The Jaguar E-Type set a new paradigm for sports cars when it launched in March of 1961. Its combination of sheer beauty, innovative unibody construction, and superlative driving dynamics were remarkable at the time and remain compelling to this day—so much so that the car has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The E-Type’s svelte design evolved from Jaguar’s D-Type racecars, themselves legendary for winning the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Crucially, the E-Type also inherited the D-Type’s novel unibody construction, with a front subframe carrying the engine, suspension, and bodywork, bolted directly to a steel tub. This setup was not only lighter than the ladder-frame chassis of the day, but also notably stiffer, which translated to superior driving dynamics.

The E-Type debuted with two body styles, a two-seater convertible and a two-seater coupe, both featuring a 3.8-liter, inline, six-cylinder engine paired with a four-speed, partially synchromesh, manual transmission. In 1965, Jaguar upgraded the engine to 4.2 liters and added a fully synchromesh, four-speed manual, while also improving other aspects of the car, such as the electrical and braking systems. The E-Type received numerous other updates throughout its impressively long 14-year production run—including the addition of a V-12 engine and a lengthened “2+2” body style featuring a small rear seat for occasional use. Consequently, the E-Type is subdivided into three series for classification purposes, with Series I roadsters like the example offered here consistently among the most desirable and highly valued.

This left-hand-drive E-Type roadster—chassis 1E 13350—was manufactured on 10 August 1966, according to an accompanying Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate. It left the factory finished in Willow Green with a French Grey soft-top over a beige interior and was dispatched to New York on 26 August 1966. Being a late Series I model, it features the desirable 4.2-liter engine and other improvements Jaguar bestowed upon the E-Type starting in 1965, including reclining seats, an alternator in place of the previous dynamo, an electrical system switched to negative earth, and a more reliable brake servo.

The car benefits from a recently completed fame-off restoration. It is now finished in the factory color of Opalescent Silver Grey and features a new red leather interior. The matching-numbers engine block, as confirmed by the accompanying JDHT certificate, is paired with a later, unstamped replacement head and cam covers. The exhaust manifold features a chrome-type finish instead of the factory-correct black porcelain finish. Otherwise, this Series I roadster has been meticulously restored to original specification and retains the factory panel fit.

Desirably equipped, fully restored, and ready to show or drive, this Jaguar E-Type presents an excellent opportunity to own a highly coveted Series I model replete with the more powerful 4.2-liter engine and late-series upgrades that improve performance and drivability.