadster around effortlessly and makes the most spectacular sounds this side of a Ferrari Daytona while doing it. The carbs are rebuilt, the A/C system was rebuilt, the alternator was rebuilt, the power steering was rebuilt, and, well, you get the idea. It purrs down the road almost silently until you lean on it a little bit and there’s plenty of torque on tap at almost any speed—this thing feels like a British Corvette rather than a dainty European sports car.
Underneath it’s grungy, no argument there. Who cares? The floors are solid, the factory reinforcements are still in place, and aside from a piece of the rocker panel flange just ahead of the left rear wheel that seems to have broken off due to a misplaced jack, the critical parts are in good shape. The Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic transmission was completely rebuilt by Earl Gibbs at North Coast Exotics and there’s a brand new stainless exhaust system. Brakes and suspension were fully rebuilt, and the rear suspension features new shocks, including $1000 worth of coil-overs in back. Chrome wire wheels look great on the dark bodywork and are fitted with right-sized 205/70/15 Pirelli radials.
Documentation includes a stack of receipts for all the repairs and service.
This isn’t the car for you if you want perfection and trophies. It is the car for the guy who wants to experience the Jaguar E-Type as a car rather than static art. This roadster is just joyous to drive, making wonderful sounds and offers a driving experience that no other manufacturer has ever been able to duplicate. There’s a long list of service work with receipts, so you can drive and enjoy without the worries that come with Jaguar ownership—someone has already done the heavy lifting for you. Just get in, turn the key, and you’ll understand. Call today!
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