2024-01-23 23:17:47 | pauls writes:

Car offered at:

www.hemmings.com/auction/1963-jaguar-e-type-sweetwater-tn-908757

Seller's description:

Vehicle Location Sweetwater, Tennessee

VIN 878251

Odometer 38,607

Engine 3.8-liter DOHC inline-six

Transmission Manual

Exterior Color Opalescent Dark Green

Interior Beige leather and vinyl

Seller Private

This 1963 Jaguar E-type Series 1 Open Two-Seater (Jaguar’s official name for the convertible) was reportedly purchased by the seller from a Pennsylvania dealer in 2008. The car was acquired in a mostly disassembled state, but with the bodywork already done. The seller indicates a rebuilt engine; all-new paint; most chrome new or replated; and the interior redone with seats enhanced for a different style. The Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate verifies the car’s original engine and colors. 

POWERTRAIN

The 3.8-liter DOHC inline-six used three SU carburetors and was rated at 265 horsepower by the manufacturer when new. The seller says the engine has been rebuilt and now has about 5 miles of running behind it. Added upgrades include porcelain-coated exhaust manifolds and an aluminum radiator with electric cooling fan. The water pump is also rebuilt, and the car has a new stainless-steel exhaust system, the seller states. “The car starts immediately with no smoke, and there are no leaks or weeps,” he notes. He indicates “frequent minor issues with the electrical system.” The Moss four-speed manual transmission with a synchronized first gear is said to shift “normally for a 3.8-liter E-type.”

EXTERIOR

As noted, the seller says the metal work had already been done when he purchased the Jaguar in 2008. He says there is “no rust” and that the E-type has “an excellent paint job done in spring 2023, when the car was completely dismantled except for the frame.” He is not aware of any swirls or body blemishes in the Opalescent Dark Green finish. All chrome is either new or replated, except for a few original parts that easily regained their shine with some elbow grease, the seller explains. The convertible soft top is brand new with no leaks, he says, and he is unaware of any cracks in the glass or leaks in the new seals. All lighting is said to work.

INTERIOR

According to the seller, the car’s carpet is new, and the interior trim is intact. He says the beige bucket seats are new and feature a combination of leather and vinyl that gives a different look than the original seats. The heat works, and gauges are believed to function accurately. The seller states that the original wood-rimmed steering wheel was refurbished.

CHASSIS

Four-wheel independent suspension featured dual coilover shock units per side at the rear, a design Jaguar would use on various models into the early 1990s. The seller says that the Jaguar’s suspension was recently greased, and it has all-new rear-end rubber mounts. The 185VR15 Vredestein Sprint Classic tires show 2021 DOT date codes. The wire-spoke wheels with knock-off hubs are indicated as new. The steering has no play, the seller says. He reports new brake cylinders and lines and says there are currently no issues with the four-wheel disc brakes. 

DOCUMENTATION

The seller states that this vehicle will be sold on a clean Tennessee title in his name. Presented as “rust-free and restored,” this 1963 Jaguar E-type Series 1 Open Two-Seater is considered by the model’s adherents to be the purest form of the car. Its iconic design, combined with the just-right blend of wild spirit and civility, made the car a sports car legend.