Introduced in 1961 at the Geneva Motor Show, the Jaguar E-Type’s striking presence dazzled crowds and upended the automotive world. The British car was handsomely designed by a team led by the imaginative Malcom Sayer with the blessing of Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons. The Series 1—arguably the most iconic and valuable of the E-Types—was available for export in March 1961.

The car was refined over the years, and in 1965 it received a robust triple-SU carbureted, 4.2-liter, six-cylinder engine yielding 265 horsepower and a top speed of 150 mph. This 4.2-liter engine offered the same horsepower as the earlier 3.8-liter, but torque was increased for better control. Other changes included a full synchromesh gearbox and a new brake booster.

This 1966 Jaguar Series 1 4.2-Litre Roadster was built on 16 May 1966. A left-hand-drive example destinied for the United States, it was finished in Carmen Red with a black interior and a black soft-top. It was dispatched on 1 June 1966 to Jaguar Cars of New York. According to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate, the car’s first owner was “Closets Unlimited.” The car subsequently found its way to the West Coast and is believed to have been restored prior to the last long-term owner purchasing it in California. The car remained in their ownership for 20 years, during which it was mostly on static display, with limited road use.

Today this E-Type’s older restoration continues to present nicely, finished in its original shade of Carmen Red with a black leather interior and a Stayfast convertible top. The Jaguar is powered by a 265-hp, 4.2-liter, inline, six-cylinder engine and, according to the JDHT certificate, the engine block and cylinder head are numbers-matching. The engine is backed by a fully synchronized, four-speed, manual transmission. According to the consignor, the car has been driven just 350 miles since installation of a new fuel tank, refurbishment of SU carburetors, brake system servicing, and mounting of new Vredestein Sprint Classic tires.

This Jaguar is accompanied by its JDHT certificate, tool roll, black top boot cover, jack, knock-off hammer, and spare.