Historic Irish Jaguar E-type barn-find

In need of salvation

We will let you decide if it’s simply a serendipitous coincidence that we heard about this discovery today, 15 March 2021, which is the 60th anniversary of the Jaguar E-type…

But that shouldn’t detract from what is a special car – and one that is in need of a lot of TLC.

‘Barn-find’ is a familiar, catch-all phrase, but what this really is is a ‘garage-find’, and now it is seeking an owner who can rescue it and return it to its former glory.

Let’s find out its story.

Beautiful in blue

Finished in Cotswold Blue, this fixed-head coupé was one of 138 right-hand drive examples built in the E-type’s launch year, 1961.

It was also the first of its kind to be registered in Ireland.

A generous gift

Its first owner was the famous racehorse trainer Paddy Prendergast.

The story goes that this Jaguar E-type was a gift to him from a rich American racehorse owner, following a run of good results with her horse that Prendergast trained.

Fleeting relationship

This magnanimous benefactor bought this E-type from Cavey Motors, a Jaguar dealer on Camden Street in Dublin, before Christmas 1961.

However, it is said that Prendergast couldn’t get insured on his beautiful new E-type, so sold it in 1962.

Moving on

This 3.8-litre two-door was quickly in need of a new home, then.

In fact, between 1962 and 1967 it passed through several hands, before coming to another garage in Dublin, Heeley Motors.

Fall from grace

Sadly, it is reported that even at just six years old, this E-type was in need of work – although, we can only assume, rather less that it requires today!

Thankfully, help was at hand…

Rallying to the cause

The son of the garage’s proprietor decided to take the E-type on.

This chap was Richie Heeley, a well-known Ford rally driver and one of the few drivers who’s claimed back-to-back wins on the famous West Cork Rally, his coming in 1984 and ’85, both times in an Escort RS1800 with Vincent Meade his co-driver.

So near, yet so far

And so Heeley Jnr took the E-type and stripped it, ready for restoration… 

However, as you can see, that restoration never happened.

Time for a fresh start

We’re sure many of you can relate to Heeley’s struggle to simply find the time to complete the work.

Which is why, more than half a century since he started the restoration, he’s decided it is time for someone else to take this project on.

Nearly all present and correct

It is said that almost all the parts are with this E-type, so its next keeper isn’t starting from nothing.

The exception is the bonnet, which it is said had rusted beyond the point of salvation.

Matching numbers

This Kildare car, chassis number 860122, will be sold with its original engine as well as its original brown logbook.

And, perhaps unsurprisingly, given it was laid up at just six years old, in its six decades this car has covered a mere 35,000 miles.

Are you up for it?

So, do you fancy taking this on and bringing Ireland’s first Jaguar E-type fhc back to best? It’s certainly a big job.

This car is being sold by Dublin-based David Golding who has enigmatically listed it as ‘POA’. Want to find out more? Click here.