Rolling off the Coventry, England production line on 11 April 1962, this 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8-Liter Roadster came finished from the factory in the stunning hue of Opalescent Bronze, further complimented by Beige upholstery and a Fawn soft-top. Under the bonnet was Jaguar’s stellar 3.8-liter straight-six, mated to a four-speed manual transmission. Dispatched to Jaguar Cars New York on 26 April 1962, chassis 877085 was sold new to E.V. Kapelan.

In February 1969, Mr. Kapelan then sold this E-Type to V.C. Anderson Sr. of Fontana, California, who drove it sparingly. Notes on file indicate he covered approximately 2,000 miles a year and that the odometer read just over 50,000 miles in 1973. On 12 March 1974, chassis 877085 was registered by its third keeper, R.R. Praul of Sunnymead, California. Previous titles, registration documents, and invoices show the car was last on the road in 1981, being placed into storage the following year.

Pulling it from a 34-year slumber, with aged black paintwork applied at some point prior, Mr. Anderson sold chassis 877085 to a Scottish gentleman in 2016, after which it was registered that July. Reportedly still in a very solid state, the E-Type was promptly sold to its next owner that same year. This owner then commissioned Classic Autosports of Inverkeilor, Scotland to undertake a nut-and-bolt restoration. Correspondence on file notes that the painstaking process took approximately 1,800 hours from 2016 to 2019. Photographs on file taken during the restoration indicate that chassis 877085 had numerous body-number markings across many panels and even the chassis front crossmember. Furthermore, the body, gearbox, cylinder head, and engine block were all found to be matching-numbers, according to the accompanying Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate.

Classic Autosports touched every facet of the car, with the body resprayed in factory-correct Opalescent Bronze, the interior retrimmed in Beige, and a new Fawn soft-top installed. A hardtop was also sourced and painted in Opalescent Bronze. Thorough mechanical work included rebuilding the engine, drivetrain, and ancillary systems. Photographs on file taken before, during, and after the restoration, document the excellent quality of the work.

Acquired by the consignor in February 2022, chassis 877085 remains in the same stunning condition as when its restoration finished in 2019. The odometer read just over 54,000 miles at the time of cataloguing, which is believed genuine.

For collectors and enthusiasts who prize authenticity and impeccable craftsmanship, this well-documented, high quality, full matching-numbers example of Jaguar’s Series I E-Type Roadster presents a wonderful opportunity to own what is widely considered one of the most beautiful cars of all time.