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Details
1965 JAGUAR E-TYPE ROADSTER
Registration No. GFS 175D
Chassis No. 1E1526
Engine No. 7E8570-9
Carmen red with black interior
Engine: six cylinder, in-line, twin overhead camshaft, triple SU carburettors, 265 bhp at 5,400rpm, 4235cc; Gearbox: four-speed synchromesh; Brakes: Dunlop servo-assisted discs all round
Suspension: independent double wishbones with torsion bars to front (???), independent rear with twin coil spring/damper units on each side Right hand drive
The E-Type was arguably the most eagerly awaited of all Sir William Lyons' creations, and its reception when unveiled at the Geneva Salon in March 1961 was triumphant. Jaguar's conspicuous absence from Le Mans the previous year had fuelled abounding rumours that there was news lurking in the pipeline, and when it arrived both press and public exploded with an adulation that had by now become expected of Jaguar's new models: "Congratulations, Jaguar!" raved Motor Sport, for this "stupendous achievement of British automobile engineering and craftsmanship".
Despite the factory's withdrawal from the international racing scene, Jaguar's reputation was easily strong enough for privateers to take up the baton, and the E-type with its independent rear suspension and ample power was the perfect tool with which to contend. 1962 saw credible 4th and 5th places (Ferraris taking the top three) for the Cunningham and Sargent entries, and it was noted by commentators that this was a "road-going machine selling for one-third the list price of a touring Ferrari", but the gap between top- and club-level racing was widening and the E-type clearly had a softer focus than its predecessors and than the Ferraris and other marques against which it was competing. Waning fortunes on the race track and the burgeoning popularity of American muscle in the form of the home-grown Mustangs and Corvettes, as well as American-powered hybrids such as the mighty Cobra, demanded that the E-type be refreshed, and Jaguar's response was not long in coming.
As soon as the new 4.2 litre unit was ready the E-type got it. This was not just a bored out version of the 3.8 litre unit previously used; it had a redesigned block & re-spaced bore centres, as well as a new alternator, new one-piece cast aluminium exhaust manifold, and revised ancillary drives. The result was better bottom-end torque and much improved in-gear acceleration. The car also gained a new version of 4-speed gearbox with synchromesh on all 4 gears, and a Laycock-Hausserman diaphragm-spring clutch, meaning that the gearlever could now "be whisked into any gear as fast as the hand can move". The 220 bhp per ton was now readily exploitable, and the E-type was credited with being "one of the rare high-performance cars in which every ounce of power can be used on the road" (both quotes from The Motor).
The car proudly offered by Christie's today is one of just 1050 4.2 litre Roadsters built for the home market between 1965 and 1968. The car was originally supplied on 15 April 1966 to William Havvower of East Lothian in Opalescent Dark Green with black interior and hood. Today it is finished in Carmen red with a black leather interior and red carpets, all in excellent condition. Currently fitted with a Motalita steering wheel as well as chrome wire wheels,the car has been well maintained being part of a private collection for several years and is offered for sale due to lack of use. This is an excellent example of this seminal milestone, arguably the zenith both of Jaguar's road cars and of Sir William's remarkable helmsmanship of the Coventry firm, and, according to US journalist Henry Manning, "the greatest crumpet-catcher known to man".
Registration No. GFS 175D
Chassis No. 1E1526
Engine No. 7E8570-9
Carmen red with black interior
Engine: six cylinder, in-line, twin overhead camshaft, triple SU carburettors, 265 bhp at 5,400rpm, 4235cc; Gearbox: four-speed synchromesh; Brakes: Dunlop servo-assisted discs all round
Suspension: independent double wishbones with torsion bars to front (???), independent rear with twin coil spring/damper units on each side Right hand drive
The E-Type was arguably the most eagerly awaited of all Sir William Lyons' creations, and its reception when unveiled at the Geneva Salon in March 1961 was triumphant. Jaguar's conspicuous absence from Le Mans the previous year had fuelled abounding rumours that there was news lurking in the pipeline, and when it arrived both press and public exploded with an adulation that had by now become expected of Jaguar's new models: "Congratulations, Jaguar!" raved Motor Sport, for this "stupendous achievement of British automobile engineering and craftsmanship".
Despite the factory's withdrawal from the international racing scene, Jaguar's reputation was easily strong enough for privateers to take up the baton, and the E-type with its independent rear suspension and ample power was the perfect tool with which to contend. 1962 saw credible 4th and 5th places (Ferraris taking the top three) for the Cunningham and Sargent entries, and it was noted by commentators that this was a "road-going machine selling for one-third the list price of a touring Ferrari", but the gap between top- and club-level racing was widening and the E-type clearly had a softer focus than its predecessors and than the Ferraris and other marques against which it was competing. Waning fortunes on the race track and the burgeoning popularity of American muscle in the form of the home-grown Mustangs and Corvettes, as well as American-powered hybrids such as the mighty Cobra, demanded that the E-type be refreshed, and Jaguar's response was not long in coming.
As soon as the new 4.2 litre unit was ready the E-type got it. This was not just a bored out version of the 3.8 litre unit previously used; it had a redesigned block & re-spaced bore centres, as well as a new alternator, new one-piece cast aluminium exhaust manifold, and revised ancillary drives. The result was better bottom-end torque and much improved in-gear acceleration. The car also gained a new version of 4-speed gearbox with synchromesh on all 4 gears, and a Laycock-Hausserman diaphragm-spring clutch, meaning that the gearlever could now "be whisked into any gear as fast as the hand can move". The 220 bhp per ton was now readily exploitable, and the E-type was credited with being "one of the rare high-performance cars in which every ounce of power can be used on the road" (both quotes from The Motor).
The car proudly offered by Christie's today is one of just 1050 4.2 litre Roadsters built for the home market between 1965 and 1968. The car was originally supplied on 15 April 1966 to William Havvower of East Lothian in Opalescent Dark Green with black interior and hood. Today it is finished in Carmen red with a black leather interior and red carpets, all in excellent condition. Currently fitted with a Motalita steering wheel as well as chrome wire wheels,the car has been well maintained being part of a private collection for several years and is offered for sale due to lack of use. This is an excellent example of this seminal milestone, arguably the zenith both of Jaguar's road cars and of Sir William's remarkable helmsmanship of the Coventry firm, and, according to US journalist Henry Manning, "the greatest crumpet-catcher known to man".
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.