Enzo Ferrari often receives credit for having described the E-Type Jaguar as "the most beautiful car ever made." When an extremely competitive and proudly Italian legend like Ferrari compliments an English vehicle, the praise must be well-deserved. And without a doubt, the Jaguar's sumptuous lines and silky smooth engines have withstood the test of time. Perhaps the car's seductive spirit and inherent British-ness explain why a Union Jack-bedecked Jaguar appeared in the 1997 Mike Myers film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery—then again, maybe Jaguar just wanted a chance to get a little product placement in by using the time-travel-via-cryogenic-freezing component of the plot. Regardless, an extremely groovy Jaguar XKE just popped up on the auction website Bring a Trailer looking like it just blasted straight out of the swingin' 60s.
The Car That Makes Everyone Randy
The car in question here is a 1964 model year Series 1 roadster and received an extensive restoration and restomod overhaul that lasted from 2007 to 2013. A wide range of mechanical and cosmetic enhancements took place during that period, including a repaint in the iconic Union Jack paint scheme the car proudly wears today.
Alotta Horsepower
The 3.8-liter inline-six was reportedly rebuilt using new components including pistons and bearing, while new oil and water pumps were also installed. The powerplant employs triple SU carburetors and now routes power to the rear wheels through a Tremec five-speed manual transmission.
Get Your Hand Off My Stick Shift
The interior benefited from a reupholstering in leather as well as received new carpeting. The wood-grain steering wheel fronts a suite of reconditioned Smiths gauges. The listing also includes a driving video of the car on roads that look absolutely nothing like Southern California. Everything else about the car itself looks period-perfect for fans of 1960s British perfection and bidding already sits at $23,000 with six days remaining until the final gavel.
Sources: bringatrailer.com and imdb.com.