From The Classifieds: 1964 Jaguar E-Type

Jaguar’s immortal E-Type stunned the world when it was introduced in 1961.

The impossibly lithe, high-performance two-seat coupe brought levels of performance that are still impressive today (the car’s 15-second standing quarter mile acceleration and 150 mph [240km/h] top speed were benchmarks in the minds of many car enthusiasts at the time) and combined exotic looks with a sense of public acceptance not generally enjoyed by other exotic Europeans.

People could relate more to an E-Type Jaguar than, say, a Ferrari or Maserati.

The first E-Types, which came here in 1962, a year after their European launch, were not only formidably rapid; they were also quite luxurious even if they lacked a lot of things taken for granted today such as air-conditioning, power steering or automatic transmission.

But the Jaguar’s all-independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes (inboard mounted at the rear) and the surging power of the later-ubiquitous XK6 six-cylinder, twin-overhead-camshaft engine – originally 3.8 litres with triple SU carburettors – ensured it was far from a bare-bones sports coupe.

The engine developed 198kW and produced 330Nm of torque, driving through a manual four-speed gearbox (with no synchromesh on first gear) combined with the supple suspension to make the E-type a very rapid yet comfortable point-to-point coupe.

The styling has been lauded over the years, rated as one of the all-time greats by many observers – including Enzo Ferrari who described it at its launch in 1961 as the “most beautiful car ever made”.

The phallic, long-bonneted body was the work of Jaguar stylist Malcolm Sayer, who designed-in many elements that stopped in their tracks those accustomed to regular 1960s cars – including the yawning frontal section of the body that swung open to reveal not just the beautiful twin-cam XK engine, but also the torsion bar front suspension.

Two occupants sat in classic wraparound bucket seats (tiny by today’s standards) and luggage was stowed behind them, accessed by a lift-up tailgate and separated from the passengers by an upholstered, chrome-trimmed panel. A multi-instrumented dash, complete with large dials for tachometer and speedometer as well as rows of control switches confronted the driver and there was a thin, wooden-rimmed, alloy-spoke steering wheel.

The series 1 coupe is seen by many as the purest in a range that blossomed into long-wheelbase 2+2 and convertible versions. With glassed-in headlights and a smaller grille mouth, as well as sleeker proportions than the stretched, higher-roofed 2+2 that followed locally in 1966, it was the original E-Type that set the benchmark.

Prices for pre-loved E-Types have fluctuated over the years and still do today depending on condition. Many left-hand drive cars have found their way into the country, in convertible and 2+2 versions.

Early two-seat E-Type coupes seem more difficult to come across, but this 3.8-litre Carmen Red 1964 model featured on carsales.com.au is a well-presented example of what the E-Type used to be.

The owner, from the Victorian country town of Bendigo, says the car was delivered by Melbourne Jaguar dealer Brysons in July 1964. He says the car was given a driveline rebuild 7000 miles (11,000km) ago with the engine, gearbox and clutch reconditioned by a Melbourne Jaguar specialist.

Registered until January 2014, the car comes with a roadworthy certificate at an asking price of $79,500.

Perhaps one of the most enduring classic British sports coupes, it is hard to imagine the Jaguar E-Type ever becoming old or forgotten.