1961 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8 'Flat Floor' Roadster

3,781cc DOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
3 SU Carburetors
265bhp at 5,500rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes


*Subject of a four-year restoration
*Delivered new to New York
*Rare and desirable flat floor, welded bonnet louver example
*Offered with Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate and history file


THE JAGUAR E-TYPE

Introduced in 3.8-liter form in 1961, the Jaguar E-Type caused a sensation when it appeared, with instantly classic lines and 150mph top speed. The newcomer's 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 same 3.8-liter, triple-carburetor 'S' unit first offered as an option on the preceding 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.

Despite the E-Type's gorgeous appearance, taller drivers could find its interior somewhat lacking in space, a criticism addressed by the introduction of foot wells (and other, more minor modifications) early in 1962. But of all the versions of Jaguar's long-lived and much-loved sports car, it is the very early 'flat floor' 3.8-liter cars built prior to February 1962 which, for many enthusiasts, remain the most desirable.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

According to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate issued for this stunning Series 1 E-Type, the car was delivered new to the U.S. market, being supplied through Jaguar Cars New York, to first owner Mrs. H. Panack. The new Jaguar was completed at the Browns Lane Jaguar Factory on September 1st , 1961, configured as a left hand drive Roadster; was finished in a Carmen Red over Biscuit upholstery, and fitted with a black soft top. Among the first examples built without external bonnet latches, many of the under-hood details seen on those cars were still present when this example was built.

The first owner is understood to have kept the car briefly and by 1963 it had found its way into the family in whose ownership it would remain for the next over half century. According to the oral history of the long-term family owners, the car was put up in a game of poker at a fraternity house game at the University of Kentucky. Shrewd card playing on behalf of the future patriarch of the family resulted in him winning the car from his frat brother. When the father passed away, the car was inherited by his son, who bequeathed it to his sister after he subsequently passed at a young age. The family reported that when the car was acquired, it had been made to accommodate a taller driver—something quite useful in a Flat Floor E-Type. The current owner acquired the car in 2015 having known about the car since the 1980s.

When the car was purchased, it had been sitting for about a decade, unused. A true driver that had been subject to a few repaints and various bodywork repairs, the car was largely complete although the engine's head was unstamped and the body tag and stamping on the hood on the car was one digit off of the factory records (chassis plate and Heritage Certificate both read 1521, the car shows 1520). The Jag was sent to E-Type specialist Greg Weldy to be torn down to bare metal and restored back to its former glory. Photos and records document the work completed over the course of the four-year restoration. Cosmetically, metalwork was repaired, the paint was redone in its original Carmen Red, and the interior was retrimmed in the original Biscuit color (although the trunk was well persevered and left original). Mechanically, the seller reports that then engine and transmission were rebuilt, new wheels and tires were fitted, while the necessary fixes to the brakes, suspension, and rest of the drivetrain were also undertaken. While a keen eye was kept towards keeping the car stock, an aluminum radiator was installed in the interest of improving the cooling system.

Since completion of the work in December of 2019, about 2000 miles have been driven, during which time additional fettling has been performed. The E-Type is very clean wherever you look, and it's evident that professionals performed the restoration. Accompanied by its Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust issued certificate and a history file, this first production-year E-Type features the smart aluminum covered center console and pointy seats.

Still intact with its matching numbers original engine block, this fine Roadster should prove to be an enjoyable entry to rallies such as the Copperstate 1000. These elegant first series examples of the legendary Jaguar E-Type are the purest of the model range, and will always retain the extra cache of being the most collectible of this timeless model.