1966 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES I 4.2 FIXED HEAD COUPE

4,235cc DOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
3 SU Carburetors
265bhp at 5,400rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes

*Exceptionally well-presented throughout with recent body restoration performed
*Matching-numbers example with tasteful period-correct aesthetic upgrades
*Fitted with a state-of-the-art integrated A/C system
*A proven participant in numerous prominent 1000-mile Rallies

Previewing at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California by appointment. Please contact [email protected] for scheduling.


THE JAGUAR E-TYPE

"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".

There have been few better summaries of the E-Type's manifest virtues than the forgoing, penned by the inimitable John Bolster for Autosport shortly after the car's debut. Conceived and developed as an open sportscar, the Jaguar E-Type debuted at the Geneva Salon in March 1961 in Coupé form. The car caused a sensation - spontaneous applause breaking out at the unveiling - with its instantly classic lines and a 140mph-plus top speed. The 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-liter, triple-carburetor, 'S' unit first offered as an option on the preceding XK150. Aerodynamically, the Coupé was superior to the Roadster and the better Grand Tourer, enjoying as it did a marginally higher top speed and the considerable convenience of a generously sized luggage platform accessed via the side-hinged rear door.

Its engine aside, only in terms of its transmission did the E-Type represent no significant advance over the XK150, whose durable four-speed Moss gearbox it retained. The Moss gearbox was replaced when the 4.2-liter engine was introduced on the Series 1 in October 1964, a more user-friendly all-synchromesh gearbox and superior Lockheed brake servo forming part of the improved specification together with the bigger, torquier engine. Apart from '4.2' badging, the car's external appearance was unchanged, but under the skin there were numerous detail improvements, chiefly to the electrical and cooling systems, and to the seating arrangements. Top speed remained unchanged at around 150mph, the main performance gain resulting from the larger engine is more torque available at lower RPM.

Often called the most beautiful production car of all time, the E-Type remains an automotive icon of design, engineering and speed.


THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This exceptional E-Type Fixed Head Coupe was finished at Jaguar's Coventry works on November 1, 1966, benefiting from the upgraded, fully synchronized transmission and the larger 4.2-liter XK engine. It was built for the North American market as a left-hand drive model and painted in Opalescent Silver Blue metallic color and trimmed in Dark Blue Connolly leather.

The E-Type Coupe is believed to have remained in the US since new and by the 1990s was already a pampered and enthusiastically owned JCNA Concours participant. The Jaguar was purchased by the consignor in 2002, and has since formed part of his spectacular, Southern California based collection of sports and special interest collectors' motorcars. During his nearly two-decade ownership, the Jaguar has been treated to much restoration and refurbishment work, while delicate and tasteful upgrades have been carried out to both enhance the pureness of the classic E-Type design and its usability. Such upgrades include the elimination of the bumper over riders, and fitment of an air conditioning system, neatly tucked up under the dash. More recent work includes a full bare-metal repaint, costing more than $50,000.

Today, this stunning E-Type Fixed Head Coupe is finished in a deep black exterior color, with a neatly patinated contrasting Biscuit-colored leather interior. The car has been enjoyed by the owner on more than 20 classic car rallies along with fellow CF200 members, including the Copperstate 1000 and Going to the Run rallies, and was specially invited to be part of an exhibition at the Petersen Automotive Museum named 'The World's Greatest Sports Coupes'. The car is offered with the rare original tool roll, service and maintenance records, the Jaguar-issued Heritage Trust Certificate and photos of the most recent body restoration.

A wonderful example of the legendary Jaguar E-Type, the Fixed Head Coupe represents the purest form of the model. This matching-numbers car, having enjoyed the loving care of a true enthusiast for nearly two decades, must be one of the best examples available anywhere.