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44 of 48 lots
Lot 44
1961 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8-Litre Roadster
Estimate:
$220,000 - $260,000
Sold for:
$220,000
Timed Auction
Geared Online | December
Description
Chassis: 876276

Engine: R2923-9



Retains Matching-Numbers Engine per Copy of JDHT Certificate
Concours-Level Restoration by the Renowned Jaguar Specialist Images Auto Body
Offered from 25 Years of Single Ownership in Factory-Delivered Colors
Restoration Documented by Scores of Photos
Tastefully Upgraded for Increased Roadability

3,781 CC DOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Three SU Sidedraft Carburetors
265 BHP at 5,500 RPM
5-Speed BorgWarner Manual Gearbox
4-Wheel Servo-Assisted Disc, Rear Inboard Brakes
Front Independent Suspension with Torsion Bars
Rear Independent Suspension with Coil Springs

An undisputed icon of motoring, the Jaguar E-Type combined race-proven engineering with gorgeous styling that has earned it a rightful place in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection. The most desirable E-Types are the Series I models fitted with glass-covered headlamps and diminutive taillights, with the early production 3.8-litre examples highly sought after by discerning collectors. Those built in 1961, the first year of E-Type production, are especially prized, particularly those with a combination of welded-in louvered panels on the bonnet and flat floorboards.

The 3.8-litre Roadster offered here was exported to the US in December 1961 and, due to the J-62 tag riveted near the chassis plate, was very likely first sold in California. The current owner, a Southern California resident, purchased the E-Type in Santa Monica in 1998, and it has been maintained thereafter by Doctor Jaguar of Costa Mesa. After nearly two decades in his care, the owner retained Dave Ferguson, the renowned Jaguar restoration specialist and his team at Images Auto Body of Campbell, California, to perform a no-expense-spared, show-quality restoration in 2020. The E-Type is now again finished in its factory color of Cream with Black leather interior and soft top, also matching its original appearance, having been provided by noted Jaguar trim specialists BAS Ltd. of Palm Springs, California.

According to the consignor, the restoration included a rebuild of the drivetrain, including the matching-numbers engine and, thoughtfully, the installation of a BorgWarner five-speed gearbox, which greatly enhances the E-Type’s driveability in city traffic as well as on open roads. Additionally, it wears a new set of slightly wider wire wheels than the 1961 specification to allow the installation of wider, better-handling tires. Since the completion of this outstanding restoration, the Roadster has been stored in a climate-controlled garage, and having covered fewer than 100 miles since restoration, its presentation is simply superb.

As a 1961-built example, this Jaguar displays proper first-production-year features, including the original restored steering wheel, beveled door finishers, narrow bumper over-riders, and, of course, the aluminum interior trim and rounded seatbacks common to early examples. Benefiting from minimal use since its restoration, and offered in its attractive, original colors, this spectacular E-Type Roadster will be a grand addition to any collector’s stable and suitable for most any special outing.

*Please note that this vehicle is titled 1962.