1962 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Coupe
The Coombs E-Type
This unique and important E-Type, with a known history from Day One, is the only known – road-going – E-Type to have been modified in period by the legendary Jaguar afficionado, John Coombs. Purchased originally in 1962 from Coombs of Guildford by its first owner – a Mr. Harold Samuel – this car replaced his 1959 Coombs modified Jaguar Mk2 3.8. He then instructed John Coombs to make this (already very fast) car…….even faster. Modifications to the engine – Coombs porting to the cylinder head, lightening the flywheel, higher compression pistons, open carburettors and tubular exhaust manifolding were employed to good effect and complemented by Koni front shock absorbers.
In 1965 the car passed into the ultra-enthusiastic ownership of a Mr. Alan Vose, with whom it remained until his death, thence passing on to his son, Peter. It was acquired by its current owners in 2019 who entrusted its restoration to us at WinSpeed.
To Tony and Gareth: Thank you – this has been, for us, an absolute priviledge.
Although arriving as a complete, driving, car immediate impressions, endorsed by our workshop inspection, showed that it required total, total, restoration. Its bodyshell hid a mass of patching and there was evidence of well-entrenched rust throughout. Once stripped to a bare shell and media blasted the true extent of corrosion was revealed. We ended up saving just the roof and the bulkhead.
With the engine stripped, Coombs afficionado Ken Bell, inspected the porting and and flywheel confirming that the machining was indeed as done in period by Coombs.
WinSpeed restorations are ENGINEERING-LED. The following images hopefully convey not only the huge depth of the restoration and the beautiful result, but also the extreme attention to engineering detail to create a car that delivers a dynamic package worthy of its historic Coombs association.
In short: From Guildford to Guildford in Sixty Three years!
