1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Fixed Head Coupé (development/press car)
- Colour
- Opalescent Dark Green
Chassis 860010, registered '6162 RW', is an early Jaguar E-Type Fixed Head Coupé built in September 1961 and used by Jaguar for high-speed testing and press evaluation. Driven by legendary test driver Norman Dewis and Belgian racing journalist Paul Frère, the car carries a number of factory development modifications distinguishing it from standard production cars. After years of private ownership it received a comprehensive four-year restoration by JD Classics and has since appeared at several prestigious concours events.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate £395,000 – £495,000
- 1961-09-27 → 1963-11-01Factory deliveryJaguar Carsfull documentation
Retained by Jaguar for high-speed testing and media loan duties; documented through Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust archives and contemporary press coverage.
- 1963-11-01 →Private saleCoombs of Guildfordpartial documentation
Dealership specialising in ex-demonstration and press Jaguars; sold the car on shortly after acquisition.
- → 1975Private saleBruce Buckleypartial documentation
Hampshire-based owner who retained the car for approximately eleven years before selling.
- 1975 →Private saleMichael Fulkspartial documentation
Essex-based owner who purchased the car from Buckley in 1975.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownRoger Cookpartial documentation
Hornchurch, Essex owner confirmed still in possession as of 1981 per a query sent to Jaguar; Jaguar confirmed at that time the original engine remained fitted.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent collectorpartial documentation
Car held in a high-calibre private collection after restoration completion; kept in storage alongside other significant vehicles.
Competition
- 20122012 Unique Special Ones ConcoursClass winner
Shown in Florence following completion of a four-year full restoration by Jaguar specialist JD Classics.
- 2013Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza
Car participated in a driving tour held as a lead-up activity to the main concours event.
- 2018Salon Privé
Displayed at the UK-based concours event; no class result mentioned.
Maintenance & restoration
- —ModificationJaguar Cars
Multiple factory development modifications applied during Jaguar's ownership, including a driver-side lowered floor, revised cockpit ventilation, recessed rear bulkhead, tall-driver seat modifications, repositioned pedals, modified door and boot locks, repositioned reversing light, new piston rings, an aluminium sump, a revised rear crankshaft seal, a 3.07:1 final drive ratio, and an internal bonnet release mechanism.
Modifications intended to refine production engineering; several features noted in a contemporary Motoring News road test and many remain present on the car today.
- —RestorationJD Classics
Full, no-expense-spared restoration carried out over four years, with deliberate attention to preserving the car's unique development-specification details rather than returning it to standard production configuration.
Work commissioned approximately twelve years before the catalogue date; restoration completed prior to the 2012 Florence concours appearance.
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