The Jaguar E-Type, known initially in the North American market as the XK-E, needs little introduction. Widely considered one of the most beautiful automobile designs of all time, with engineering and performance to match its Malcolm Sayer-penned looks, E-Types of all vintages are appreciated and valued today. But certain cars—in particular, early Series 1 E-Types—are exceptionally desirable.

This example, chassis number 875140, is one such car. With a build completion date of 23 June 1961, this E-Type has all the commensurate early Series 1 features. Some, like covered headlights, are readily apparent; others, including the exterior bonnet locks (which require a special, factory-supplied “T” key to open), flat cockpit floors, and ventilation louvers welded, rather than stamped, into the bonnet, may require a trained eye to spot. Of the 1,729 open-air E-types built for the 1961 model year, only a fraction were left-hand-drive examples exhibiting these attributes.

According to its accompanying Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Production Record Trace Certificate, chassis 875140 was originally finished in Opalescent Gunmetal over a Red interior with a Black soft-top. It was dispatched on 4 July 1961 to Jaguar Cars in New York, and while its subsequent history is presently unknown, it is understood to have remained on the East Coast through the 1980s.

The E-Type was later restored in maroon over a beige interior with a black soft-top, a color combination that suits the car’s lithe lines well. It has seen limited road use since, with the 241 miles displayed on the odometer at the time of cataloguing believed to represent miles driven since the restoration’s completion. In 2023, over $15,000 was invested in the car’s mechanical condition, with Function Drives Form of Carson City, Nevada, addressing the car’s electrical, braking, and cooling system, as well as replacing seals and repairing lubrication and exhaust system leaks as needed. In preparation for sale, the car was refreshed, including a show-car-quality repaint in maroon, with work completed in early 2026. Importantly, it retains its numbers-matching engine, cylinder head, and body, per its JDHT certificate.

A true automotive icon, this early production Jaguar E-Type Roadster embodies the perfect union of performance, beauty, and innovation. This early Series 1 example offers an exciting opportunity to experience a car that is rightly deemed a legend.