Jaguar E-Type 2+2 Series I

CATALOGUE AMENDMENT: This car is recorded as having been stolen and recovered in October 1990.

Launched in March 1961 the E-Type took the world by storm. William Lyons’ ability to design a car which looked just right was by then already legendary, however with the E-Type he surpassed even himself. It was not just the looks that made everyone sit up though. Autocar and Motor tested an early E-Type at 149mph – a truly extraordinary achievement for a road car in 1961. The first cars used the 3.8-litre engine from the XK 150S in a new chassis which carried torsion bar front suspension with an independent coil set up at the rear. It was also one of the first cars to use discs brakes all round which was entirely necessary given its remarkable performance. 

The Series 1 was upgraded to 4.2 litres in 1964 and a stretched 2+2 added to the range in 1966. Some 9” was added to the chassis length, with longer doors to aid getting in and out. It was also available with an automatic gearbox. The Series 2 came along in 1969 and lasted until 1971 when the Series III appeared with the fabulous 5.3 litre V12 engine.

This Series 1 2+2 manual RHD example was purchased by the vendor in 2004 from a German gentleman based in London. It is believed that he had owned it for some time, although the log book shows that it became registered in his name only a year or so before he sold it. In any event, during his ownership the car was placed in long term storage and in fact the vendor hardly drove the car once he purchased it either, putting it into yet another period of long term storage. It was last taxed in 2005.

Very recently he has retrieved the car and put it through an MOT which it passed without any problems. The clutch had stuck so the garage removed the gearbox and freed it. It starts well and runs and drives, although could do with some further work to bring it up to usable condition. In 1990 the car was reported as stolen/recovered and the register also confirms that it has been imported – its date of first registration in the UK being September 1989.

The Series 1 E Type, with its small mouth, headlight covers and “flick” switches is by far the most appealing of the breed and this one represents an opportunity to acquire a running car with an MOT at an entry level price.