After Jaguar’s utter dominance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans throughout the 1950s, the engineers at Coventry were tasked with developing a production version of their champion race cars. The new car would borrow heavily from the venerated D-Type, winner of Le Mans a stunning three consecutive times from 1955–1957.

The engineers would also keep the D-Type’s monocoque construction. Revolutionary in its day, the aeronautically inspired design consisted of a front subframe carrying the engine, front suspension, and steering assembly bolted directly to the body tub. This new design not only significantly lightened the car, but also lowered its center of gravity for excellent cornering. Rear suspension was now fully independent, using jointed axles as upper links and tubular lower links, with twin coil springs and shocks on each side.

Manufactured 6 November 1961 and dispatched to Jaguar Cars of New York on 22 November 1961, this car was reportedly sold new to an owner in Santa Monica, California. As an early production car, it features flat floor pans, welded bonnet louvers, and high-back seats with an aluminum dash and console. In the early 2000s, the car is said to have been fully restored by Classic Showcase of Oceanside, California. Originally finished in Opalescent Bronze, the car is now strikingly presented in gold over brown leather upholstery with a fawn fabric convertible soft top and matching fawn fabric top boot.

As confirmed by an accompanying copy of its Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate, the car retains its numbers-matching 3.8-liter engine, cylinder head, and body. Furthering the car’s detailed restoration, the spark plug valley is correctly painted Pumpkin Orange, a finish carried over from the XK150 and unique to early Series 1 E-Type engines. Since its restoration, the car has won Best in Show at the 2016 International Jaguar Festival in Scottsdale, Arizona as well as multiple 100-point evaluations at Jaguar Clubs of North America concours events.

A stunning Series 1 E-Type is a hallmark of any serious collection and this early, open-two-seat example, with its numbers-matching engine and cylinder head and striking gilded livery, presents an enticing opportunity.