1962 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 FHC, Ex 'Lofty' England

Silverstone Auctions are very proud to offer this important motor car. Not only is the car itself a magnificent example of an unmolested Series One, the story of how the vendor came to own the ex-Lofty England 62' Jaguar E-type is very entertaining...

Having snubbed a purpose-built front-running all alloy E-type ticketed at a handsome £300,000, the vendor's trip to Yorkshire in search of a pre-66 race car ended with an innocent introduction to a "less modified' car in the guise of a rather nice 1962 3.8 Fixed Head Coupe. It was a customer's road car with respected Jaguar authority, Mike Wilkinson, and was on site for some minor work and was possibly for sale. The vendors' first recollection was, "It had coarse grain red interior when it should be fine grain...."

Such concerns changed when it became apparent the car's first owner was Mr. F.R.W. "Lofty' England. Its Jaguar Heritage Certificate showed that it was in it's original colour of Fawn Beige, had matching engine, body and chassis numbers and the original registration number '6515 VC'. Le Mans spotters will recognise this number as being in the same sequence as the Le Mans FHC E-Type of Roy Salvadori/Briggs Cunningham which came 4th in 1962. In his search for a racing E-Type, our vendor had stumbled upon an important piece of Jaguar history and just knew that he had to buy the car and postpone his search for a racing car. A sum was agreed and Lofty's E-Type was his. Thankfully for the next owner, the vendor resisted the opportunity to convert to a racer and left it as a road car. Later research with the E-Type Club concluded that Lofty England had a new Series I E-type every year for four years. They knew the details of three of these cars, and this car (chassis no. 860752) was the missing E-Type...

Offered in unmolested original condition, this Series I benefits from factory modifications specific to the request of the cars first owner. Amongst these, the dash-board is the most obvious. The standard air vents which are located in the footwells, just above your knees, require the occupants to lean forward out of their seats to operate them. Lofty's car has dash-operated twist-controls for these air vents, so that the driver does not have to lean forward to operate either of them. The location of these air-vent controls necessitated the relocation of the choke slider, choke light and heater sliders. A dash operated clock control is also fitted. Interestingly, if you look behind the dash, you can see that the dash casing has not been modified, it was purpose built by the factory. Then there is the glove compartment lid, something that came years later on production cars. While we are on the subject of interior storage, a useful secret compartment has also been fitted. It is about the size of a small shoe-box and resides in the sloping bulkhead behind the passenger seat. More common (and acceptable) mods include a very welcome all-synchro gearbox, a gas-flowed head with valve stem oil seal, and competition off-set 6" wire wheels. The wheels are just right, and not wide enough to look like a modification. Competition off-set wire wheels were offered in period as an optional extra.

Restorative work undertaken on the car during its current ownership also includes a new (and now correct) interior, a new stainless steel exhaust system, new electric fan and some detailing work. Following an unexpected failure which caused one of the exhausts to begin smoking, without taking any chances, the vendor stripped down the engine and found that one exhaust valve guide had dropped down allowing oil to enter a cylinder. The engine was rebuilt with new valve guides, new exhaust valve, head re-faced, a set of new piston rings and bearings. Internal wear was surprisingly little and the motor has a long life ahead.

The vendor has this to say of "6515 VC':"The car is extremely sound and drives superbly. It is amazing how I am instantly transported back to my youth every time I drive it. The FHC feels so much more solid than the Roadster, and it is remarkable how many people come and talk to me about the car; often saying that they prefer the look of the Fixed-Head to the Convertible. I have no preference either way; both models of Series 1 cars have their pros and cons. The thing that astonishes me most about the E-Type is how far ahead of its time it really was. It was also a fraction of the price of its rivals. Compared with the relevant exotica, the E-Type is so much better made, and so well supported by an affordable and efficient parts industry."

Supplied with UK V5C registration certificate, MoT test certificate valid until April 2012 and a healthy history file, this wonderful and important Series I E-type is now ready for its next chapter under new ownership. A striking and well-preserved motor car, Lofty's "E' could be the proud and deserved new addition to your collection.