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€119,500
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Jaguar E-Type Series 1
When the Jaguar E-Type was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on 15 March 1961, the motoring world did not merely take notice - it capitulated. Here was a car that could reach 150 mph, that handled with a sophistication derived directly from Jaguar's Le Mans-winning D-Type, and that cost less than half the price of the Ferraris and Aston Martins it outperformed. Enzo Ferrari's widely reported assessment - that it was the most beautiful car ever made - was not marketing. It was an admission from a rival that Jaguar had produced something extraordinary.
Over 72,500 E-Types were built between 1961 and 1975, across three series and three body styles. Each combination has its own character, its own collector community, and its own place in the market.
The Series 1 (1961–1968) is the definitive E-Type. Covered headlights, the original triple-carburettor 3.8-litre XK engine (later 4.2-litre with improved torque and a superior all-synchromesh gearbox), and the purest expression of Malcolm Sayer's aerodynamic design. Within Series 1, the 3.8 is the purist's choice: lighter flywheel, distinctive exhaust note, and the cachet of the earliest production. The 4.2 is the better daily driver: more torque, an easier gearbox (the 3.8's Moss box is notoriously recalcitrant), and improved interior appointments. Series 1 Roadsters in matching-numbers condition now routinely exceed €200,000, with exceptional examples approaching €400,000.
The Series 1.5 (1967–1968) is a transitional model: open headlights mandated by US regulations, but retaining the Series 1 dashboard and many mechanical details. It offers much of the Series 1 experience at a moderate discount.
The Series 2 (1968–1971) featured open headlights, larger tail lights, improved brakes, and a more refined interior. Widely considered the most usable of the six-cylinder E-Types, the Series 2 typically trades at 20–30% below
Values range enormously by series and body style. A Series 1 Roadster in matching-numbers condition starts from €150,000 and can exceed €400,000. Series 2 models trade at 20–30% below Series 1. Series 3 V12 Roadsters range from €80,000–150,000. The 2+2 body style is the most affordable in every series.
For investment and collector prestige: the Series 1 4.2 Roadster. For driving enjoyment at a reasonable price: the Series 2 4.2 Roadster or FHC. For grand touring comfort with a magnificent engine: the Series 3 V12. For the most affordable entry: any 2+2 variant.
The E-Type's XK engine is fundamentally robust and well-supported by specialists. Routine maintenance is comparable to other British classics. However, bodywork restoration can be expensive due to the monocoque construction and the complexity of the long bonnet. Budget for specialist labour rates if you are not restoring yourself.
Series 1 E-Types have been among the strongest-performing British classic cars over the past two decades. Matching-numbers, well-documented examples have consistently appreciated. Series 2 and 3 models have lagged but are now following the same upward trajectory, particularly in left-hand drive markets.
