1963 Jaguar Series 1 E-Type Roadster

A numbers-matching example
Late '90s award-winning restoration by noted firm
Multiple First in Class awards and Best Overall British Sports Car
Accompanied by a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate

VIN: 878681

Introduced in 1961, the E-Type roadster proved to be an immediate success. A timeless design: it has been acclaimed as one of the prettiest sports cars ever built. Designed under the guidance of William Lyons, the car was a longer and lower version of Jaguar's D-Type, a car which is widely regarded as the best-looking race car of its time. The engine was largely carried over from the XK150; the 3.8-litre dual overhead cam six-cylinder engine provided outstanding performance as well as time tested reliability. With triple SU carburetors, it developed a healthy 265 horsepower, furthering its legendary status and aura that still follows it to this day.

Pinned with a fascinating history, this sporting numbers-matching 1963 Jaguar Series 1 E-Type Roadster was dispatched on December 17th, 1962, to its original distributor Jaguar Cars, New York, USA. Said to have remained on the East Coast for many years, it was then discovered in the early 1990s. Reported to be in very solid, rust-free condition, it was acquired by a foreign collector of British automobiles and shipped to New Zealand for a total body-off-the-frame restoration at the hands of marque expert Mr. Bob Bruce. Once the concours restoration was completed, this Jaguar was given a first-class paint job by New Zealand firm, Hesson and Bowry, following which its attractive Biscuit leather interior was installed.

Once completed in 1997, this British Roadster was shipped back to the United States in the same year, where it would make its show debut at the Napier Jaguar Convention and be awarded the People's Choice Award; shortly thereafter, it received the Best Overall British Sports Car award as well as a First in Class. This example was then sent to California where it continued its strong showing at competitive events by winning a First in Class and the Jaguar Marque Trophy at one of the prestigious California Concours that honored Jaguar as the featured marque. Most recent ownership history recounts the current owner acquiring this Jaguar four years ago from an estate that had reportedly owned it for over a decade.

The Carmen Red paint, wire wheels, and gleaming chrome work still present remarkably well, a true testament to the love and care this example has received through the years. Powered by its numbers-matching, DOHC 3.8-litre six-cylinder engine fed by triple SU carburetors and backed by a four-speed manual gearbox, this lightweight British sports car offers its next owner legendary and sporting performance. Under previous ownership, a stainless-steel exhaust was equipped, furthering its noted engine sound.

Having garnered much deserved attention and awards, this 1963 Jaguar Series 1 E-Type Roadster has obviously been well-cared for and maintained since its body-off-the-frame restoration by a marque expert and represents a wonderful degree of quality for a fraction of what it would cost to restore one of these examples today.