Jaguar E-Type fixed head coupe Chassis No. 15 has been discovered in France and is to be restored by world leading restoration company Classic Motor Cars of Bridgnorth (CMC). The Series 1 3.8 Litre Chassis No. 860015, a right hand drive car, is a very rare and historically important example as it was one of the six E-Types on display at the Scottish Motor Show in November 1961.
Nick Goldthorp, Managing Director of CMC, said: “We found Chassis No. 15 at end of last year in Cernay, a town close to the border with Germany about two hours away from Paris. It had been owned by the same person since 1976, who dismantled it probably some twenty years ago and that is as far as he got.
“Unfortunately, the car was left unattended in a barn until we found it, very rusty and corroded – there was even a bird’s nest in the rear quarter! This will be a full nut and bolt CMC restoration, covering every aspect of the car. It will be quite a challenge but we are looking forward to it.”
CMC is famous for having restored some of the most historic E-Types, including Lofty England’s Chassis No. 4, the Lindner-Nöcker Lightweight and 1VHP, the first RHD Coupe off the production line. They are currently restoring two very early E-Types, Chassis No. 34 and 60.
Nick added: “It took us some time to confirm this was the real Chassis No. 860015 as apparently there was a duplicate or fake car registered with the same number. After thoroughly checking it with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, we were able to confirm that this was the fifteenth E-Type fixed head coupe that left the production line in 1961.”
CMC expects to finish the restoration by July 2015.
Additional information:
Make and model: Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 litre
Body style: Fixed-head coupe, right-hand drive
Date of manufacture: 14 October 1961
Chassis number: 860015
Engine number: R 2204-9
Body number: V 1246
Gearbox: EB 1349 JS
Transmission: Manual
Original distributor: Rossleigh, Edinburgh
Date of despatch: 27 October 1961
Remarks This car was one of the six 1961 Scottish Motor Show E-Types
