The E-Type was the first Jaguar road car not designed by Sir William Lyons. Aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayers had penned the D-Type sports racer that won three 24 Hours of Le Mans races back-to-back from 1955 to 1957. For the E-Type, he used his best ideas from the D-Type. The body was a monocoque tub from the firewall back, with steel boxes forming the scuttle, the sills, and various cross-members. A front sub-frame cradled the engine and supported the rack-and-pinion steering and torsion bar suspension. The sub-frame was bolted to the firewall in six places, rather than being welded like the D-Type, which had proved to be expensive to repair. The independent rear suspension was mounted on a separate sub-frame that was bolted to reinforced cross-members and featured inboard Dunlop disc brakes.

The E-Type was powered by the same 265-horsepower, 3.8-liter six-cylinder from the XK150 S, but it was faster than the XK150, due to improved aerodynamics, which also made it quieter at speed. It was also larger inside, with the speedometer and tachometer in front of the driver and additional gauges in a central binnacle above a row of toggle switches. The coupe proved both faster and quieter than the roadster, and its rear hatch opened to one side, for ease of loading items like golf clubs.

The combination of stunning good looks, a 150-mph top speed, and a bargain price kept the E-Type in the forefront of American dreams until the appearance of the 1968 Series II, which lost the covered headlights and dainty taillights and whose performance was hampered by stricter emissions regulations. Once early teething troubles had been solved, the 1962–1967 Series I E-Types became the model to own.

The car on offer has been restored by marque specialists in California. It was stripped to bare metal, placed on a rotisserie, metal-finished, leaded, and, along with all of the body parts and chrome, fitted to the car. The car was then primed, sealed, painted with a base clear coat, color-sanded, and buffed in Opalescent Silver Grey. All components were rebuilt to factory specifications, including the original engine block, the transmission, the rear end, and the suspension. Finally, all of the chrome trim was replated. The car also received a new tan leather interior, which was made from the proper matching materials. With no expense spared, great attention to detail was paid to ensure that the car had the superb fit and finish of a high-level restoration. A DVD of the restoration is included with the car.

This E-Type is perfect for the buyer or collector who always wanted an exceptional Jaguar Fixed Head Coupe. We would recommend close inspection of this fine, highly collectible example, which is ready for the show circuit and driving enjoyment.