After Rusting Away In Lockdown For 40 Years, 1964 Jaguar E-Type Gets A New Lease On Life

Shortly before half the world entered lockdown, one lucky petrol head took delivery of a fully restored Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 FHC in the United Kingdom.

It may look perfect right now, but it was a mere shadow of the iconic model when it was found in an unused garage in southeast London. E-Type UK, the British company commissioned to perform the restoration, said that it was parked there since 1979 by the previous owner, which means that it spent the last 4 decades in complete isolation.

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Built in 1964, the classic Jag appeared rust-free during the first inspection. However, as soon as the team started disassembling and sandblasting it, it was clear that time wasn’t its friend. The strip-down took 3 days and revealed the damages caused by more than 4 decades of neglect. Some sections were too beat-up to save, so they had to be replaced, and during the work, the body was strengthened, becoming stiffer than the day it left the factory floor.

Subsequent to completing the metalwork, the E-Type had its classic lines restored. The original Opalescent Silver Blue paint was applied to the exterior, while the cockpit was trimmed in Oxblood Red leather. Inspired by the E-Type Lightweight, whose production was limited to only 12, the owner wanted a new red vinyl bonnet mouth, which comes in contrast with the fresh chrome work.

During the rebuild, the Jag received improved brake calipers and pads, and new suspension. The 3.8-liter XK6 engine was taken care of, with new seals, balanced and lightened crank and lift-cams that improve both drivability and reliability. The aluminum radiator and header tank have improved the cooling and the car also features a stainless-steel sports exhaust system and a 5-speed manual transmission.

“A restoration like this is a real challenge for our team; 40 years of inactivity takes an enormous toll on every single part of a vehicle”, said E-Type UK founder Marcus Holland. “Not only we are delighted to have delivered our client a car they’ve always wanted, but we’re honored to have played a part in keeping this piece of British motoring history on the road, and being used regularly, for many years to come.”