If there is one car that, even fifty years after its introduction, is still able to pull at the public’s heartstrings and has come to define both its era and its marque, that car would be Jaguar’s legendary E-Type.

When new, it was faster than the average Ferrari and Maserati and was even cheaper to buy than other rival European sports cars available at the time. Considered by Enzo Ferrari to be the most beautiful car ever built at the time of its unveiling, the E-Type was good for 150 mph, proving that its stunning looks were more than skin deep. The voluptuous bodywork was the result of years of studies and researches by aerodynamicist Malcom Sayer, who, after experimenting with the C and D Types in endurance racing, transferred his experiences to the E Type, creating a beautiful yet aerodynamically efficient motor car.

As confirmed by accompanying documentation from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, this 1964 Opalescent Silver Blue E-Type was completed on 7 January 1964 and dispatched by the factory on 14 April to Jaguar Cars of New York to be delivered to its first owner, a D. Wells of Tennessee. A later Bill of Sale in the history file shows that it was purchased by Ken Sandridge III of Nashville, TN, in December of that same year. Incredibly, Sandridge went on to own the car for the next 48 years, finally selling the car in late 2012.

The E-Type was subsequently shipped to the UK in January of 2012, where it was comprehensively restored and later purchased by the consignor. Having only covered 1,000 miles since completion of the restoration, this desirable 3.8-litre Series I E-Type will still be able to make heads turn like it did more than fifty years ago.