Timeless Classics - Jaguar E-Type Convertible S�érie 1

JAGUAR E-TYPE CABRIOLET SERIE 1

A road-born REVOLUTION

When it was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, the Jaguar E-Type (or XK-E in the U.S.) caused an immediate sensation. Rarely had a production car stunned the world with such a combination of styling, performance, and affordability. The Series 1, produced between 1961 and 1968, remains the most iconic and purest iteration of the model.

Designed by Malcolm Sayer, a former aircraft engineer, the E-Type’s shape was defined by aerodynamics: a long, sculpted bonnet, covered headlamps, and a tapered rear that made the car look like it was in motion even at a standstill. The 1965 convertible, in particular, embodied a uniquely British expression of open-top grand touring—low-slung, elegant, and irresistibly seductive.

A racing heart for THE ROAD

In 1965, the E-Type received the upgraded 4.2-liter inline-six engine, replacing the earlier 3.8. Though it produced the same 265 horsepower, it delivered more torque at lower revs, offering smoother acceleration and greater usability in everyday driving. Mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox, the E-Type could sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just over 7 seconds—impressive even by modern standards.

Thanks to four-wheel disc brakes, independent rear suspension, and a lightweight chassis, its handling was remarkably advanced for its time.

A rolling MASTERPIECE

The 1965 Series 1 is especially sought after by collectors, as it combines the early, pure design (before the covered headlamps were removed in 1967) with the mechanical improvements of the 4.2-liter engine. Today, a well-preserved or correctly restored E-Type is not just a collector’s car, it’s a moving sculpture, frequently seen at concours d’élégance and displayed in world-renowned museums. Notably, an E-Type is proudly exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

Of all the accolades the E-Type received, one stands above the rest: Enzo Ferrari reportedly called it "the most beautiful car ever made". For the founder of Ferrari, a man of uncompromising taste and national pride, to acknowledge a British car in such terms was both rare and monumental. It cemented the E-Type’s place among the automotive greats.

To see a 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Convertible on the road today is like watching a Brancusi sculpture at 120 mph, an extraordinary blend of grace, engineering, and passion.

The model presented at Timeless Classics has been fully restored, according to the rules of the art :

The whole bodywork was done by Atelier de restauration Gunckel in Sausheim in 2017-2018.
The interior trim and soft top were restored to perfection in 2019-2020.
All the mechanical work was carried out by the renowned Atelier Klughertz from 2021 to 2023.