2018-03-20 15:41:05 | pauls writes:

Car was at auction 3/18
www.bonhams.com/auctions/24874/lot/34/

Auction description:
Lot 34
1965 Jaguar E-type 'Series 1' 4.2-Litre Roadster
Registration no. EDG 340C
Chassis no. 1E 1294
Engine no. 7F30938
Sold for £ 119,100 (US$ 167,365) inc. premium

* UK-delivered, right-hand drive car
* Restored in Hong Kong 2010-2013
* Numerous sensible upgrades
* Replacement engine
Footnotes

Arguably the most desirable of all E-Type variants, his 4.2-litre 'Series 1' roadster was built on 3rd June 1965, painted in Opalescent Silver Blue with dark blue leather interior and matching mohair hood. It was distributed by Henlys Limited of London and sold 18th June via Imperial Motor Mart of Cheltenham to one O A Downham of Lydney, Gloucester. Nothing further is known of this car until it arrived in Hong Kong in 2005 having been purchased from Eagle Cars in 1995. Eagle's Henry Pearman has confirmed this, and that the E-Type was not an Eagle-built example but a good sound car they bought in and sold on after servicing, Waxoyl treatment, and upgrading the brakes to the vastly superior Series 2 type (which requires changing both front stub-axle assemblies). The car was used lightly during winter months and kept in storage in the hot and humid summer months.

In June 2009 the owner left Hong Kong and the car was sold to the current vendor. At that time the car was running, but because of its limited use had issues with sticking brakes, while the paint was beginning to blister. The new owner wished to change the car's colour and to undertake an extensive rebuild, which became a total restoration. Commencing in February 2010, the bare-metal 'rotisserie' restoration took two years and eight months to complete, consuming at least 4,000 man-hours of work. It included a complete strip-down to the bare chassis - all rust being eliminated - and a full repaint and re-trim in the owner's preferred 'triple black' colour scheme (body, interior, hood). Fortunately, and unlike most of its contemporaries, this particular E-type had not been seriously affected by rust, with only the foot wells and passenger door bottom requiring fresh steel to be welded in.

The car was then trucked to The American Body Shop in Hong Kong for repainting, while all the removable interior components (seats, armrest, centre console, dashboard top, etc) were sent to renowned trimmers Suffolk & Turley in the UK. S&T returned the re-trimmed items together with a full finishing kit (door trim panels, foot well side panels, carpet set, etc) and a mohair soft-top. They also modified the seat backs to stop the hood frame scratching them (a common problem with the 4.2-litre Series 1 cars). At the same time, all mechanical and electrical components and assemblies were either rebuilt or replaced. Upgrades include a six-branch stainless steel big-bore exhaust system; high-capacity aluminium radiator with integral electric cooling fan; aluminium radiator header tank; GAZ shock absorbers; 4-pot front brake callipers; cupro-nickel brake lines; and Dayton wire wheels with 6" rims. Far too lengthy to reproduce here, the story of this E-Type's exacting restoration is recounted in full in an illustrated 10-page article on file (perusal highly recommended).

On 28th August 2012, the E-Type was taken for its first test drive as a complete car, albeit only around the workshop, and after further checks was successfully submitted for roadworthiness testing. After final detailing, the car was taken on its first 'drive out' on 21st September 2012 for a photo-shoot at Hebe Haven, Sai Kung. It then travelled from Sai Kung to Hong Kong Island on 21st October 2012 for the owner to use and enjoy. Accompanying documentation consists of a JDHT Heritage Certificate, current MoT, V5C registration document, and the aforementioned article.