Jaguar E-type 4.7 (1966)

This wonderful and unrepeatable E-type, chassis 1E 1536, started life a 4.2 Roadster finished in Opalescent Dark Green supplied by Henlys of London in April 1966 and registered as “TPP 578E”. During the cars first 30 years this E-type lived a quite ordinary life in “standard” from covering some 67,000 miles with just three UK based owners. In the 1990s however, the car was stripped for a restoration which then stalled. As a result, remarkably this car remained off the road in brown primer for 25 years.

In 2012 the car was purchased by a successful racing driver, Former British Touring Car Champion and BRDC member who had over the years owned and restored a dozen E-type including the famous “CUT 7”. His plan was to restore and rebuild the absolute “Ultimate” road-going E-type, better, more powerful, but also more civilised than any attempt before. Working closely alongside Harry Foulsford, the E-type Guru behind “E-type UK” this car was identified as the perfect basis to create the perfect E-type.

Over the course of 2012, the car was totally restored with the body stripped down to bare metal and then repainted in its original colour of Opalescent Dark Green. The trim work was undertaken by the world-famous Suffolk and Turley also in dark green and every other nut and bolt on the car was restored by the E-type UK Team.

The car’s engine was built by Rob Beere, who is famous for building the finest Jaguar motors for track or road the unit for this car is a bespoke 4.7 Litre, high-torque powerplant. Internally all of the major components are to Rob’s specification; helping to provide maximum torque with useable power. This includes a Billet crankshaft, forged pistons, upgraded Conrods and valves, lightweight flywheel with performance manifolds and straight through exhaust system. The compression ratio is 9.6:1. This engine is dyno’d at 300 BHP with 340 Lb/ft of torque at just 2,900 rpm which is sustained until 4,500 rpm. Paired with its small size, it feels ‘modern-day fast’ on the road.

In addition to the engine, the car is also fitted with a host of further upgrades all in the name of adding performance and usability but whilst retaining the original appearance these include;

• - Aluminum bonnet
• - Competition Dunlop cast wheels
• - 4-piston brake calipers
• - Vented brake discs
• - Alloy radiator
• - Alloy header tank
• - Kenlowe fan
• - Silicon cooling hoses
• - Silicon HT leads
• -1-2-3 distributor
• - Upgraded Alternator
• - High-torque starter motor
• - Braided brake lines
• - Upgraded torsion bars
• - Alloy bodied AVO adjustable dampers
• - Upgraded front anti-roll bar
• - Long primary tubular manifolds
• - Sports exhaust System
• - Uprated rear springs
• - Diaphragm clutch
• - Hardtop
• - Hi-flow air filter
• - Solid Steering Rack Mounts and much more.
• Following the completion of this car, a change in Harry Foulfords personal life necessitated a move to California and as a result, he sold E-type UK and the project sadly ceased to continue, making this car the only example extant. We have been fortunate to handle the sale of this wonderful car twice from two significant collections of motorcars. The most recent owner, also a BRDC member, has enjoyed considerable success, racing his original, one of twelve, factory Lightweight E-type over many years.

He decided to further uprate this remarkable car, so that it resembled the ultimate road going ‘Semi-Lightweight E-type’; a one-off car ordered new from the Jaguar factory by Sir Robert Ropner, delivered in 1964 and combined the best qualities of the full racing Lightweight version with the series I road car. Its pure uncluttered lines have long been considered amongst Jaguar aficionados as unsurpassed.

To this end, correct early pattern 6” rim Dunlop alloy road wheels were ordered. These are mounted to correct, pin drive hubs, and secured by three eared knock-off hub spinners – exactly as the Ropner Semi-Lightweight. The bumpers were removed front and rear, which further serves to accentuate Malcolm Sayer’s wonderful, pure E-type lines. The hardtop has the extra strengthening stay mounted to the rear, and the seats are correct pattern alloy Lightweight E-type seats, also trimmed by Suffolk and Turley to factory specifications.

The car was re-registered 20 FXG (the onwers long term registration and not included in the sale) and with its correct factory type black hardtop, looks and goes like the ultimate road going Series I E-type that it is. The perfect E-type indeed.

A true money-no object to creating the ultimate fast-road example, with performance to match its timeless looks. With further refinements coming from its current meticulous custodian with a lifetime of experience in racing classic Jaguars, this fabulous E-type really must be seen to be appreciated. It is available to view at our showrooms outside London immediately.