2011-07-31 21:41:47 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 8/11
www.goodingco.com/car/1961-jaguar-e-type-series-i-38-litre-roadster

Auction description:
1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8-Litre Roadster
CHASSIS NO. 875616
ENGINE NO. R1876-9
$120,000 - $150,000
Without Reserve
This Car
According to a feature article in the April 1995 issue of Car Collector magazine, this remarkably preserved E-Type was originally given to M.E. Wissel of Allentown, Pennsylvania by Max Hess, Jr., the heir to the Hess Brothers department store chain based in Allentown. Mr. Wissel was an employee of Mr. Hess, a flamboyant businessman who frequently bought new sports cars only to keep them a short time before acquiring another.

The car is believed to have stayed in Mr. Wissel's possession for many years and, after his passing, his family kept it in a barn for close to three decades before selling it to its second owner, Bernard Berman, in the early 1990s. After recovering the Jaguar from its barn-find condition, Mr. Berman, a philanthropist and noted Allentown car enthusiast, conducted some sympathetic mechanical work, including rebuilding the carburetors, brakes and exhaust system, and replacing the carpets.

Since then, the car has been sparingly driven and is believed to still wear its original whitewall tires. Showing just 3,428 miles at the time of its barn emergence, the odometer currently displays less than 3,800 miles, a number that is believed to represent the original mileage from new. The current owner has maintained the car in good running condition with regular mechanical attention that has included a rebuild of the master cylinder and installation of new brake pads.

Displaying a charming patina that testifies to its originality, this highly authentic early E-Type Roadster is a perfect candidate for Preservation Class exhibition. Its provenance is enhanced by a fanciful brush with the renowned Hess family, as well as a barn-find story worthy of the finest tales of automotive archaeology. It has become exceedingly difficult to find an early E-Type in such beautifully preserved condition, complete with factory chalk marks, original finishes and the irreplaceable character of a car that has never been taken apart. Accompanied by its original tool kit and a heritage certificate from the JDHT, this time-capsule E-Type is an exceptionally pure and unmolested example of Coventry's legendary sports car.

2011-08-04 00:53:12 | xke7 writes:

875616 is the „sister car" of 885169.
The first owner of 875616 and 885169 was Mr. Wissel of Allentown, PA.
Mr. Bernard Berman bought 875616 and 885169 from Mr. Wissel.
875616 and 885169 were originally sold by the same dealership. Both cars have the same dealer badge next to the rear plate.
875616 and 885169 have the same type of radio.

2011-08-23 04:10:56 | xke7 writes:

Realized price for lot 115:

$ 118.250,00

2011-09-07 12:24:33 | Anonymous writes:

1961 JAGUAR E-TYPE

A new Jaguar for the 1990´s

By Jed Rapoport

At the Geneva Motor Show in March 1961, Jaguar introduced their new model, the E-Type. The new car provided a suprising level of performance and sophistication in a stylish new body for a fraction of the price of a comparable sports car. It did not take long for the sports car buying public to latch on to the new model and as they say in collector car circles, "A legend was born."
Imagine the thrill of finding a pair of almost brand new 1961 Jaguar E-Type´s today. The cars, a roadster and a coupe, were stored for almost thirty years by the heirs of the second owner. The coupe, with 6500 original miles, faired its long storage well since it was in a clean garage. The roadster spent its years in a barn. Dirty and full of mice nests, the car was complete without a hint of rust or wear anywhere. The poor storage not withstanding, the condition of the car was good. Perhaps the condition was not surprising considering that the odometer only showed 3428 original miles.
It was fortunate enough to be present when the roadster was delivered to its current owner and to assist the mechanic while he prepped the car to run again after its long repose. We started the process by removing the gas tank to clean out the old gas and sludge. The gas tank in an E-Type is located under the trunk floor next to the spare tire. We opened the spare tire compartment and found a package placed in the center of the overturned spare tire. We removed the package and opened it to find the original tool set along with containers of grease and touch-up paint still in their factory wrappings.
After cleaning and reinstalling the gas tank and cleaning the bank of three SU HD8 carburetors we checked the radiator to make sure that no foreign objects had found their way in there and filled it with water. The ignition system was checked along with the spark plugs. The oil was dumped and fresh oil was poured into the cavernous oil pan. A spare battery was attached to the car and with crossed fingers the mechanic turned the key.
The electric fuel pump quickly pumped fuel to the carburetors. Pressing the ignition button the engine turned over easily. The engine barely had to crank before it sprung to life shooting a spray of nut shells, grass and dirt from the exhaust system like shot from a gun. No doubt we disturbed the hiding place of some busy mice.
I don´t think that Doctor Frankenstein was as suprised or excited as we were that the engine not only turned over but that it ran and ran well. There was not a hint of stuck valves, rusted pistons or any of the other potentially devastating damage that could occur to an engine when stored improperly for an extended period.
The engine was allowed to idle as the temperature moved up and then slowly the gas pedal was depressed to test the engine over a greater rpm range. The smoothness of the engine was astounding. As the yery dry seals and hoses began to fail, water seemed to leak from erverywhere and the carburetors began to leak gas. The next stop for this car was the mechanics shop where it could be given a complete going over and tune up.
The car received a thorough mechanical check-up that included rebuilding the carbs and replacing many of the hoses. The brakes were disassembled and cleaned and rebuilt (the original fluid was still in them and it was in surprisingly good condition). A new clutch cylinder was needed and a tune-up kit for the ignition was installed. A short time later the exhaust system was replaced as the heat from running the car began to open up holes where the mice had stored their food stuffs.
Cosmetically the car needed very little. A thorough cleaning revealed that the original Bronze paint was in fair condition and a good polishing made the paint look very presentable. The top or "boot", as the English know it, was replaced because the animals had left the original looking like Swiss cheese. The carpets on the floors were thrown away because they were downright disgusting. Everything else was like new, including the original Dunlop white sidewall tires mounted on wire wheels painted body color, indicating that the original owner didn´t spring for the optional chrome wires.
The serial number on the roadster identifies it as number 616 (875616) off the assembly line while the coupe is number 169 (885169). Both cars were sold new to Max Hess the flamboyant owner of Hess´s Department store in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Hess loved exotic cars. Over the years he owned everything from an Allard to a Lamborghini. Hess also had an unusual practice of driving a new car for a few days or less and giving it away to a key employee or friend. The two Jaguars were given to a trusted employee (Mr. Wissel, Allentown, PA) after Hess drove them, I´m told, around the block. The cars remained in the family of that lucky employee until acquired by the current owner (Bernard Berman, Allentown, PA).
The 3.8-litre double overhead camshaft in-line six is not large by 1961 standards. However the power generated is plentiful; 265hp at 5500rpm according to Jaguar. From the time you start the engine you can´t help being impressed with the quality and sophistication of the car. The engine tone is smooth and mellow matching the overall image of an understated British grand touring car with leather interior and wood trim. Slip the short gearshift lever into the first gear and release the clutch and you will be reminded that this car was built to run. The power comes on quickly thanks to two-inch throats on the SU carburetors. The performance is impressive. The acceleration is sufficient to press you into the seat and keep you there through the gears. Although I did not even try to test this car to its full potential, it is easy to understand the 150mph top speed reported by the magazines of the period. The handling is extremely light and precise making this car is a joy to throw into a curve. Care must be taken not to push this car too hard as the original tires are too dry to withstand more than casual driving.
As wonderful as this car is, at least one shortcoming is clearly evident. The antiquated, even by 1961 standards, Moss gearbox, more affectionately called the "crash box" because of its lacks of a synchronized first gear and generally slow syncros throughout all gears, is not well suited to novice drivers. The transmission was a holdover from the previous model, the XK 150. The gearsbox was supposedly tough enough to take any amount of crunching gears. A theory I tested while getting the hang of the box. Once you get the feel for easing the transmission in and out of gear, the car proves quite easy to drive at any speed.
Over the 13-year life span of the E-Type there were several variations. The series I 3.8-litre cars had the non-synchronized gear box, odd low back bucket seats that were not designed for comfort and the center console was covered in metal trim, just to name a few of the identifying features. In 1965 the series one 4.2-litre cars became available. These cars had the larger displacement engine still fed by a bank of three SU carburetors. The seats were still low back buckets but of a more traditional design that afforded a little more comfort and lot more adjust ability. The metal covering on the console disappeared and was replaced by a more pleasing leather cover. From the distance the cars could not be differentiated but up close the new badges had the 4.2-litre displacement spelled out for all to see.
The 4.2-litre cars also addressed many of the shortcomings of the original 3.8 cars. A new all synchronized gearbox was fitted as well as a more reliable brake servo and fuel pump. Interestingly, the new higher displacement cars performed on a par with the earlier version. Most of the improvements in the new version were directed toward ease of operation and comfort. In late 1967 the series II cars made their debut but they were only a shadow of the previous variants. The series III, twelve-cylinder cars, produced between 1972 and 1974 were the last of the E-Types.
I have been fortunate enough to drive many E-Types over the years. This particular car is the oldest and most original one I have ever driven. It proved a pleasure to drive and yes, the current owner exercises it whenever possible. Perhaps part of the impact of this car lies in the knowledge that there are still cars to be found in barns and other hidden locations. If two early production Jaguars remained in such remarkable condition with low miles for all of these years, than there have to be other gems waiting to be discovered. If anyone finds a Type 55 Bugatti roadster under a hay stack in a barn, call me. I seem to have put one in storage and can´t remember where.

CAR COLLECTOR . APRIL 1995

2014-12-09 14:43:30 | Anonymous writes:

I would like to come in touch with the current owner of 875616. It would be lovely if somebody could establish a confidential contact.

Kind regards