Chassis No. 1E32946
Engine No. 8L179994-S

Under the skilled hands of Brian Donovan and his expert team at Donovan Motorcar Service of Lenox, Massachusetts, together with Peter Romeo of Romeo Restorations, this Series 1 E-Type Coupe was totally transformed, drawing inspiration from the E-Type Low Drag and Lightweight cars that raced at Le Mans during the 1960s. The car, starting as a stock Fixed Head Coupe, was disassembled to its bare shell. The bodywork was meticulously finished, with an aluminum hood sourced to replace the original steel one. Once the hood was expertly fit to the body and joined by its sleek Lexan headlight covers, the bodywork was refinished in silver. Inside, seats were sourced and finished with black leather. Custom wool carpeting with heat barrier and Dynamat were installed to ensure passenger comfort. A complete new wiring harness was installed, along with restored gauges, while all new trim was sourced. Completing its sporting outward appearance is a set of 15-inch Dunlop-style wheels, while a custom external Daytona-style fuel filler cap is integrated into the rear bodywork.

A Savannah Race Engineering 4.2-liter engine was sourced from a Series III XK6 that was completely overhauled with new sleeves and upgraded with a custom "stroker" high-performance crankshaft, Crower long-race-spec connecting rods, and custom-made pistons. The cylinder head was overhauled, and the ports were polished to increase airflow for the new high-torque camshafts. The engine is fed by three Weber 45DCOE9 carburetors from a custom-made Fuel Safe fuel cell neatly installed in the spare tire well. Dyno tests show that this engine now produces over 300 lb-ft of torque and 283 horsepower. An aluminum radiator with custom aluminum shrouding integrates an external engine oil cooler.

More than just a powerful engine, the restoration also replaced all rubber suspension bushings with polyurethane replacements for an even sportier feel. Koni shocks and a reinforced three-link rear suspension setup help control the ride and dial in the E-Type's handling dynamics. Larger vented front and rear brakes were sourced from a late model XJ and adapted to fit on the overhauled differential with a 3.77:1 gear ratio. This sportier gear ratio offers improved acceleration and is complemented by a ZF five-speed manual transmission. A custom integrated electronic parking brake system has also been installed.

With the rotisserie restoration completed in 2018 after six years of careful work, invoices for the build totaled nearly $475,000. Only 300 test and shakedown miles were completed. This truly no-expense-spared restoration results in a stunning example to showcase the E-Type's true sporting potential. The entire restoration process is documented in the accompanying digital history file, from the upgraded engine to its lightweight bodywork modifications. Most recently, in 2024, full nose and leading edge paint protection film was installed. With its comprehensive list of upgrades, this E-Type is ideally suited for use on any number of historic motoring events, rallies, and shows, and will surely be a standout at every automotive gathering it graces.