1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2, One for the Ages
When the Jaguar E-Type first debuted in 1961, the worldwide motoring press fawned over its beautiful lines and performance. This numbers-matching 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 liter coupe has us equally smitten. Back in its time, some put the 1965 Jaguar E-Type ahead of the competition which included Ferrari, Aston Martin and Maserati. The caveat? It was only a fraction of the cost of those pretentious European thoroughbreds. While you can debate its place among 19th-century exotics, you can’t deny the E-Type’s place in automotive history. Many consider it one of the most influential automotive designs of all time. We have Jaguar’s Malcom Sayer to thank for that.
Sayer’s prime concern was that a design “worked” both aerodynamically and visually. In those terms, the E-Type was his Mona Lisa. This particular car, under the then-ownership of Pennsylvania’s J. Avery was first presented (after a lengthy restoration) at the 1999 Amelia Island Concours where it promptly took home the blue ribbon for “Most Elegant Closed Car.” How could you argue that accolade? Adorned in brilliant black with red guts, it shines like a diamond, especially when the polished spokes catch the sun.
The certificate of authenticity from the JDHT (Jaguar Heritage Certificate) indicates this vehicle, was manufactured in August of 1965. After coming through the hallowed grounds of Jaguar Cars of New York, it was sent for sale to the Cloninger Buick/Oldsmobile dealership in North Carolina. It was originally purchased new by the Hanes Family of the Hanes textile fortune. Since that original sale, the car has changed hands several times, selling most recently at the 2012 Gooding and Company Pebble Beach Auction where it fetched a handsome $143,000.
The buyer got a stunner. The 4.2-liter inline 6-cylinder engine is topped with three SU carburetors good for 285hp at 5,400 rpm. Can you image the esteemed Mr. Hanes screeching to a stop at a North Carolina country store in 1965, pipes cackling? What jolly good fun it all must have been! Jaguar’s 4-speed synchromesh gearbox chewed up the RPM’s while Jaguar’s legendary independent front and rear suspension made cornering almost as joyous as sex. Making the Jag E-Type more desirable-yet were the carefully thought out performance upgrades like disc brakes on all four corners, rack and pinion steering. You might also be interested to know that the E-Type was based on Jag’s D-Type race car which resulted in its monocoque design.
And that red leather interior sets this one apart in our opinion. Blood red with competition steering wheel and aluminum trim pieces make it like fine art. We wonder how many of the 5,832 Series 1 coupes produced were offered in this stellar color combo?
If you don’t think the 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 coupes are some of the prettiest cars ever produced you’re on Delusion Island. But don’t take our word for it. When the E-Type first emerged from production, Enzo Ferrari himself called it the “Most Beautiful Car in the World.”
