1969 Jaguar E-Type SII - 4.2-Litre Series 2 Coupé

The Jaguar E-Type (known in the USA as the Jaguar XK-E) was a sports car model produced by the British car manufacturer Jaguar. It was unveiled on 15 March 1961 at the Geneva Motor Show as the successor to the successful Jaguar D-Type racing car. The appeal of the E-Type lay in its performance, its charisma and its affordable price. The 3.8-litre straight-six engine (3'781 cc) produced 269 hp. In 1964, the 3.8-litre straight-six engine was bored out to 4.2 litres (4'235 cc), thereby delivering greater torque whilst maintaining the same power output (269 hp). At the same time, the Moss-Box gearbox – with its unsynchronised first gear and long shift travel – was replaced by a fully synchronised four-speed manual gearbox developed in-house by Jaguar. Jaguar drivers particularly benefited from the improvement to the previously poorly padded seats. The American safety and environmental regulations, which were cited as a competitive factor against the Corvette, necessitated significant modifications to the E-Type. Consequently, the E-Type Series II was launched in 1968 with a host of innovations. The absence of headlamp covers dealt a severe blow to the aerodynamic design, which was regarded at the time by Jaguar as a stylistic departure. Added to this were toggle switches on the dashboard, a larger radiator grille and, likewise, larger indicator and rear light units, now mounted below the bumpers. This Jaguar E-Type Series 2, with a 4.2-litre straight-six engine and a synchronised four-speed gearbox, was – like most of these beautiful coupés – exported to the USA and first registered in September 1969. Its history across the Atlantic is unknown – although it is thought that the bodywork was restored at some point and the car was fitted with a 4.2-litre engine from a late-model XJ 6 saloon. In 1992, the car was imported via England by its last owner and added to his collection. To register it in Switzerland, the speedometer was converted from miles to kilometres and reset to zero. Over the last 34 years, the Jaguar has been used for occasional drives but has spent most of its time in a dry storage facility. It has covered just 4'400 km, and a dedicated in-house mechanic was responsible for regular servicing and upcoming roadworthiness tests. In recent years, however, the coupé has not been driven due to health reasons. Currently, the bodywork and interior are in good condition, showing the usual signs of wear and tear. The engine and gearbox are in perfect working order; however, due to the long period of inactivity, a major service and a general inspection will certainly be required. The last veteran MOT took place in August 2020.