Jaguar launched the legendary E-Type in 1961 and took the world by storm. The new car achieved incredible success both commercially and in competition and the company were inundated with orders. The vast majority of the early cars were exported but a small number of RHD examples were made available to dealers as demonstrators, key customers and racing drivers.

 

A number of improvements were implemented by the factory over the first few years of production and by October 1962 comfort for taller drivers had been addressed with recessed floors and scallops cut into the rear bulkhead to allow the driver and passenger seats to be moved further rearward. In 1963 a higher back axle ratio was introduced which gave a slightly higher top speed and heating and ventilation was improved along with better body insulation from noise and heat. In addition, servo assistance to the brakes was increased.

 

Offered for sale is chassis 861446, a late 3.8 Coupe manufactured on the 6th January 1964. The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate on file confirms the car was finished in Opalescent Golden Sand with an interior in Light Tan. The new E-Type was dispatched on the 17th January 1964 and was sold via Scottish Motor Traction of Carlisle.

 

When the car was a few months old it was purchased by Robert (Bob) Waters of R. G. Waters, a farm machinery contractor based in Molash near Canterbury. Subsequent research indicates Bob took the car in lieu of a bad debt. The car was scarcely used as Waters was too busy running his business and rarely took holidays. Illness forced its sale in 1975 when it was purchased by Alan Dobson of Lake District-based Massey Ferguson distributers P. V. Dobson.

 

Alan Dobson had driven Jaguars since 1971 after finding Mercedes cars ‘too noisy’ and was in the process of building a small hand-picked collection of Jaguars, preferring original driveable examples to restored ‘concours’ cars.

 

A letter dated 17th November 1975 from Bob Waters to Alan Dobson confirms the car was standing for a long time while Bob was in hospital and that it ‘will need a good check over before use’.  Bob also stated that the car had picked up a few dents while standing in a tractor shed but had never been crashed.

 

In 1978 Alan and Chris Dobson acquired the local British Leyland Franchise in Levens near Kendal and when Dutton Forshaw closed their Jaguar dealership in 1985 the brothers took on the Jaguar dealership for the area. Classic Jaguars from the collection were rotated on display in their Jaguar Lakeland showroom alongside modern Jaguars. When not on display the collection cars were kept in an underground heated garage at Alan Dobson’s home.

 

A letter from Mr. Dobson’s son to the current owner confirmed the car was stored for over thirty years and he didn’t recall the car ever being licenced for road use. Also that his father carried out very little work to the E-Type during his ownership other than a respray - presumably to address the dents acquired during its previous period in storage.

 

YUP 100 is known to enthusiasts through numerous features that have appeared in several magazines over the years. The car also featured in Philip Porter’s book ‘Jaguar XJ220’ displayed in the Jaguar Lakeland showroom next to a Jaguar XJ220.

 

Jaguar author Paul Skilleter visited Dobson for an article that appeared in the Spring 1990 edition of Jaguar Quarterly magazine and remarked that the 3.8 Coupe was ‘delightfully untouched’.

 

In 2009 YUP 100 was offered for sale by auction and was purchased by Gordon Yardley of Woodmanton Classics as his personal car. The current owner spotted the E-Type whilst visiting in 2010, a conversation ensued and Yardley was persuaded to part with the car. The odometer showed 19,257 miles at the time which was believed to be correct due to its multiple extended periods of inactivity.

 

The Jaguar was then sent to Jaguar Specialist Paul Roach for assessment and recommissioning. The engine was removed and stripped and the block, cylinder head and crankshaft were all caustically dipped. The block was line-bored and new liners fitted along with new pistons and main and end bearings. The cylinder head was rebuilt with new valves and guides and new timing chains and tensioners fitted.

 

Other parts included a new exhaust system, radiator, tyres, horns, engine mounts, brake flexi-hoses, coolant hoses and a set of new ignition leads. The carburettors were stripped and rebuilt as was the clutch slave cylinder. The steering column was stripped and lubricated and the engine bay wiring repaired or replaced.

 

In 2011 Manor Autos of West Sussex fitted a new electric fan and in 2012 a new clutch and thrust bearing was installed. In 2021 classic car specialist Mark Willis serviced the car and fitted new poly-bushes to the front suspension plus three new windscreen wipers.

 

More recently the car has had a new clutch master cylinder, slave cylinder, carburettor floats and needles. An oil and filter service and general check over was carried out in July 2024.

 

Today, YUP 100 remains in exceptionally original condition and is believed to have covered fewer than 22,000 miles from new. The car possesses a genuine patina that cannot be replicated, particularly the deliciously original tan leather interior. The car even features original rear door-hinge covers which are often missing. Representatives from Jaguar cars inspected the car as a reference for parts for their own restorations. A fine accolade indeed.​