Jaguar E-Type (1961 to 1974)

Why people buy one

• It is one of the best known British cars of its era, and a well sorted E-Type remains fast and comfortable on modern roads.
• There is a choice of character: early 3.8 cars, 4.2 cars with the all-synchromesh gearbox from late 1964, roomier 2+2s from 1966 and the smooth Series 3 V12.
• Almost every part, including body panels, is remanufactured, so even a tired car can be returned to good condition.
• The Jaguar Heritage Trust holds production records, so a car's original colour, trim, build date and destination can be confirmed.
• Club support is strong in the UK, with technical advice and inspection services available.

What to weigh up

• Restoration is expensive because the car is a monocoque with a separate front frame, and poor past repairs are common.
• Many E-Types now in the UK were sold new in North America and converted to right-hand drive later. A poor conversion can leave moved gauges, extended wiring and a fire risk.
• Engines, gearboxes and body parts are often swapped. A car described as "matching numbers" should have chassis, engine, gearbox and body numbers that agree with the factory records; the Jaguar Heritage Trust asks for all of these numbers when it issues a certificate.
• Some cars have replacement bodyshells or bonnets. This is acceptable if declared, but the history file should say what was replaced and by whom.
• Series 1.5, Series 2 and Series 3 cars differ in lights, bumpers and wheelbase, so a car can be described as an earlier model than it is.
• The rear brakes are inboard and the clutch needs the engine and gearbox removed, so routine jobs cost more than on many classics.

Where they rust

• Sills and the join between sill and floor, which are structural on this car.
• Floor pans, especially on roadsters.
• Rear wheel arches and the rear suspension mountings.
• Boot floor and the area around the spare wheel.
• Door bottoms.
• Bonnet seams behind the chrome trim, and the bonnet's lower edges.
• The front bulkhead where the engine frame rails mount.
• On coupes, the tailgate seams and bottom edge, and the screen aperture.
• Uneven panel gaps or thick underseal, which can hide filler or lead loading.

Mechanical weak spots

• XK six: listen for rattles beyond normal tappet noise and for timing chain noise from the front, and look for coolant stains on the block or milky residue under the oil filler cap.
• V12: overheating is the main worry, so look for a clean cooling system and evidence of regular coolant changes.
• Early Moss gearbox (to late 1964) has no first gear synchromesh and is slow. Later boxes can whine or jump out of gear.
• Independent rear suspension: worn radius arm bushes, clunks from drive shafts or differential, and four rear dampers that can leak.
• Front: worn wishbone ball joints, steering column joints and rack gaiters show as play at the steering wheel rim.
• Brakes: inboard rear calipers can leak unseen, and the self-adjusting handbrake can seize.
• Electrics: check that any right-hand drive conversion's wiring is tidy and fused, and that upgrades such as electric fans are properly installed.

At a Mathewsons viewing

• Compare the chassis number on the plate and the V5C, then note the engine, gearbox and body numbers so they can be checked against the factory records, the seller's paperwork or a Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate application.
• Look under the dashboard and behind the instruments for signs of a left-hand drive conversion, such as joined wiring or blanked holes in the bulkhead.
• Lift the carpets and boot mat and use a torch on the floors, sills and spare wheel well.
• With the bonnet open, look at the front frame rails where they bolt to the bulkhead, and check for welding or distortion.
• Ask whether there are restoration invoices and photos. If staff start the car, listen for knocks and rattles and watch for smoke once it is warm.

Parts, specialists and clubs

Seen on Bangers & Cash

• Jaguar E-Type (Bangers & Cash series 1, episode 9, First shown June 2019)
• Jaguar E-Type (Bangers & Cash series 2, episode 5, First shown March 2020)
• Jaguar E-Type (Bangers & Cash series 5, episode 3, First shown February 2022)
• 1969 E-Type Jaguar (Bangers & Cash series 5, episode 9, First shown March 2022)
• 1971 Jaguar E-Type (Bangers & Cash series 7, episode 11, First shown April 2023)
• Jaguar E-Type (Bangers & Cash series 10, episode 1, First shown August 2024)
• E-type (Bangers & Cash series 10, episode 5, First shown August 2024)
• E-Type (Bangers & Cash series 11, episode 10, First shown March 2025)

Sources

• Buyer's guide: Jaguar E-type (Hagerty UK), 15 March 2021
• Jaguar E-type S1 and S2 buyer's guide (Classics World), 11 March 2026
• Jaguar E-Type Buying Guide (E-Type UK), accessed 13 October 2026
• E-Type Series 3 (Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club), accessed 13 October 2026
• Heritage Certificates (Jaguar Heritage Trust), accessed 13 October 2026