1963 E-Type 3.8-liter Coupe Project – SOLD!

She’s on her way back to the UK!

Another customer has asked me to help them with the sale of their E-Type, and this is another great E-Type restoration project!

This is a Series 1, 3.8-liter E-Type Fixed-Head Coupe restoration project – built on or within one day of October 31st, 1963. This car is in a very original condition, complete, still has its original matching-numbers engine, has a body shell and bonnet that is much more solid than most, and currently RUNS & DRIVES! This is a GREAT restoration project that won’t leave you combing the globe for all of the missing parts and pieces – everything is intact and in good restorable condition!

Provenance – This E-Type is complete and in a very original state. While a few things have been tinkered with here and there, it has never been disassembled and/or “restored” in the past.

This E-Type still carries its original numbers-matching engine – both block and head numbers match the data plate. The car still has the original chassis picture frame with the original chassis number, and the original data plate. The engine block and head are both stamped with the correct numbers matching the data plate. The customer had trouble locating the original body tag, but as you can see in the photos, the body number can still be seen on the firewall in blue crayon from the factory.

The original 3.8 non-synchro gearbox, which has been replaced with a later 4.2 E-Type full-synchro gearbox. This was a common occurrence in years past, before 5-speed conversions became readily available, and the conversion was done very cleanly without any modifications to the car, as the later gearboxes drop right in.

I have included all of the car’s numbers – chassis, body, engine, and gearbox, but for privacy, I have removed the last 2 digits of the 6-digit chassis number in the photos, but be assured the the data plate and chassis number on the original front crossmember DO match.

It does not appear to have ever suffered a major collision (or any minor ones, for that matter…). This E-Type was originally Cream with a Red interior – though the door panels and seats have been recovered in black. The body is straight and more solid than most E-Types that we see – the boot area is especially impressive!

History – This E-Type was repainted many years ago in a brighter white than the original cream exterior, but otherwise is a very solid and very straight car. Recently, the current owner removed the LH outer sill, as it was rusty and showed signs of additional rust problems underneath – almost certainly due to battery acid running down the LH side, which is quite common. It’s removal showed rust on the LH inner sill and floor as well. This is what led the current owner to decide that the project is more involved than he would care to undertake, and he would rather spend the time on freshening up his other E-Type – a 1968 OTS.

The interior carpeting has been stripped out to show the true condition of the floors and sills, which is QUITE good for a 3.8-liter E-Type project! This shot shows the condition of the inner sill on the LH side, as well as the fact that the LH outer sill has been removed. Both should be replaced, but the RH side is in quite good condition. While the restorer MIGHT ultimately choose to replace the floors and sills on both sides (we always do…), the car’s shape and structure is fully intact

Mechanical Condition – The car is being sold as a project needing total restoration, but currently DOES run smoothly, and has a working clutch and all gears have been tested. The car has 76,730 original miles, and the engine runs smoothly, with an even 155-160 psi of pressure in all 6 cylinders. It does have a rear main seal oil leak, and idles a bit high, but otherwise runs well throughout the RPM range. It was also driven on several afternoon excursions within the past two years (before the LH outer sill was removed) – up to 60 mph, and shifts smoothly in all gears. Short videos of the car running and moving are included below.

Body Condition – The monocque body shell appears to have much less rust than we typically see on a 3.8-liter FHC – it looks quite solid! The shell does not appear to have suffered any major or minor collisions, and the roof is undamaged. Areas that very typically have rust problems are EXCELLENT on this car – the rear hatch drip channel is in great shape, the doors look PERFECT on the bottoms, and the boot floor is much more solid than almost any original E-Types we now see! You can expect to perform a metalwork restoration on the bodyshell – that will probably include floors and outer sills, etc. – but it will be MUCH less of a project than most 3.8-liter coupes. While the rust in the forward section of the LH sills and floor was was daunting to the current owner, I find this shell to be in extremely good condition for an original, unrestored Series 1 E-Type!

The body is in very good condition, and does not appear to have suffered any collision damage. All chrome is intact, original, and fits as it should – all making the restoration SO much easier!

Location & Shipping – This E-Type is located in the midwest region of the United States. We have used Schumacher Logistics to ship cars to the UK, Europe, and Australia in the past with good results, and I am sure that they could work this out for you. We have also found their prices to be quite reasonable.

Scroll down for even MORE photos!

Conclusion – this is a GREAT E-Type! As a complete, 3.8-liter coupe with a matching-numbers engine – this is a really great start for an E-Type project. AND, don’t forget – it currently RUNS AND DRIVES! So you can even play with this one for a while before you decide to jump in and start a full restoration! – DON’T MISS IT!