1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Roadster
- Colour
- Opalescent Bronze
A left-hand drive Series 1 Jaguar E-Type roadster, built in October 1961 and dispatched to Los Angeles via New York that same month. Noted as one of the most celebrated automotive designs of its era — a Geneva Motor Show debut car praised by Enzo Ferrari — this example passed through four owners before a comprehensive frame-off concours restoration by specialist Dave Ferguson in 2013, refinished in its original Opalescent Bronze with a period-correct leather interior.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$224,000
- 1961-11-01 →Factory deliveryFirst owner, Los Angeles, Californiafull documentation
Car was built in early October 1961, shipped to New York, and delivered to this California-based owner within 30 days of dispatch. Ownership documented via Heritage Trust Certificate.
- 1976 →Acquisition unknownKirk Fry, Palo Alto, Californiapartial documentation
Third custodian following the original Los Angeles owner; based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- 2002 → 2016Acquisition unknownFourth ownerpartial documentation
Held the car until it was acquired by the consignor in 2016.
- 2016 →Private saleConsignorfull documentation
Commissioned a comprehensive frame-off restoration by specialist Dave Ferguson, completed in 2013; the work was both filmed and photographed for documentation.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownSecond ownerpartial documentation
Acquired the car sometime in the latter part of the 1960s; no other details provided.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2013RestorationDave Ferguson
Full frame-off concours-grade restoration carried out by marque specialist Dave Ferguson, retaining the majority of original components. The body was refinished in the factory colour Opalescent Bronze, and a new leather interior was fitted matching the original beige shade. A replacement black soft-top was installed rather than replicating the original fawn hood. Upgrades included enlarged front disc brakes, a five-speed manual gearbox (original four-speed Moss unit retained and included), new wire wheels, and an electronic ignition converted to negative earth. The entire process was documented via video and photography.
Original four-speed Moss gearbox preserved and supplied with the vehicle. Headlamp covers, windscreen, fluid reservoir, and fasteners were all retained from the original car to preserve authenticity.
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