Story and History

1961 Jaguar E Type 3.8 FHC - an original early Flat Floor example

We have been on the look out for one of these for a few years now - I remember drooling over an image of an early FHC on page 13 of Chris Harvey's, E Type - End of An Era

I still have the book and even now looking at that picture it's difficult to think of a more pure design piece

As a youngster it was a rare opportunity to see an early car and when one came along, very often, the "early bits" had been removed as the car was "updated"

Funny how what was a good thing then is the opposite now

This E Type was manufactured in November and dispatched in December to distributors Henleys Ltd in London

She remains to this day in her original colour scheme of Opalescent Gunmetal with red hide to the interior and she was originally supplied to Mr Weldon of St Johns Wood Road, London

Seemingly from the copy registration certificate in 1973 there have been only a subsequent 4 private owners, the last since 1988 and prior to him since 1975

We have a request with the DVLA presently to see if this can be verified from their records

What is quite outstanding about this example is the host of original trim and body parts which are peculiar to the very early cars

She still sports her original bonnet with welded louvres ( how many bonnets were damaged at the nose from careless parking and replaced at the Jaguar dealership with "the latest pressed bonnet sir, just like the current model" and how pleased would the owner have been at the time too ), ergo not many have survived with the original bonnet, steering wheel, wire wheels, interior metal finish to the console & fascia ( no longer available by the way ) etc etc

In terms of mechanical condition she is running beautifully with a raft of recent mechanical works including a rebuilt cylinder head with fast road camshaft and a rebuilt Moss gearbox ensuring excellent on road performance

Cosmetically she has this year had a bare metal repaint to the highest quality and she presents in a most elegant manner

Under bonnet she is no show queen - presentable, however you wouldn't want to eat your dinner in here

What we have here though is not about the concours field, it's about the fact that here is an original 1961, flat floor FHC in remarkable condition