1965 Jaguar XKE Coupe #31588

We are pleased to offer 1965 Jaguar XKE s/n 31588, a very well documented XKE coupe with a fresh ultra-high-quality frame-up restoration with all matching-numbers; a Jaguar Heritage Certificate; the correct and ultra-rare original 1965 warranty card listing the first owner and selling dealer and much more! 1965 XKE Coupe s/n 31588 comes with over $100,000 in outsourced restoration work and parts costs plus over four-hundred hours of non-billed assembly labor by the father and son team who owned, assembled and sorted the car. The E-Type was unveiled in March of 1961 at the Geneva Motor Show, initially for export only, and was an instant sensation. Its specifications were then state of the art, its bodywork was stunningly gorgeous and the price surprisingly affordable at $6,000 USD, making the E-Type a user-friendly and wallet-friendly instant icon of automotive history. XKE Coupe s/n 31588 was completed on 20 August, 1965 and so is a Series I car with multiple 1965 updates including a larger 4.2 liter engine with increased torque, a smooth shifting, fully synchronized gearbox, much improved brakes and brake booster, more comfortable reclining seats, an alternator, improved radiator cooling fans, and an electrical system with a negative ground. As a 1965 year Euro model, XKE s/n 31588 features the more powerful triple SU carbs and desirable covered headlights. Jaguar’s Le Mans winning racing heritage was obvious with independent suspension all around (at a time when Ferrari still used solid rear axles), disc brakes all around (inboard at the rear to reduce unsprung weight), and of course Jaguar’s legendary high-torque, smooth running, twin cam inline-6.

XKE Coupe s/n 31588 was completed on 20 August, 1965 and delivered from new with standard headlights and Dunlop tires to Delecroix, the Jaguar dealer for Paris, France. Once delivered to Delecroix the headlights were changed to yellow as then required by French law, the Dunlop tires were changed to Pirelli tires and the speedometer changed from miles to Km/h. XKE Coupe s/n 31588 was next delivered, on 30 Aug., 1965, to Jack Stan, an American then living at the George V hotel in Paris. An interesting notes for those who frequent Paris, the George V is now the Four Seasons and room rates currently start at $3,750 USD per night! Little is known of the car’s history from 1965 but in 1980 XKE s/n 31588 went to Edward Malaczewski, Boca Raton, FL. where it remaining with the same owner until the restoration. The low mileage is believed to be accurate as the vehicle was disassembled because of an unusually nasty divorce (is there any other kind) in the 80’s and shelved for the majority of the last 40 years. Today XKE Coupe s/n 31588 has been restored to the exacting condition it would have been when it left Coventry.

The two-year restoration of 1965 XKE coupe s/n 31588 is meticulously photo- documented with just over $44,000 for metal work, panel fit and paintwork by Jesus Molina’s Colors by Design and Temecula, CA; another $20,000 to Moss Motors in Goleta, CA for parts; yet another $14,000 for more parts from SNG in New Hampshire and another $50,000 or so for sublet work such as the engine and transmission rebuild; an all new leather interior; suspension parts; an all-new exhaust system; new wire wheels and tires and the many dozens of new trim parts plus the hundreds of unbilled labor hours the father and son team who own s/n 31588 spent to chase parts, herd cats and assemble and sort XKE coupe s/n 31588. As one would expect, we have over one hundred and fifty pages of parts and service invoices from Moss Motors, Terry’s Jaguar Parts, XKs Unlimited, SNG Parts and other well known Jaguar parts suppliers on file.

The restoration was completed in early 2023 and XKE coupe s/n 31588 been driven about 300 miles of sorting since the restoration. Cosmetically the near-flawless panel fit; superb paint work; glistening powder coating and all new leather interior are all show-to-win quality. Mechanically the cooling system was rebuilt; the engine and transmission were rebuilt; the suspension and brake system were rebuilt and replated; the mount for the differential, rear suspension and rear brakes were all rebuilt and restored to a higher level than new! The attention to detail is evident with items such as the original seat rails with the embossed logo on the adjustment lever; all the glass is the correct Tri-Plex glass and the correct “battleship grey/green” paint is featured on the radiator support rails and brake booster bracket, all perfectly matched to the original, as would be expected!

1965 Jaguar XKE coupe s/n 31588 is fully numbers matching with a concours level, show-ready, restoration, a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate confirming the all-matching numbers and the rare color combo of Opalescent Silver Gray with Red leather Interior. XKE coupe s/n 31588 comes with ultra-rare documents including the original warranty card noting the first owner and the Delacroix dealer information. Also comes with the French Import Data Tag – removed from the engine bay firewall but kept with the vehicle for historic purposes. XKE s/n 31588 also comes with a complete show-quality tool kit and tool roll; a Factory jack; a Factory hammer and a front license plate kit which needs to be shown with the car since the front plate is not mounted. Also comes with the original owners manual and parts catalog. An original Blaupunkt AM FM SW radio is also fitted but a sixty year old AM FM radio is obviously merely for show purposes!

A quick walk-around XKE coupe s/n 31588 validates the near perfect paint and panel fit. The metalwork is beautifully restored, the chrome trim glistens and the fit is excellent. A peek at the all-leather interior shows it to be as-new and perhaps better than new! Lifting the front bonnet shows what is easily a 100 point restoration with stunning attention to detail. The block, cylinder head and transmission are all numbers matching, as are the data plate and the body tag. The inside of the bonnet, cooling system, front suspension and engine assembly are all correct and beautiful to behold. Opening the trunk shows the flawless fit of the spare wheel and tire cover and the ready-to-show quality of the spare wire wheel and tire, the tools, tool roll, jack and hammer. On a hoist the under panels, exhaust system, brakes and suspension are all as new or, thanks to powder coating versus paint used decades ago, better than new! Today XKE coupe s/n 31588 shows only 67,539 kms (41,967) miles as one would expect for a car that was in storage for forty years!

Ready for a test drive? Open the door and slide into the form-fitting front seat. The dash, gauges and steering wheel are as new and the steering wheel falls to hand. Turn the key and the engine starts easily, runs smoothly on idle and makes excellent power. Pull out onto the road and the transmission shifts easily and smoothly through all gears, with the fully-rebuilt brakes inspiring confidence, while the suspension is both smooth and positive on both cornering and at highway speeds. The steering, brakes, and suspension are all well sorted, work in harmony and are delightful to drive. Today XKE s/n 31588 is priced below the cost of restoration and available without the wait for a two year restoration offering an excellent opportunity to acquire a rare and highly desirable fully restored, fully sorted, pride of ownership iconic XKE ready for a local cars and coffee or a Jaguar Club of America meet. Add in the timeless styling, low cost (in our world of Ferraris) and XKE s/n 31588 offers massive bang for the buck from the best of the early-1960s user-friendly exotics. Priced to sell at $229,500 or best offer!