The United Kingdom has some pretty famous exports: Mick Jagger, The Spice Girls, and of course, Jaguars. Jaguars are arguably the coolest, most iconic invention out of England in a long time. Right now, two of the most historic Jaguars in the world are about to go up for sale at Gooding & Company’s London Auction at Hampton Court Palace in September. They just opened up the gates to register to bid on these insanely cool Jags, if you already fancy them, as the Brits would say.
This pair of Jaguars is as iconic a pair as Sherlock and Watson, John and Paul, or tea and scones. They’re early production Jaguar E-Types from 1961, one of the most innovative and influential models of all time. If you want to learn more about each one, just keep reading. You can also register to bid on them here, or peruse the rest of the auction catalogue as well.
1961 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8-Litre Roadster (Estimate: £900,000 - £1,200,000)
The E-Type is unlike any other motorcar out there.
Of these sporty cats, the Series I, with its gorgeous covered headlights, is highly sought after among collectors and enthusiasts alike. This particular one was the first E-Type ever sold. As for a little bit of manufacturing history, the E-Type was born out of a need for a civilized-road-ready version of Jaguar’s D-Type, which was responsible for several Le Mans wins. This car first earned its notoriety for being capable of 150 mph right out of the showroom.
This car belonged to F.R.W. “Lofty” England, who was in charge of the company’s racing department. The first three numbered E-Types were prototypes and company cars. This right-hand drive roadster, famously registered 1600 RW, was the first production E-Type to be sold. While Lofty owned it, he lent it out to a bunch of his competition-crazed friends, before selling it to racing driver Mike Parkes. The car was famously pictured with racing driver Graham Hill, right after he had achieved the car’s first win at Oulton Park.
In 1971, it received a refresh from K.S. Mather Engineering, which was followed by the renowned Classic Motor Cars, Ltd. in Shropshire for a painstaking, concours-level restoration in its as-delivered colors.
Now, it appears just as stunning and classy as ever, in true Jaguar fashion. It’s a bona fide icon!
1961 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8 Litre Fixed Head Coupe (Estimate: £1,000,000 - £1,400,000)
These two Jags truly go hand in hand. Maybe a lucky someone will take them both home. This is the coupe version, which was later chosen to be the debut car at the Geneva International Motor Show in 1961. Of these first Series cars, the veritable crème de la crème is the early "outside-bonnet-latch" model– this particular one is one of four. These are the earliest of production E-types, and as such they have special features, including front bonnet latches accessed from outside the car, flat floors, and welded bonnet louvers, as opposed to later cars, which received a stamped hood. This coupe, chassis 860001, was the first right-hand drive coupe built.
Eventually, the car was purchased in 1998 by the current owner, a discerning collector who knows a thing or two about British marques. He then commenced a big restoration to take chassis 860001 to its as-delivered specification and appearance. It was notably re-registered on its original number plates, 1 VHP, as was written originally by the Jaguar factory. This car now remains the only surviving six-cylinder production E-type around, further making it a highly sought after car.
This car also participated in Norman Dewis’ 17-hour drive from Coventry to Geneva twice. In 2015, it was reported by Octane Magazine that this car would reach a top speed of 146.49. Holy moly — still got it.
In case you’re not planning on flying to England to bid in person at the auction at Hampton Court Palace, you can register to bid for Gooding & Company’s London Auction here or check out more beautiful autos before they cross the auction block on September 1st.
