1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Roadster Chassis #62

The story of the E-Type requires little introduction, however, what perhaps may need some explanation is the position in the market of the very early cars and their importance to collectors and marque enthusiasts alike. In common with Works of Art, Furniture, Philately, Fine Wines and all the other things people collect, the rarest and best quality items tend to attract collector's interest and inevitably, the harder they are to find, the more expensive they can become. Should there be a number of well-heeled collectors chasing a particular painting, for example, then the result can be a serious clash of egos and wallets. This is equally true of Classic Cars and the E-Type is a perfect example.

The most sought after of all the E-Types are the first 92 RHD cars produced and these are easily distinguished by their outside bonnet locks. Fifty-six of this first batch were supplied in July 1961 to Jaguar dealerships to be used as demonstrators and they were expressly forbidden to sell them until that September. With most of the first 20 cars produced being allocated for competition use, the very first road cars are considered to be the 'Holy Grail' of E-Types, and arguably of all collector's cars. Chassis #062 is a rare opportunity to enjoy the thrill of ownership inherent in one of these special rare early cars.

Chassis #62 was distributed to Scotland via Henleys of London as a demonstrator for potential customers in Edinburgh and the surrounding area on 14th July 1961. It was later sold in the first week of September to and first registered on the 8th September 1961 with the registration number HSS 124. Its first owner Mr I Simpson of North Berwick owned the car until 1978 when we can see from a sales invioce it was sold to a Mr D Russel of Edinbrough who then later sold the car to Mr A stwart in Fife before our vendor purchased the car from a gentleman in Edinbrough. It was destined to remain in to Scotland, where it still currently resides with our vendor the just the 5th owner. Number 62 is extra special in the history of E-types in that it has spent a very quiet life in Scotland living under the radar and having had just five, geographically close, owners from new. The result of this sheltered life is that until now, its whereabouts have been a mystery to historians and it was one of only a few of the original 92 cars that hadn't been found. We are pleased to be offering this car on the open market for the first time, finally placing it correctly in the timeline of the E-type.

Much like many of its sister cars, #62 has over the years lost some of its distinguishing early features, which has partly helped to hide the significance of this car until now. The car most improtantly retains its orginal matching numbers engine including matching cylinder head. However while missing some of the more obvious early features the car retains not only the much revered 'flat floor' but in fact a whole myriad of other specific very early details including the split-link throttle linkage, review mirror amongst other little ques.

From studying the comprehensive accompanying history file, the car appears to have been subject to both major and minor restoration works. In the mid to late 1970s by its orginal owner, it appears to have benefitted from a significant restoration both mechanically and bodily. At this point, we can see from accompanying invoices, that what we believe was the original 'outside lock' bonnet was replaced with a slightly later one by its owner at the time. Originally finished in Sherwood Green with a Suede Green Interior and French Grey roof, it was during this restoration that the car was repainted Carmen Red, the colour which it wears today and re-trimmed with its current lovely black interior.

It was again sympathetically restored in the 1990s, which included another full engine rebuild. More recently under its current ownership, the car has been subject to yet more renovation to safeguard this rare car for the future. This considerate restoration took place over a period of 18 months and consisted of much bodywork including a further repaint in its current Carmen red.Presented with #62 is an excellent history file that dates back to 1975, and of course, includes a Jaguar Heritage Certificate. The history file details much of the cars life in Bonnie Scotland through invoices from the 1970s to the present day.

Possibly the definitive Jaguar connoisseur's dream collectable, this lovely E-Type is in fabulous yet not over-restored condition, and represents a very special opportunity to own one of the first 92 at an attainable price, with further scope to return the car to exactly the way it was in July 1961 once again, and in doing so adding your name to the annals of Jaguar history.