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Classic Jaguar E-Type Saved From A Swamp Is Now Worth Over £100,000.

This neglected 1960s Jaguar is being dubbed a ‘bush find’, having been hauled from the shrubbery of a Gloucestershire estate, where it had been left exposed to the elements for almost 30 years, and brought back to its beaming best this year.

It’s no run-of-the-mill Jaguar, either; the vehicle in question is the 10th Series 1 E-Type ‘4.2’ to roll off the Jaguar production line in Coventry some 55 years ago.

It discovered that the abandoned E-Type is in fact the 10th version of the Series 1 4.2, this one being a right-hand-drive Fixed Head Coupe of which just 5,830 were produced until 1968.

While the entirety of the vehicle’s body was beyond salvageable due to its alfresco living conditions over the last three decades, the original running gear and independent rear suspension unit were fit to be reconditioned.

New panels were beaten out by the E-Type UK crew and the replacement inner and outer C-posts had to be specially fabricated to fit.

Once the shell had been fully pieced together, it received a coat of Opalescent Silver Grey paint and polished for a staggering 60 hours to reach a perfect finish.

As for the cabin, the interior team fitted new electronics, a replacement dashboard and period-correct black leather seats, dials and pedal box.

While the intention was to keep everything as authentic as possible, the car’s new custodian requested that some modern upgrades were made in order for them to enjoy the vehicle on a regular basis.

This included an upgraded fast road specification with high-lift cams, a balanced and lightened crank and a five-speed gearbox to make it easier to drive and significantly more reliable.

Speaking about the project, Marcus Holland, owner of E-Type UK, said the car had required all the expertise his team had to take it from a bush-bound wreck to a museum-worthy beauty.

‘It is now back on Britain’s roads, upholding the incredible legacy of the E-type and ready to be enjoyed for the first time in over thirty years.’

While it is unknown if the significance of the car being the 10th ever model will have much of an impact on its worth, Hagerty Classic Car Values says a spotless example would fetch up to £125,000 on today’s market.

Even one in a not-perfect condition is predicted to cost a collector upward of £82,000, the classic car valuations experts estimate.

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