1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 Litre Roadster – ‘Barn Find’ – rare ‘flat floor’ car with welded bonnet louvres.


Details

The Swallow Sidecar Company was founded in 1922 by William Lyons and William Walmsley. In 1934 Lyons formed SS Cars Limited to effectively take over the operation from Walmsley. The SS brand was quite successful; though they had a reputation for having ‘more show than go’. The Jaguar name first appeared as a model name on an SS 2½ Litre Sports Saloon introduced in 1936. For political reasons, Lyons changed the name of his company to Jaguar Cars in 1945.

Whilst the SS100 is indeed a fabulous car, it was with the launch of the legendary Jaguar XK120 at the London Motor Show in 1948 that really put Jaguar on the map. The car caused a sensation, which persuaded Jaguar founder and design boss William Lyons to put it into production. The XK120 morphed into the XK140 and ultimately the XK150 and in total, just over 30,000 cars were built over fifteen years of production.

In 1961 at the Geneva Motor Show Jaguar introduced the E-Type, which like the XK120 all those years ago, took the motoring world by storm. The body styling was simply gorgeous and technologically the E-Type was an engineering masterpiece and it set new standards in all areas.

Whilst automotive styling is somewhat subjective the E-Type is often ranked atop lists of ‘the most beautiful cars’ and in fact it has been described by Enzo Ferrari as ‘the most beautiful car ever made’. And it’s not just about the looks as the E-Type is often at the top of other lists such as ‘The best sports car ever built’ or ‘The most significant cars’. It is truly a motoring icon.

As a testament to the success of the E-Type, production evolved through three series from 1961 until 1974 during which time circa 70,000 cars were built.

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to confirm the sale of this very rare 1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 Litre Roadster. This car is a fabulous ‘barn find’. It is one of the most desirable and collectible of the E-Type range being a flat floor car with welded bonnet louvres and many other ‘early car’ features.

The Jaguar Heritage Certificate on file confirms this car was manufactured on the 29th August 1961, has a date of dispatch of the 8th September 1961 and it was sold through Jaguar Cars, New York, USA to its first owner FJ Greenwood of Houston, Texas, USA.


Specification

  • -
  • Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 Litre
  • 1961
  • Roadster
  • Manual
  • 79,660 miles
  • 3781 cc

SOLD

Register interest if a similar car becomes available