1967 Jaguar E Type S1.5 OTS

Delivered to the United States in November 1967 where it was then sold by Jaguar Cars New York, this “matching numbers” Jaguar E Type Series 1.5 OTS was repatriated in 1989, at which point it was restored and converted to right-hand drive.

The current owner has invested a further £10,000 or so in ‘66 XVL’ since buying it three years ago, and while we’ll go into the full details later suffice it to say it’s held nothing but advisory-free MoTs since 2019.

Finished in Carmen Red with a recently restored black leather interior, the owner admits to being “quite fussy”, which is exactly what you want to hear when you’re thinking of investing a sum like this in a classic car.

Carmen Red is the quintessential colour for an E Type and this one makes the reason clear, not least because someone took great care to get the panels aligned properly, an act of devotion subsequent owners have honoured as there are no dents, dinks or ripples to them either.

The Carmen Red paint has a vivid gloss to it, and taken together the Jaguar’s svelte lines have never looked better.

But then an awful lot of work went into getting it looking this good – and then still more to keep it looking so sharp: The offside rear quarter and front wing were painted in June 2022 along with the bonnet, offside rear back panel and offside front inner wing.

Skillfully blended in, this work built on earlier work in 2016 that was far more comprehensive ; please see the invoice and photographs from Tony Williams Bodyshop for details – and this, of course, builds on the even earlier work in the late eighties we mentioned in the introduction.

Nor have the details been neglected as new chromed wire wheels and spinners were fitted in May 2022. Still like new and completely free of rust, scratches, and other distractions, they’re also fitted with a matching set of 205/70VR15 Dunlop SP Sport tyres, the iconic tread pattern that looks just right on a car like this.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The black folding roof is as good as the rest of the coachwork; it fits very well, rises and falls easily, and is free of any wear that we can see, much less any actual damage. The rear plastic window is still clear and bright too, and the inner headlining and frame are also very good, albeit the former is a bit stained. It sits beneath a very good cover, too.

The chromework is equally impressive; dial in excellent lamp lenses and good badges and you’ve got an E Type you could take anywhere and draw nothing but approving glances.

Of course, there are some areas to which we would like to draw your attention. Like the panels, which retain evidence of having been painted at different times.

There are also a few minor imperfections in the paint, but even our assessor, a man who’s never shy to call out even the smallest flaw, said of it: “it is a very well presented car”, which is high praise indeed.

His positivity extends to the interior, with him saying: “it is very smart with just the usual wear”, which in this case simply means the very gentlest – and we do mean very gentlest – of easing to the driver’s seat.

Not that this startlingly good condition should come as a surprise because Harry Fraser Vehicle Upholstery refurbished the interior in October 2023 at a cost of almost £3,000. A hefty bill indeed but then the work was comprehensive and included making a boot carpet, painting the sides of the boot, refurbishing the sunvisors, rebuilding and trimming the door cards and rear panels, and fitting door seals.

And this work follows on from the invoice that’s on file for £2,250 for a “standard trim kit less boot, seat foams, and diaphragms” the seller purchased in December 2022.

The restoration in the eighties changed the colour of the interior from black to beige, something he says looked “horrible” and he couldn’t wait to change it back to the colour it originally wore.

He then went on to fit new switches because the old ones were “quite worn”, going on to remind us that he is fussy and wants everything just so.

So, the fact it looks as good as it does and needs absolutely nothing doing to it isn’t a surprise and if you’re the sort of person who likes tinkering, the only thing for you to do is to straighten the gearknob – and that’s probably our fault.

It also features a very nice Caliber Bluetooth headunit, so you can stream your calls and music when/if you ever get bored of that sonorous straight-six snarl – and if originality is your thing you’ll be delighted to hear that he kept the radio that was removed and it will come with the car.

And that iconic engine is running beautifully but then the seller’s been sure to make it so, with the most recent servicing work being on the 4th of February 2025 and 33,594 miles. Comprising a service and MoT plus fresh differential oil and a sealed-beam headlight by Classic Performance Engineering, it set him back £953.

There are other invoices from the same firm on file for various bits and bobs; we’ve totted them up and if you include the coachwork and interior, they come to a solid five-figures – but then “nothings gone wrong since I’ve owned it.”

There are plenty of older invoices in the four box files too.

Yes, that’s right, there are no fewer than four ring binders of paperwork, so there is obviously too much to list here. But we’d love to make you a coffee should you want to come and inspect ‘em in person; just be sure to set aside a few hours as there’s a lot to see!

In the meantime, you can feast your eyes on the video, which shows the E Type starting and idling nicely. It builds oil pressure too, and revs well.

Cosmetically, there is scope for further detailing if that’s something you enjoy doing, but we imagine most folk would be happy to just maintain it in the condition it is in now; clean and easily accessible, working on it would be a joy.

As for the underside, it is neatly undersealed, albeit flaking off in places. However, a wire brush and some rust killer followed by more underseal is probably all that is required; certainly the MoT testers have been silent on the matter of structural corrosion for many years now.

NB: There is a box of spares in the boot. Please look at the photos to see what’s included.

Despite not needing one, the Jaguar’s MoT certificate, which is valid until February 2026, was issued with no advisories, something that’s been the case since 2019.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported car, and the history file includes a Production Record Trace Certificate from the Jaguar Heritage Trust confirming its build specification and production dates, something the seller says attracted it to him as a “matching numbers car that still has its original front A-frame.”

The E type also comes with two sets of keys, the Operating, Maintenance, and Service Handbook, a manual for the Caliber radio, and two workshop manuals, one published by Haynes and the other by Jaguar Cars Limited.

You, like the seller, are probably attracted by three things: its condition, its originality, and its history – taken together, they add up to a very appealing car indeed.

Of course, it‘s also finished in the right colour and as a Series 1½ has rarity on its side, all of which should add up to more than our estimate of between £60,000 and £70,000.

Why so low?

Well, the market has softened just a little, but cars like this will always be in demand so this would be a great opportunity to buy the right car at the right price in the hope of future gains.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.