Jaguar E-TYPE Roadster is Restoration Perfection
This pitch-perfect example is everything you want from a Jaguar E-TYPE Roadster Restoration.
We’ve seen some gorgeous restorations cropping up for sale recently, and this is up there with the best. According to the listing on RM Sotheby’s website, it’s believed to have been sold through Jaguar Cars New York to Thomas J. Watson Jr, son of the man responsible for the meteoric rise of IBM and an unofficial ambassador in New York for President Roosevelt. Watson Jr took up the torch of IBM Chairmanship from his father and built on his success. Forbes called him, “The greatest capitalist in history,” and TIME named him as one of their “100 most influential people of the 20th century.” If it is indeed the case he owned this E-TYPE, it may not necessarily add value but it certainly adds some more history to the car.
The 1966 E-TYPE‘s current owner is coyly referred to as, “A well-known marque specialist,” that took on the restoration. The details involve a thorough rebuild and just the right upgrades and updates to bring confidence in modern traffic and a touch more power. The engine is bored an extra 20-thousandths of an inch along with refreshing the internals and balancing the rotating assembly. The differential and gearbox have been rebuilt as well and given a new final ratio of 3.07. That should only increase the relaxing pleasure of a long cross-country trip in this gem of a car.
Where it truly shines though is the finish and that color. The metal was stripped bare for Opalescent Silver-Blue; a Jaguar E-TYPE period correct color. The interior is refinished, according to the listing, using the correct British materials. The only visible clue it’s not 100% stock is the wider than stock wheels used to allow modern Michelin tires. At an expected $225,000-$275,000 at auction, someone is going to have one beautiful car to drive to concours events.
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