Beschreibung:

Description This is a fantastically rare “ Barn Find” of this iconic marque and model, presented in carmen red with tan interior and is showing only 44,870 miles on the clock which is believed to be genuine and commensurate with 6 years use in the 1960s. This early Series 1, 3.8l car is one of only 1799 right drive two seater fixed head coupes built, with the aluminium interior panels, bucket seat and 3.8l engine. Producing 265bhp, the car was capable of a top speed of 150mph and 0-60 in under 7 seconds. As Enzo Ferrari famously said “it is the most beautiful car ever made”. The last tax disc is still showing on the windscreen which expired November 1969. The story of this remarkable find can be read below! The car’s first owner in May 1963 was Ivor Arbiter. Ivor owned Drum City and Sound City in London and was at the centre of the 60s music scene, he was of course the designer of the “drop – T” logo for The Beatles. Epstein requested that the band’s name appear on the bass drum so Arbiter sketched the “drop-T” logo on a scrap of paper with the capital B and dropped T to emphasize the word ‘beat’. Drum City was paid £5 for the design and it was hand painted by local sign writer, Eddie Stokes, who painted bass-drum heads for the store during his lunch hour. The Beatles logo is now recognised as one of the most significant and widely reproduced logos in history, and the fact that it was designed by the first owner of this E-Type is not insignificant. In November 1965 the car passed to SB Cain of Greenford. He then solid it to garage owner Howard H Measham who used it for a short period. Howard now 85, remembers the car well, he described it a “phenomenal sports car” having booted it on the A40 near Northolt only to be overtaken by the rear end! Then, in December 1967 the car moved to its last owner Frank Riches. Frank was a keen motorsport enthusiast and raced both the E-Type and his MGTF at Oulton Park, Brands Hatch and Blackbushe between 1967 and 1969. Frank would drive the E-type to the circuit with the MG behind and would then race both cars and drive home! There are several photographs of this on file. The best photo shows 815 FYK in action at Blackbushe in 1968, with its lightweight extra wide rear wheels (the vendor has them but not on the car), otherwise the configuration is as it is today. Frank’s brother remembers getting the car to 150mph on the ever popular A40! A speed which would probably be penalised by imprisonment today! Frank was unusual in that he kept anything that he took off the car, so the vendor has retained the original centre console, ash tray, blanking plate and Jaguar radiator bar. He has put the console back in the car as you can see. At some time Frank fitted an upgraded brake servo which necessitated the removal of the air cleaner and manifolds, these are with the car and are the early type (without the ribs). He also fitted a US style grille bar to the radiator opening, we believe this was to mount lights given the number of badge bar clamps still on it. The centre bar was then removed to fit the spot lamp. We also believe the high tension lead tube is an original fitting but may have only been used for a short period. Unfortunately (or perhaps not) Frank burnt out the clutch and instead of getting it fixed he put the car into storage in a lock up until the 1980s (he bought a Series 1 Land Rover to tow the MG), he then moved it to his garden where is remained under a tarpaulin until the present vendor rescued it in 2015 (photo on file showing this location) This wonderful “Barn Find” car is in original condition, with matching numbers and has never been restored. It retains all the features it carried in 1969 and is possibly one of the most original examples remaining today. The interior could be restored given it has all the original switches, gauges and tooled aluminium panels along with the original steering wheel etc. The seats have a lovely patina and should be saved. Obviously the car needs