AMAZING, RUST FREE CA BLACK PLATE, ORIG DOCS

Overview
Up for auction is this complete Series One XKE with matching numbers and original paperwork, hich has spent its entire life in the dry, alt-free American West. The odometer shows 57,294 miles and is believed to be correct.
As the original bill of sale documents, his car was sold new at Walker Dodge in Los Angeles. The original owner and her husband traded in their Cadillac to buy this Jag, nd kept all the paperwork that came with the car (warranty card, anuals, tc., ll of which the new owner will receive). A few years later they divorced and she had the car re-titled in her name only - the 1973 California “pink slip” title that you will receive is still in her name (but signed over for any new owner to fill in their name). In the late 70’s she let her teenage son use the car, nd it wasn’t long before he repainted it red, ut a few dents in the body, lew the head gasket and then began “restoring” it - he is the one I bought it from, nd he admitted, I was in high school - I didn’t know what I was doing.” He never finished the job and took the car and all its boxes of parts with him whenever he moved - most recently to Montana, here the car is presently.
Body
Unlike many other E-Types, his car has survived the rustworm, aving spent its entire life in the West, nd most of that in storage. The floors, runk, pare tire well, indow surrounds, oors, nd so forth are completely solid (see photos). Neither is there surface rust coating every part as one often finds in other regions, aking this an excellent candidate for restoration. The only possible spots of rust I’ve found are two points, ach about the size of a quarter: one behind the left rear wheel (see photo), nd one on the rear underbelly. There is also some light pitting in places on the top of the bonnet.
The car came from the factory finished in Old English White. The teenage son I spoke of earlier hit something that bent the front clip enough to warrant replacing the bonnet with a used one (remember, t the time this was only a “used car” with used parts readily available). The clip he found was red, o he painted the rest of the car red also (some of the red paint is still visible on the underside of the bonnet). By the time I got the car it was in two colors of primer with all the trim removed, he son having already spread a skim coat of body filler here-and-there in an attempt to smooth out the body (all very amateurish). I have basically just given the car a light sanding, prayed it in white primer for a uniform appearance, nd cleaned/re-attached the trim. The new owner will receive a clean and solid body that should require only basic body work prior to paint.
Other areas that will need attention are as follows: the front underpan has light dents (presumably from scraping things like driveway inclines); there is a kink in a front brace for the bonnet; there’s a strange hole (about the size of a quarter) also in the front underpan of the bonnet; both door latch mechanisms need adjustment; the rear window trim needs to be installed with a fresh gasket (the trim is just set in place for the photos - the original gasket is too stiff to hold the trim); the car was improperly jacked at various places on the floor pan. The door drain holes are clear of debris, nd the doors look to be totally solid. Similarly the drip rails, rain channels, owl, nd rocker panels all look completely solid. The undercoating is still present beneath the body. All the glass is original and therefore has the correct factory markings. Even the headlights are the original Lucas brand, ith the name cast as such into the glass.
Interior
The original interior is intact, lthough the glove-soft leather seats have long since dried out and deteriorated. The wool carpet is shot and at least one piece is missing. Basically, he car will need an interior kit, ut all the hardware should be there. Only the radio/housing and ignition switch are missing. Everything else appears to be there, nd generally in good condition.
Drivetrain
The new owner will receive two 4.2 litre motors: the original, nd a replacement one (currently in the car). After blowing the head gasket, he son pulled the motor, ad the block surfaced, nd the head rebuilt. The head was wrapped in plastic until I photographed it, nd still has the tag with the name of the CA machine shop that did the work and the note, Do not turn camshafts”. The rest of the motor parts are either in boxes or large enough to be shown in the photos, uch as the tripple-carb intake. While I cannot vouch for every single part, have no reason to believe anything would be missing either. The serial number on the original head matches that on the data plate, nd the block shows a casting date of April 14, 966.
Rather than reassemble the motor, he son found a used 2-carb motor and installed it instead. He told me that he had it running in the car, nd since a hotwire was still attached to the distributor cap when I brought it home, have no reason to doubt him. In any case, he new owner will not only receive the original numbers-matching motor but also a wealth of extra parts in the second motor.
The rest of the drive train appears intact and very clean - even the shock absorbers appear to be the factory originals. The car rolls on its original knock-off wire wheels and 1970’s-vintage tires. The number stamped on the front frame matches that on the data plate.
Overall
This Jag, hile in need of complete restoration, s a veritable time capsule and well worth the effort. One look at the values of Series One cars tells you that this has the potential to make the new owner some money, specially considering its provenance, hich will ultimately set it apart from every competitor: original bill of sale, itle in the original owner’s name, actory manuals, nd original California black plates. The original lady owner’s leather driving gloves are still in the center console where I found them! The factory tool kit is in the trunk, long with the spare wheel. The son removed the data plate from the cowl but it is included as shown.
I have gone to great lengths to describe the car accurately and in detail, ncluding its flaws. Still, t is being sold “as-is” and “where-is”, nd no warranties are made concerning it or its condition, ither expressed or implied. All potential bidders are welcome and encouraged to see the car in person and ask any questions before bidding. You can call with questions at 406-590-2961. The car is not currently running and will need to be winched onto a transport vehicle.
If you’re going to restore an E-Type, hy not start with a Series One that’s complete, ree of cancer, omes with an extra motor, nd has original documentation? This is the one to go for - good luck bidding.