Lot 215: 1963 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8-Litre Roadster

‘If Les Vingt Quatre Heures du Mans has been responsible for the new E-Type Jaguar, then that Homeric contest on the Sarthe circuit will have been abundantly justified. Here we have one of the quietest and most flexible cars on the market, capable of whispering along in top gear at 10mph or leaping into its 150mph stride on the brief depression of a pedal. A practical touring car, this, with its wide doors and capacious luggage space, yet it has a sheer beauty of line which easily beats the Italians at their own particular game.’ - John Bolster, Autosport.
Introduced in 3.8-litre form in 1961, the Jaguar E-Type caused a sensation when it appeared, with instantly classic lines and 150mph top speed. Its design owed much to that of the racing D-Type: a monocoque tub forming the main structure while a tubular spaceframe extended forwards to support the engine. The latter was the 3.8-litre, triple-carburettor, ‘S’ unit first offered as an option on the XK150. An optimistic 265bhp was claimed, but whatever the installed horsepower, the E-Type’s performance did not disappoint; firstly, because it weighed around 500lb (227kg) less than the XK150 and secondly because aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer used experience gained with the D-Type to create one of the most elegant and efficient shapes ever to grace a motor car.
This desirable early E-Type was manufactured in left-hand drive configuration and sold new in the USA via Jaguar Cars, New York. It is understood that the car was re-imported to the UK in the 1980s; accompanying expired MoTs date back to 1989, since when it has covered approximately 20,000 miles. (The odometer currently displays a total 60,000 miles, though it is not known if this is genuine). The car is believed to have been restored in the early 1990s and converted to right-hand drive by its then garage-proprietor owner, who kept it until circa 2004. During the past year the vendor has spent over £5,000 having the brakes, exhaust system, suspension and rear axle refurbished, the latter being rebuilt with the UK-specification 3.07:1 final drive ratio. Refinished in silver (from original silver-blue) with dark blue leather interior, the car retains the original-specification Moss gearbox and appears quite tidy under the bonnet. The seats are in good condition but the soft-top would benefit from being re-covered. Benefiting from its recent mechanical refurbishment and reported as driving well, the car is offered with road fund licence to July 2009 and Swansea V5 registration document.