1967 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES 1 ROADSTER            Registratio...

Estimate

£65,000 - £75,000

1967 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES 1 ROADSTER           

Registration Number: LKA100E                            
Chassis Number: 1E1735
Recorded Mileage: 31,000 miles

- RHD, delivered new via Henlys of Manchester
- Matching numbers, original colour scheme
- In private ownership for over 25 years

There have been few better summaries of the E-Type's manifest virtues than the forgoing, penned by the inimitable John Bolster for Autosport shortly after the car's debut. Conceived and developed as an open sports car, the Jaguar E-Type debuted at the Geneva Salon in March 1961 in Coupé form. The car caused a sensation - spontaneous applause breaking out at the unveiling - with its instantly classic lines and a 150mph top speed. Even Enzo Ferrari, no less, was moved to declare that the E-Type was 'the most beautiful car in the world'. 

One of the greatest post-war sports cars, Jaguar’s E-Type made immediate headlines on its launch in March 1961. Here was a sleek and beautiful 150mph car with a competition pedigree that could be bought for just over £2,000 almost half the cost of an Aston Martin or Ferrari. A direct descendant of the XK120 and competition C and D-Type models that so dominated fifties sports car racing, the E-Type shared its 265bhp 3.8 litre twin-cam straight-six engine with the XK150 ‘S’, mated to a Moss four-speed gearbox with synchromesh on the top three ratios. Beneath the William Lyons/Malcolm Sayer-styled body, available in either closed or roadster form, the steel monocoque chassis sported all-independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, mounted inboard at the back.

The 4.2-litre engine was introduced on the Series 1 in October 1964, in addition to a more user-friendly all-synchromesh gearbox and superior Lockheed brake servo forming part of the improved specification together with the bigger, torquier engine. Apart from '4.2' badging, the car's external appearance was unchanged, but under the skin there were numerous detail improvements, chiefly to the electrical and cooling systems, and to the seating arrangements. Top speed remained unchanged at around 150mph, the main performance gain resulting from the larger engine being improved flexibility. 

This lovely UK-delivered example rolled off the Brown’s Lane production line on 3d March, to be sold via the distributor Henlys of Manchester on 14th March 1967 to its first private owner, with the interesting registration LKA 100E.

The E-Type has had just four custodians in total, the current for over 25 years. Subject to an older restoration in the early 2000s, the Jaguar has recently been serviced by specialist John Chatham cars of Bristol, who will also put a fresh MoT certificate on the vehicle prior to being offered for sale. 

This original RHD and matching numbers E-Type is offered with a large history file containing a number of previous invoices and MoT certificates, in addition to a UK V5C document. Finished its original colour scheme of Dark Blue with a beige leather interior, we are pleased to offer a very genuine example of an enduring classic.