2 minute read
JUNE 2021
In March 1961, Jaguar E-type created history when the hand-built ‘77RW’ (Roadster) was driven from Coventry to Geneva to be launched alongside the ‘9600HP’ (Fixed Head Coupe) at the Motor Show. Never before had a car engendered such feelings of passion and British pride.
Upon seeing its graceful shape for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show, Enzo Ferrari famously declared the Jaguar E-Type to be the most beautiful car in the world. But the backstory behind Jaguar’s conspicuous debut is one for the ages.
Two E-types were unveiled in Geneva on March 15, 1961: an Opalescent Gunmetal Grey fixedhead coupe, and a British Racing Green roadster. While their jaw-dropping shapes awed the crowd in attendance, their debut was a last-minute boondoggle that could have ended in a noshow. After the launch, New York’s Museum of art placed a replica on permanent display, saying the car was “a timeless shape of exceptional and enduring beauty”. Later in 1996, acquired and 1963 roadster. Designed by former aeronautics engineer Malcolm Sayer, a car that was appreciably faster than most vowel-laden exotica, boasted semi-monocoque construction and had all round independent suspension with disc brakes on all four wheels, yet it comfortably undercut them all.
At its launch, on 15 March 1961, a fixed-head E-type could have been yours for £2160, assuming you didn’t mind joining the long waiting list. By way of contrast, a Ferrari 250GTcost about £6600. Heck, a Volvo P1800 was £400 more. It isn’t hard to comprehend why demand outstripped supply.
Series 1, 1½, 2 and 3
The 1st production Series 1, 3.8L E-Types were built from 1961 to 1964. There are some rather rare sub-types of Series 1 E-Types, particularly at the beginning and end of the Series 1 production. For example, the first 500
Series 1 cars had flat floors and external bonnet latches. These are the desirable ones. From 1964 to 1968 the uprated 4.2L Series 1 E-Types followed, with the series ending with Series 1½, with open headlights.
Series 2, 4.2L production started in 1968 ending in 1970, with various upgrades. Series 3, 5.3L V12’s with their 4 exhaust tips were built from 1970 and commercial manufacture of the E-Type ceased in 1974 with a black V12 roadster, registration HDU 555N.
