Vehicle Description
• 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 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.
