The Jaguar E-Type was a descendant of the Le Mans–winning D-Type as channeled through developmental cars called the E1 and the E2A Le Mans prototype. Following its hugely successful introduction at the Geneva Salon, at which Enzo Ferrari described the new model as “the most beautiful car ever made,” Jaguar began taking customer orders with export-only deliveries starting in April 1961. The first 385 left-hand-drive roadster bore unique external hood latches, welded louvers, and flat floors without footwells. These cars are increasingly prized by collectors today for their aesthetic detail and rarity, comprising the purest expression of the original E-Type design.

As the 195th left-hand-drive example built, this beautifully presented roadster is one of the early cars equipped with external hood latches, welded louvers, and flat floors. It was completed at the factory on 10 July 1961 and dispatched 23 July 1961 to Jaguar Cars of New York. Its first owner, R. F. Thompson of Dallas, Texas, took delivery of the car on 28 August 1961. According to the included Heritage Certificate, the car was originally finished in a Bronze exterior with Biscuit-colored interior and Black top. As the car sits today, it is finished in a stunning Opalescent Blue with a Red interior and Blue top, the same color combination of the 1961 Geneva Motor Show stand car, as intentionally restored to match.

The current owner purchased the car in 1977. Over the next 35 years, the car sat while the owner hunted down and purchased any missing correct and date-coded components for the car. During this time immense research was completed, studying the interesting and obscure attributes that set the very early cars apart from later E-types in order to ensure the restoration of the car was completed to the highest standards. In 2012 the restoration began, with the owner undertaking most of the work, including initial disassembly of the mechanicals as well as the engine. All paint and bodywork was completed by marque specialist Lindley Motors of Sanatoga, Pennsylvania, at which time the owner began reassembly of the Jaguar to ensure it was finished to the absolute highest standards. The restoration of the car was completed in 2015, at which time it was shown and judged at a national JCNA event scoring an outstanding 99.970. Since its painstaking restoration, this E-type has only covered 400 carefully driven miles, and it shows in the Jaguar’s top-notch presentation years later. The attention to detail on this car provides a very unique opportunity to acquire a rare piece of Jaguar history that gives an outstanding look into the early production of the now iconic Jaguar E-type.

Included with the sale of this Jaguar E-Type are its JDHT Certificate, JCNA judging sheets, tools, and spare.