1961 Jaguar E Type FHC - Chassis # 885013 Interesting and unique features of an extremely early production E Type Coupe

 

Over the last three decades we have had the privilege to work on literally hundreds of E Types, many of which went on to be National Champions and winners of countless Concours events. A typical Classic Jaguar E Type restoration takes between 2,000 and 2,500 hours. The restoration of 885013, one of just 20 LHD outside latch coupes ever built, took every bit of 5,000 hours to complete.

The owner of this very special E Type was determined that the restoration should be as close to original specifications as it was possible to achieve. The goal was to build the car to be cosmetically perfect and historically accurate in every detail. To that end, we went to incredible lengths to source correct, often 'dated' components, restoring everything to precisely the same appearance it would have been new. We were also very fortunate to have the involvement and guidance of Dr Mike Mueller, perhaps the world's leading expert in all matters pertaining to extremely early production E Type coupes. Not only did Mike guide us on points of originality, but he also came up with some incredibly rare and hard to find used and NOS components that were unique to the very early production E Types.

885013 is the best E Type restoration we have ever done. Not only is it a legitimate candidate for being the best condition E Type in the world, it is also correct to the most minute detail. There are so many subtle differences between the very early coupes and all subsequent E Types that it would be impossible to photograph and document every single nuance or production change in these pages. Having said that, I have listed and photographed just a few of these differences below. I hope that this list, and of course the full record of our restoration elsewhere on the Classic Jaguar website, might be of some assistance to anyone restoring a very early E Type in the future.

The most obvious significant feature of this car is the outside bonnet latch. 20 LHD outside latch coupes were built, of which only 18 left the factory.	885013 is believed to be one of just three of the surviving outside latch coupes to have its original bonnet
Body number stamped on RH bonnet brace	Early style bonnet hinges (below)
Very early coupe doors had thin section at upper rear edge	Another view of the thin section at upper rear edge of the door
Because of the thin rear edge of the early coupe doors, a rubber fillet was glued at the upper edge of the B pillar shut face panel	Very early bonnet lower panel had two rarely seen spot welded captive nut brackets
Interior cantrail trim pieces were shaped differently on the very early coupes	Inner quarter trim panels were also different on very early coupes
This is the original factory chassis number stamping on the picture frame	Very early style tailgate latch significantly different from all subsequent latches
Early latch had button head phillips screws (later they were countersunk and slotted)	Early latch frames were welded
Butler England license plate lamp frames were a feature of the early cars	Tailgate hinges had 13T and 13 B stamped on them (car # 13, top and bottom)
Early E Type cylinder heads were painted 'pumpkin gold'	Very early IRS tie plate
Very early hub carriers had the same size inner and outer wheel bearings and no water throw collars	Hub carrier part number C15228-4 is so early it is not even in the J-30 Spare Parts Catalogue
This is the original data plate for 885013	NOS washer pickup and tach generator supplied by Mike Mueller (new in boxes)
No hinge covers on the early coupes	Note sharp 'pointed' A pillar chrome, a unique feature of the very early coupes
Lower section of A pillar chrome also features a sharp point	Very early AERAMIC wipers
Very early Lucas rear view mirror with pointed stalk	Very early boot lid badge was flatter and sharper edged than later versions
Unique clear running light lens unique to early cars (courtesy of Dave Ferguson)	No "ENGLAND" lettering on chrome lens cover when used with Butler frames
Rear window chrome is slightly different shape on the very early coupes	Flat dash top pads on very early E Types
Original steering wheel was restored	Early exhaust systems were coated black
Aluminum spacers at the bottom of the rear springs were a feature of the early E Types	Fuel sump with male threads unique to very early E Types (courtesy of Dave Ferguson)
Original lightweight drive shaft rebuilt and restored	Early cast 'smooth' oil pan with no cooling ribs
Spinners unique to German and Swiss supplied E Types	Early heater intakes were crudely made (note wavy bottom edge)
Early heater intakes were painted body color (again, note wavy bottom edge)	885013 is one of only ten outside latch coupes known to survive
LH engine bay panel unique to very early E Types (note cut-out bottom left for crank case breather pipe)	RH engine bay panel is also only found on very early E Types
Very early "barrel" shaped quarter light latches are only found on the very early coupes	Rarely seen very early brake reservoir caps
Clutch reservoir cap is black cad plated	Early coupe visors with correct chrome frames
The second owner of 885013 may have been a member of this Bay area Jaguar club in the early 1960's	Note early (wide) screen demister vents and radio console
Early style battery terminals and correct battery hold down bracket and wing nuts	Note Blue/Grey Girling shocks
Rear parcel shelf/divider was different in the early coupes	Early style 2 piece hardura luggage mat
Early style tailgate hatch prop	Finned aluminum radiator with unpainted core
Lucas 'tripod' headlamps were fitted to cars supplied to continental Europe	Original screws holding Marston radiator tag in place
Very early Buxton Otter switch	Correct early expansion tank with pipe at corner
NOS canvas sleeved coolant hose with the Jaguar part number still visible	Very early heater box with 3 screws along top edge of side panel
Original very early KH brake booster	NOS (in the box) RB310 voltage regulator
Original speedo rebuilt using correct 6322/02 face denoting European delivery car with 3.31 final drive	Original 3.31 diff complete with factory tags
Very early short seat tracks	LEVEROL brand name on early seat track handles
Patent info stamped on upper surface of very early seat tracks	Date coded (1st quarter of 1961) Triplex etchings are sideways on very early headlamp glass
Quarter light glass is also etched (1st quarter 1961)	Door windows are also etched
Starter motor casing date stamped 2/61	Factory QC crayon markings on RB310 voltage regulator
German/Swiss knock off tools. The one of the left is an unused NOS example that is plated with clear Cad.	Reverse lamp housing is pop riveted to the boot floor
Very early tachometer serial # RV 7403/02	Early oil pressure gauge PE2300/01
Distributor date stamped 4/61	Very early, restored fuel sending unit
Early fuel gauge BF2200/01	Cheney hose clamps used throughout, even on invisible fuel filler pipe
TRICO markings replicated on brake vacuum tank	Lock wire used on driver's side of steering rack pinion housing
Cheney clamp use on passenger side rack bellow	Original headlamp scoops painted body color
BEES bolts used extensively in the assembly process	Body number written in yellow crayon on bulkhead
Spot welded radiator support bracket a feature of the very early E Types	No support cradle at rear edge of very early hinge frames
Male threaded hinge boss another feature of the very early bonnet hinge frames	Note single forward drain in early door top frames
Early oval ash tray and radio blanking plate	Original horn button has been restored and differs from later horn buttons
Early 'smooth top' air cleaner plenum	T 11 date coded carb body (Nov 1960)
Early split carb linkage rail	Cad plated carb damper caps stamped 'O' are a rarely seen early feature
Correct, very early Champion plug wire ends and cloth braided ignition wires	Early plug wire conduit attached to 2nd and 5th cylinder head studs
Original fan shroud has raw fiberglass finish, not painted silver	Bolts are black, nuts are cad plated throughout the engine bay
Early riveted spring hinges	Hand scribed ID straps on brake and clutch master cylinders are date coded 4/12/61
NOS washer bottle cap is blue (rarely seen item)	Very early generators are different size to later units
Crank case breather tube exits beneath the left side of the engine bay on early E Types	Breather tube exiting through recessed corner of early lower engine bay panel
Early fuel bowl bracket is straight and parallel with firewall	Ignition coil is date stamped 4/61
Outside latch rubber buffer and blanking screws for inside latch mechanism	Early E Type coupes had roadster seats