Kurt Ernst at 8:59 am

1961 Jaguar E-type. All photos courtesy Bonhams.

The Jaguar E-type is considered an icon of automotive design, and one example can even boast a permanent home in the collection of New York CityÔÇÖs Museum of Modern Art. The 1961 Series I E-type that sold this past weekend for more than $168,000 at auction also had long-term, though not nearly as ideal, accommodations: 25 years in a dirt-floor garage.

Dating from the initial weeks of E-type production, the car auctioned was purchased by the seller in February of 1965 and driven until the early 1980s. Since then, the car was stored outside under cover for some five years before being garaged, having accumulated just 65,000 miles since leaving JaguarÔÇÖs Coventry factory. Bonhams, which offered the Jaguar at its Hendon, United Kingdom, sale, described it as mostly original (except for a Lenham hardtop and footwell modifications to increase legroom) and unrestored, with a pre-auction estimate of up to ?ú30,000 ($46,707). Bidding opened at ?ú40,000 ($62,276) and climbed quickly, spurred on by active telephone bidders. When the gavel fell, the car went to the original bidder for ?ú109,020 ($168,791, including buyerÔÇÖs premium), and it has already been delivered to a U.K. E-type specialist for a full restoration.

Early Series 1 Jaguar E-Type models featured several unique features that would be dropped from later production variants. In addition to the ÔÇ£flat floor,ÔÇØ which would be replaced with footwells to add legroom in 1962, the first cars used hood latches that required a tool to open (perhaps encouraging owners to leave maintenance and repair to Jaguar dealers). Power initially came from a 3.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed manual transmission, and thanks to the carÔÇÖs D-type-derived aerodynamics and light weight, it gave the Jaguar E-type a claimed top speed of 150 MPH.

Submitted by greg@nofatmusic.com on Tue, 05/14/2013 - 13:31

HArrrummmph indeed William!
I hear ya tho, I saw this auction listing
- but for all of us E Type owners, it just adds to the cumulative price value/increase of our cats for 2013!

I think someone just really wanted an early E Type, was wowed by the hype of "Barn find" - which for any of us who drive our cars means either a constant breaking of mechanical parts throughout the next five years until its all replaced, or the expense of a total restoration. I recently asked a top notch restoration shop, who did lots of work for me in the 80s and 90s and are midwest (IE not crazy shop prices) what the bottom line cost of 'ground up' restoration of a decent XK150 would be this year. Aside from not being able to get to it til 2015, he said it averages about $140K. Add that to $168K and - well, I almost coulda had a semi-lightweight!

Submitted by bonnettoboot@e… on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 18:37

Edited on 2013-05-03 19:15:17

Edited on 2013-05-03 19:07:51

What rubbish, "the external bonnet catches had to have a "special" tool to open them, "perhaps encouraging owners to leave maintenance and repair to Jaguar dealers" First the tool was the most basic tool made, a screwdrive did just the same thing, AND how many people in 61 even thought about working on the car. As for the floor pans, no one over 66" could operate the pedals with shoes on. The car is not a one owner, it is NOT original, -and because of the corrosion, never will be. On the other hand, two weeks ago a 1957 Cadillac Biaritz sold for around $600,000, A year ago a Bugatti sold for $36,000,000 and a year earlier a 1971 Mopar 6 pack convertible sold for around $2.500,000. Is it Ego driven or extreme auction fever, too much money to spend, even if DF was born in May 1964!