J65-734

About the Jaguar and its restoration

This 1965 Jaguar E-Type is a numbers-matching example that was a great candidate for a show/driver restoration. The XKE's first owner purchased the roadster new in Paris, France. The car retains its original color combination of Opalescent Silver Grey with a Black interior, and features several unique aesthetic and mechanical differences, including Euro-style marker lights. The E-Type was built and commissioned from the factory with an 8:1 compression engine, but our team decided to change the pistons and bump the compression up to 9:1 to give the XKE more power – which is what most owners prefer. We decided to keep the look of the car completely original as it came out of the factory in 1965. Please note this car is scheduled for a Spring 2024 completion date, and is available for purchase now - contact our sales team for more information!

SPRING 2024 RESTORATION UPDATE

We started the XKE’s restoration process by first evaluating, inspecting, and photographing the car in its entirety. We then disassembled it, stripped it to bare metal, placed it on a rotisserie, metal finished, leaded, with all body parts fitted to the car as well as the chrome, primer preparation, sealer, paint, base and clear coat, finally color sanding and buffing to a beautiful Opalescent Silver Grey finish that you see on the XKE’s body today.

Since our last update, most of the XKE’s mechanical systems and components have been installed to the roadster, including: the engine and transmission, as well as the rear end and suspension. The installed engine block was hot tanked, line bored, and magnafluxed - all of which included machining and calibration along with the addition of new pistons, rings, bearings, a new fuel and water pump and machining the crank.

Elsewhere, new valves, guides, seals, timing chain, a completely rebuilt head, SU carburetors, a new clutch system, fly wheel machining, new hydraulic system, new u joints were also installed. All other systems such as the electrical, hydraulic, cooling and fuel systems have been installed, and the E-Type has received a new wire harness, a rebuilt power brake booster, new rubber, and new grommets. All electrical components have been gone through, which included the gauges, knobs, and switches - all of which were restored, rescreened, and replaced where necessary. The car will also receive a new exhaust system, and a new battery. The gas tank has been hot tanked, painted, and epoxy sealed, and a new stock radiator has been installed as well.

Our master trimmer in our upholstery department has created a complete new custom tailored and fit interior in the correct materials, which included a full restoration of the car’s seats, frames, top bows, convertible top, and the installation of sound deadening to achieve a quiet, comfortable driving experience. He has recently started installing the components to the XKE, and is making great progress. Stay tuned to our Summer 2024 newsletter for the conclusion of this 1967 Jaguar E-Type restoration! Once completed, this restored show/driver level XKE is sure to be ready for a multitude of uses, from campaigning at Concours events, to experiencing it out on the open road, or simply collecting as an investment.

Restoration Gallery 1

(tap or click on an image to view a larger version)

JAGUAR XKE HISTORY

Launched in 1961 at the international motor show in Geneva, the XKE echoed the sensation of the XK-120, perhaps even more. An astonishing performance package, with amazing speed and handling, the XKE’s brand-new 4-wheel independent suspension system was so well conceived, it was used by Jaguar for over 30 years. The Series 1 4.2 is a very user friendly, sporty driver, and one of the most collectable of the E-Types. These are wonderful cars with a 4.2-liter engine with 3 SU carburetors and a fully synchronized transmission. Some of the features of this model are covered headlights, toggle switches, full instrumentation with styling and a design that was way ahead of its time with center console, and arm rests. Other features of this Series 1 are its steep windshield and tail lights, which are placed above the bumper line in the rear deck. Similarly, the parking lights are above the front bumper line in the front fenders. In 1964 when the 4.2 was tested, fuel consumption was reported at 22 MPG and a top speed of 140 MPH.