– Original RHD
– Matching Numbers
– 5 Previous Owners, Ownership Known From New
– Original Factory Colours of Opalescent Silver Grey with Red Trim
– Fully Restored
Built in January 1967, this is one of the last Series 1’s built. It was shipped to Singapore that year, with correspondence from the son of the first owner explaining how a late night, 140mph test drive of another car persuaded them to order one for themselves, and how his father attempted to race it!
It was repatriated in 1987, and was then fully restored by Windmill Classics, winning various concours events. As was often the case in the 1980s, instead of painting it the original factory colour, the new British owner decided on red.
This is my own car. By late 2016 I had been looking for an original Right Hand Drive 4.2 Series 1 FHC for a long while, and I specifically wanted Opalescent Silver Grey with red trim. I had seen an army of average, sub-standard cars and was disheartened. I went to have a look at yet another which wasn’t up to scratch, but was shown this car at the same time. Being red, I walked away, but suddenly thought to look at the Heritage Certificate.
The history file showed it had just had an engine rebuild by VSE Engines in Wales, and the gearbox by CMC in Bridgenorth (from whom I bought the car). The body was very good indeed, and so I decided to buy it and return it to its original factory colour scheme.
Work commenced in January 2017, with Classic Performance Engineering overseeing the strip down and rebuild. I spent a long time making sure the leather was correct – Vaumol leather, not modern rubbish – with the trimmer working from scratch, not buying in a kit. We matched the colour to an E-Type with original trim. Preparation on the body included resetting all the panel gaps before painting and reassembling.
I don’t believe you need to modify a 4.2 Series 1 E-Type that much, but I did do a few simple upgrades; the front brake calipers, Koni shock absorbers on the front with coil-overs on the back, stainless exhaust, high torque starter motor and outside laced competition wire wheels on Blockley tyres.
The history file on it is biblical, with correspondence from every owner from new. MOTs start in 1995, with tax back to when it was first on the UK roads in 1992.
There are a myriad of small details I look for on a good E-Type – original picture frame stamping, original chassis plate, original weld above the number plate, original panel seams below the boot, original body tag, original jack and date stamped wind screen wiper motor to name but a few. These are all present, and it is a super car. I know all dealers say “this is my own car, I was going to keep it, but….”, but in this case it’s true! I have an 8 month old daughter and need to buy a house, so sadly what was supposed to be a long term ‘keeper’ is to be turned into bricks and mortar. I’m disappointed that I won’t keep this one as I doubt I’ll find another this good when I next want one, but needs must. The next owner is invited to dinner at the new house!
