For Sale: 1970 Jaguar XKE in Morgantown, Pennsylvania

1970 Jaguar XKE Coupe

"The 1970 Jaguar E-Type has always held a particular place in automotive history that enthusiasts just can't escape. The way people feel when encountering an incredible piece of machinery illustrates how a vehicle's design specs can stir the soul. This impressive design fused artistry with functionality and embodied the sensibilities of an era while pushing the boundaries of automotive technology. The E-Type with its long flowing lines and distinctive silhouette made it instantly recognizable and earned it a place among the most iconic cars of the 20th century." Ecdautodesign.com

For consignment, a 1970 Jaguar XKE 2+2 coupe with a title verified 80,912 actual miles. Here's a clean, driver condition Jag owned by our consignor for 31 years and presenting in the desirable Ascot Fawn over Biscuit.

Exterior
A sort of green toned brown coats the legendary lines of this big cat and is aptly named Ascot Fawn. The inset headlights and gaping mouth at the front end of the long nose, is iconic as it is epic and in nice condition with surface rust and bowing of the center emblem housing on the grille as well as on the bottom side of the crossbar. The louvers on the hood add the right amount of sportiness to the grand tourer and the 15-inch chrome wire wheels carry the class end of things, here showing some patina and peeling of the plating. The twin tailpipes extend past the rear bumper and flank the license plate and in profile, the spectacular long nose is accompanied by the high sloping rear section, long before the Porsche Panamera was dreamed up to accommodate rear passengers. Scuffs on the chin, less than perfect metal trim, uneven and cracking filler on the rear valance and numerous other places, gap imperfections, scratches, rust bubbles and some rust causing paint peeling all make our list of exterior flaws.

Interior
The lap of luxury begins with Biscuit leather, gently bathing the door panels in a simple and sophisticated design, showing a touch of patina on each but fully intact. Step over the wide, leather clad door sill and find yourself immersed in tan leather seats appearing with newer materials, finely stitched in even vertical lines, well padded and curved. The back seats are small but also covered in luxurious leather with patina and a tear. The wood steering wheel with brushed metal spokes is right at home in the car and the E-type horn button is elegant, not something we generally say about horn buttons. A large speedometer and tachometer are straight ahead and a myriad of gauges, toggle switches that are plastic but robust, and a clock occupy the center area, all looking nice. We note some detached material from the dash pad along the front rim. From the dash we move down to the leather covered center console where a stout, wood knobbed shifter sits in plastic housing in front of a leather clad console in a condition consistent with the rest of the interior. The rear hatch opens on side mounted hinges and reveals a cargo area with polished aluminum rails evenly dispersed over the length of the compartment and continuing on the back of the rear seats, a subtle and tasteful design. The plush tan carpet on the floors shows some age while the headliner and pillar treatment are a soft, fleece like material and are in very good shape.

Drivetrain
The entire nose pivots forward to reveal a clean 4.2 liter DOHC inline six cylinder with 2 Su carburetors and a rating of 245 horsepower. It is mated to a 4-speed manual transmission sending power to the rear axle and 3.54 gears.

Undercarriage
Driver quality conditions prevail underneath with surface rust and patina, including some flaws in the roll pan that wraps under the rear of the car. Four wheel disc brakes are onboard and independent suspension is also front and rear, with torsion bars up front and coil overs in back. The dual exhaust flows through stainless steel mufflers and resonators on their way to the tailpipes.

Drive-Ability
There's just something special about the cockpit of an XKE and until you experience it, it's hard to describe. With a turn of the key, the six cylinder comes to life and the subtle rumble of the exhaust puts the luxury in luxury sports tourer. We roll the car onto the test loop, careful to not flog the car as the tires are 24 years old. Despite that, it runs smooth, surges forward without issue, and handles well at our lower speed. We note the clock not working but all other functions on board do, and we roll this sleek big cat back to the mall. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.

Here's a drivable classic that would be an outstanding candidate for full restoration to bring it back to its former glory. Despite differing opinions of the XKE 2+2, they still turn heads and spark questions at every Cars of England show and beyond. They still retain much of the sensual shape of the standard coupe, and they are still unmistakably Jaguar.

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.

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