The 'E' Type Forum

Hi all, thought I would introduce myself and my newly acquired 1964 3.8 FHC RHD which I purchased last month at the beginning of July.

Having just retired I thought I would full fill my lifelong obsession and purchase an E-type. I specifically wanted a UK right hand drive FHC with matching numbers, prefrably a 3.8 as well as a good history. For me, the originality and history was more important than the condition and although I was willing to do a fair amount of work, I wanted to be able to drive and enjoy it this summer.

After looking at a fair few cars, all of which were not as described in originality or condition I stumbled across 460 CLJ, a 1964 'one owner' 3.8 FHC. It later turned out that it was in fact a two owner car as the the seller, 88 years old, had purchased the car in December 1964 after the original owner a Mrs Teal had gone into the back of another car and decided it was not for her and returned it to Jaguar where it received a new bonnet.

The seller had owned the car ever since and as he had put it, "the first 20 years it was used as his every day car, the next 20 years it was laid up in his garage not being driven and the last 20 years it was driven occasionally.

Although it had continually been maintained mechanically and cosmetically over the years it has never been restored and was very original compared to the majority of cars I had seen.


Our first viewing of 460 CLJ


Engine Bay looked a bit scruffy but original except for a new header tank


I loved the original interior and colour!

After the first viewing it didn't take long to decide to bite the bullet, agree a price and purchase it. What I particularly liked was it's originality, inside and out, especially the interior which apart from the horn push, front footwell carpets and gear leaver surround was as it left the factory on the 6th March 1964. The bodywork and paint was a bit scruffy but mostly original and all numbers matched the heritage certificate that came with it, engine block, cylinder head, gearbox and chassis numbers etc.

With the care came its original Jack, wheel hammer and tool roll along with owners manual, original log book, guarantee and wall chart, all in excellent condition. Accompanying this were four large files full of receipts, tax discs and mot certificates all dating back to the 1960's. All in all there was a full history of the car included which was really nice to have. I also got a video made of the couple selling the car talking about there time owning it which was really nice.


460 CLJ home having driven the 400 mile round trip to Bristol to pick her up

Anyway, having got the car home I set about recommissioning the car as it had not been driver for several years. This included removing the head and replacing the exhaust valves, renewing the rear brake cylinders, replacing the clutch slave cylinder and hose as well as an upgraded radiator fan, and mechanical oil pressure gauge fitted etc. After much work she now drives nicely, no overheating and good oil pressure - brakes aren't up to modern standards but from what I gather, they never were although it did have upgraded 4 pot callipers fitted some 12 years ago.


Work under way recommissioning her


All finished and ready for our first trip out

Our first trip out in her was to the annual E-type club do at Shelsey Walsh which was great fun and we did the 300 mile round trip with no issues although she did get a bit hot waiting to get in, issues that have now been resolved.


E-type club day at Shelsey Walsh

Over the winter I intend to continue work on getting the mechanical side of her up to scratchy by replacing all the bushes etc and tidy up some of the paintwork, but I have no intentions of doing a full restoration as I think it would spoil that which to me, makes this car special.

Many thanks, Jon, located in North Wales UK.

Welcome to the forum, though you’ve not done a particularly good job of introducing yourself as you’ve not included your name
If you click on your user name top right you can add your name and car type to the signature area and add where you are. Much nicer to say hello to a name.

Going back to your lovely new possession, well done and so pleased to hear how much you’re enjoying yourself. Yes, that smile just doesn’t fade.

Ask questions and you’ll find lots of help as you’ve already found. You’re in Bristol, ok a bit of a drive to Letchworth, but why not consider getting to next year’s open day at Moss Jaguar (viewtopic.php?f=12&t=21253 ).About the best man to help with an E Type with lots of knowledge on early cars.

You’re in the E Type Club, but you may find the JEC or JDC have local branches with events to get involved in.

Keep us informed of what you’re working on over the winter and good luck with it.

Geoff

Welcome to this excellent forum and congratulations for being able to source the car of your dream as have many of us here

Looks like you’ve managed to find a great original example, which rolled out the factory a couple of weeks after mine. I also had a CLJ reg but that was on a Vauxhall Viva

Welcom to the forum....Great car and nice write up...I see you've already posted re your oil pressure.....Steve

Hi, your car looks superb, question, carcheck.co.uk shows your engine number RA 5923-9? Is this correct.
Kind regards, Tom.

Xke data info here XKE Data - 861568 - Jaguar E-Type (XKE) information, articles, photos and register https://share.google/no1LG2Wcz30mkGR7p

Hi, Engine number according to the heritage certificate is RA 5916-9 which is correct, stamped on the engine block and head. It is also on the current V5 and original green log book - don't know why car check has it as RA 5923-9!

Carcheck definitely wrong, all numbers you have are correct. you said 'left the factory on the 6th March 1964' Actually this was the build date, it left the factory on 24 March 1964, went to 2nd owner in Uckfield, Essex on 18th April 1965 I think. Original owner (Mrs Teale) ran a service station in Gloucester? Invoice number 77044, dated 27th April 1964. Congratulations, you've got a 'straight' car. Kind regards, Tom.

Thanks for that Tom,

you are correct, the build date is 6th March 1964 and the dispatch date 24th March 1964 but there is no first registered date on the heritage certificate.

The green log book I have shows that Mrs Teal first registered it on the 17th April 1964 and then Mr Davey of Uckfield Sussex first registered it on the 3rd December 1964. I am assuming this is when he purchased the car although when I asked him in person he said it was in September 1964!

In between Mrs Teal and Mr Davey it was registered by the Winchester Motor Co. Ltd. on the 30th September 1964. This I presume was the dealer that Mrs Teal sold the car to and Mr Davey bought it from. I seem to remember that Mr Davey said it had been used as a demonstrator at the garage he purchased it from and that the new E-type FHC's they had were £1,991.00 and that he paid £1,850 for his car, as it was a few months old.

Out of interest where did you get the 'Invoice number 77044' information from?

Cheers Jon

I remember Pat and Arthur Teale having the E-Type. They did have a service station in Twigworth, Gloucester.
They dealt in cars a bit,so probably sold the E-Type fairly quickly. She did drive it though quite often.

Thanks for that Trevor,
really interesting that you can remember the car, do you happen to know if they are still around, it would be great to get a bit more info on their ownership etc.
Cheers Jon

Arthur died quite a few years ago. I went to his funeral,Twigworth church Gloucester.
They ran a couple of pubs in Gloucestershire before he died. They also had a business Hawthorns Saddelry. Which she carried on running from Sandhurst, Glos.
I think Pat may have also died. They had a son Simon who probably lives in the Gloucester area.