About the 1961 – 1967 Jaguar E-type (XKE)

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Legend has it that when it went on display for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, none other than Enzo Ferrari remarked that the E-type (known as the “XKE” in the U.S.) was the most beautiful car he’d ever seen.  Ferrari knew a pretty car when he saw one and he might have been one of the first to express the sentiment, but an incalculable number of others have said virtually the same thing and they’re still staying it fifty years later.  Designed by a noted aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer, the E-type was meant to cheat the wind, but its glass covered headlights, long hood, short rear deck and compound curves also coincidentally looked great.

With a 0-60 time of around seven seconds and a 150-mph top speed, the Series I E-type was near the top of the early 1960s food chain and was indeed quicker than numerous sports cars with a much higher price tag.

Jaguar continued to develop the E-Type road car by fitting the larger 4.2-litre XK engine in 1964.  Although it still offered 265bhp, the 4.2 came with more torque.  Meanwhile, the manual gearbox gained synchromesh on all ratios.  Seating became more comfortable.  The 4.2 Series 1 has become the most desirable of the class.   Parts are easy to find and not terribly expensive for any version of the E-type.

Today, the E-Type is highly regarded as a blue-chip Class E and a wonderful driver. Its legacy carries on in models such as the F-Type, so even now the E-Type’s impact on the world continues.

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This jaguar in this particular color is considered to be the most beautiful car in the world by many.  That is why Prince Harry and Kensington Palace chose it for him to drive his bride Meghan Markle from their wedding ceremony to their wedding reception at Frogmore House.

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History:

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This 1966 Jaguar 4.2 Series 1 Roadster has been garaged since the 4th owner bought it in 1998 and is driven approximately 500 mi/yr. It has been stripped and painted once by the 2nd owner and stripped and painted twice by the 4th current owner. The most recent was in March of 2019.

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It was Concours judged in 2016 with a score of 98.05.  Since then, it has received the recent paint and panel replacement and had several flaws corrected, and it would likely be a 99.7 car today. Numerous items were upgraded or replaced as noted and major parts as listed in the following description were replaced.  Non-original items were added for convenience of daily driving.  All working original parts were saved.  It is mechanically excellent and in most respects it is a show car quality.

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Ownership History:

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1st Owner:

David S. Crant

New 1965-1978

2nd Owner:

Ken Glennon.

Lookout, IN

“low mileage”

(Per prior owner’s documents)

1978-1997

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3rd Owner:

Emil Grerami

Mountain View, CA

43,754 miles

(See service documents)

1997-1998

4th Owner:

Henry Potter

Louisville, KY

62,843 miles

1998 – Present