Lot details Registration No: T.B.A. Chassis No: 1R1776 Mot Expiry: July 2013
The E-Type's Malcolm Sayer-penned lines are thought by many to be among the most striking ever to adorn a motor car. Indeed, only a few years ago the Daily Telegraph ranked the E-Type top in a pole of the '100 most beautiful cars of all time'. Like the XK150 before it, it was born of Jaguar's competition successes on the race tracks of Europe - this was no ordinary motor car. The E-Type, or XK-E as it was known in the USA, made its debut at the 1961 Geneva Salon where its unique combination of grace and pace stole the show. From birth, the car was available as a Fixed Head Coupe or a two-seat Roadster. Like the XK120, at launch the new Jaguar was the fastest production car of its time - its 3.8-litre straight six engine allowing a 0-60mph acceleration time of around seven seconds and a top speed of circa 150mph. Despite this, the engine size was increased from 3.8 to 4.2-litres in October 1964 and, with the change, came a sweeter all-synchromesh gearbox, better brakes and more comfortable seats. The Series 2 models introduced in 1969 are distinguished by their lack of headlamp covers, enlarged front air intake, repositioned front indicators and tail lights, wrap-around rear bumper, twin-electric fans, uprated brakes and refashioned facia and seats.
Finished in Silver with Dark Blue leather upholstery, this particular example - chassis number IR1776 - occupies a unique place in Jaguar history as the last right-hand drive E-type 4.2 Roadster ever made. It has apparently remained in the vendor's care for the last 32 years, during which time it has been treated to: an engine overhaul, bare metal respray, interior retrim and a new bonnet, yet only covered around 10,000 miles - the odometer currently displays an unwarranted 91,500 from new. Registered with the Jaguar club, this matching numbers E-Type is said to have been garaged every night and is currently viewed by its long-standing owner as having "good" six-cylinder engine and bodywork (though he admits there are "some defects to the latter"), and displaying "some wear" to the interior and "some blemishes" to the paintwork. He also describes the four-speed manual gearbox as "all working". Interest in the immortal E-type was unquestionably heightened by last year's 50th Anniversary celebrations and shows no sign of abating. This historically significant Cat now seeks a new home and comes complete with an MOT valid to July 2013, and tax to the end of August 2013.
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