1969 Jaguar XKE Roadster #1R7437

We are pleased to offer 1969 Jaguar XKE Roadster s/n 1R7437, a great running, smooth driving, rust-free and damage-free roadster with an unusually nice body, paint and black leather interior. The E-Type was unveiled in March of 1961 at the Geneva Motor Show and was an immediate sensation: its specifications were then state of the art, its bodywork was simply gorgeous and the price surprisingly affordable, making the E-Type a wallet-friendly legendary icon of automotive history. 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. The cars were continuously developed, including the upgrade to the 4.2 liter engine and synchromesh transmission. Sales were brisk with continuous development in both American and European markets. In 1968, the Series I model transitioned into the Series II. Updates to the Series II included open headlights, wraparound rear bumpers, larger tail lights, and a larger grille with twin electric fans to aid in engine cooling. An estate sale car, 1969 Jaguar XKE Roadster s/n 1R7437 was owned by an absolutely-obsessive owner who kept very detailed records on ever service and update while in his ownership. As just one example of the owner’s attention to detail, the owner noted that he bought s/n 1R7437 on 14 Feb., 2017 from San Fransisco Motorsports, then at 1421 Francisco Blvd in San Rafael and that it took 6 hours and 43 minutes to drive the 439 miles to the owner’s home in southern California. When purchase XKE Roadster s/n 1R7437 had a 3.76:1 rear end ratio which meant the owner was running 2,961 rpm at 60 mph and 4,880 rpm at 99.2 mph.

The rear end was completely rebuilt with a new ring and pinion installed, which dropped the final drive ratio to 3.07:1 so that the rpm dropped from 2,961 at 60 mph to a more relaxed 2,418 rpm at 60 mph and from 4,880 at 99.2 mph to a more relaxed 4000 rpm! Needless to say the owner also factored in various tire sizes into the rear gear equation! Because Jaguar parts are very reasonable, the total parts and labor bill for a complete rear-end rebuild was a mere $2,509.01! Going further down the list, on 23 Nov., 2000, he had a new exhaust system installed and only a month later, on 05 Dec., 2000 he had a complete brake job done. On 21 Oct., 2021 the owner had a new clutch assembly installed, and the list goes on! Needless to say we have amazing hand-written documentation plus a very long list of minor parts replaced such a distributor cap, hood springs, a fan belt tension, a new headlights switch and much, much more!

There are ample invoices from Moss Motors, Terry’s Jaguar Parts, XKs Unlimited and other well known Jaguar parts suppliers. At some not-too-distant point in the past 1969 Jaguar XKE Roadster s/n 1R7437 was stripped and painted and so benefits from an older restoration performed under prior ownership. The body is exceptionally nice and largely dent free, with a few very minor door dents and a stress crack on both sides rocker panels where the rocker panels meets the firewall. The paint is excellent with only a few very minor rock chips and the panel fit is excellent. The chrome on the front and rear bumpers seems to have been redone and shows very well. The black canvas top is taut when installed and in very nice condition, appearing to have had only minimal use. The back window is clear with no wrinkles or clouding. The chrome wire wheels are in excellent condition, wearing a set of Coker Classic Red Line 185 VR15 tires. The lights and glass are in very good condition as well in keeping with the high-quality driver-level condition of the car overall. The interior is in very good to excellent condition since the restoration was completed. The leather seats, reupholstered as part of the restoration, now display a lovely soft patina. The console and dashboard upholstery are very nice, as is the black carpet, all of which appear to have been done to a high standard, now thoughtfully preserved over time. The steering wheel has the correct appearance and nicely finished aluminum spokes with a

handsome center emblem and wood rim. The instruments, switches, and controls are in very nice shape as well, once again contributing to the look and feel of a high-quality driver level sports car.

The engine compartment is generally clean and nicely detailed featuring later series engine cam covers, twin carburetors, and dual fan cooling. Overall, the engine and engine compartment are nicely finished and properly presented with a few improvements and upgrades including a newer style distributor. The undercarriage is clean and tidy, while the overall integrity of the body seams, welded floors, and suspension components are all consistent with original construction. Various suspension components appear to be original to the car as well as the correct cast alloy oil pan, independent rear suspension cradle, and inboard rear brakes. The engine starts easily, runs smoothly on idle and makes excellent power. The transmission shifts easily and smoothly through all gears, with very nice brakes and suspension both on cornering and at highway speeds. The steering, brakes, and suspension all have a very good, harmonious feel, having benefited from obsessive care and service over the years. XKE Roadster s/n 1R7437 is well-sorted mechanically and delightful to drive. This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a great driving, honest E-Type Roadster with desirable upgrades while maintaining the character of the original. For anyone seeking a fine driving collector car, this E-Type represents the right balance of excellence and usability, well-sorted for your motoring enjoyment. Add in the timeless styling, low cost (in our world of Ferraris) and the low maintenance costs of a 4.2 liter 6-cylinder, and XKE s/n 1R7437 offers massive bang for the buck from the best of the late-1960s user-friendly exotics. Priced to sell at $79,500 or best offer