1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 FHC Flat Floor LHD

• Early 1961 Series 1 3.8-litre Fixed Head Coupe, Flat Floor
• Chassis number #885325 was completed in left-hand drive on 16/12/1961
• Supplied to a Mr A. Anderson through Jaguar Cars, New York in early 1962
• Subject to a photo-documented, ground-up restoration at a cost of around £100,000 and only a few miles since
• Superbly re-finished in its original Old English White over black leather
• Matching numbers confirmed by its Heritage Certificate. Remains fitted with a four-speed Moss gearbox
• Supplied with three ring-binders of history and restoration details, complete tool roll, mallet, Shelley Jack and spare wheel
• 1 of only 680 flat-floor Coupes and in fabulous condition, 523 FYP would be welcome in any collection of important Jaguars

Most of us imagine that the trend amongst the world's top manufacturers of exotic automobiles to release an air-brushed artist's impression of their new ultra-desirable, hugely powerful, impossibly good-looking, we're only making a few, don't ask how much and anyway they are all sold, model is a fairly recent phenomenon, however, it's not. Way back in 1961, Jaguar Cars did just that with their forthcoming E-Type and the only difference was that the forecast list price for the new model was about half of what you thought it might be. Sir William Lyons' savvy move of restricting the sale of the first 50 or so cars to established racing drivers or celebrities only fuelled demand still further and magazine articles have been written about just how far potential customers would go to be moved up the rapidly expanding waiting list.

Naturally, when the car was launched in May 1961 it caused a sensation with newspaper headlines focussing on the car's (optimistic) top speed of 150mph and remarkable looks, however, there was a lot more to the E-Type than a pretty face. With a claimed 265 horsepower available, the E-Type's performance significantly furthered the standards set by the preceding XK models, partly because it weighed around 500lbs less than the XK150, but mainly because aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer used his experience gained partly with their C and D-Types but mainly from prototypes E1A and E2A to create one of the most efficient shapes for a high-performance sports car. The fact that this low drag design was also one of the most elegant shapes ever to sit atop a set of four wheels was a bit of a 'win-win'. Only in terms of its transmission did the E-Type represent no significant advance over the XK150, whose durable four-speed Moss gearbox it retained.

But, of all the versions of Jaguar's long-lived and much-loved sports car, it is the very early 3.8-litre cars built prior to February 1962 (retrospectively known as 'flat floor') which, for many enthusiasts, remain the most desirable. Around 2,000 of the early cars were built with a flat floor under the pedals but the driving position was not ideal for taller drivers so changes were made to the footwell creating a recess for the driver's heels.

The lovely Jaguar E-Type offered here is an early 1961 Series 1 3.8-litre Fixed Head Coupe, “Flat Floor”. It’s a left-hand drive car, finished in Old English White with a black leather interior and chrome wire wheels and has been subject to a ground up restoration at a cost of around £100,000. Its fully matching numbers status is supported by corresponding paperwork and a Jaguar Heritage Certificate.

One of only 680 ‘flat floor’ fixed-head coupés, Chassis number #885325 was completed on 16 December 1961, and subsequently supplied to a Mr. A. S. Anderson through Jaguar Cars, New York in early 1962. According to the accompanying Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate, the car retains its numbers-matching, 3.8-litre six-cylinder engine and cylinder head, and remains fitted with a four-speed Moss gearbox.

Complete with tool roll, original Shelley jack, three ring-binders of photos and invoices detailing the restoration, and in Concours condition throughout, this venerable Jaguar truly is a sight to behold. With the values of very early Roadsters continuing to bloom, Coupés will not be far behind, and an early, flat floor, matching numbers, FHC in classic colours with lots of history, may turn out to be a very sensible investment.