Sleeping Beauty

There is just something about the Jaguar E-Type isn't there? It says English, 1960s, fast, stylish. It's a car that many would like to have in their garage, but few can afford today. In fact, when it was first sold (in 1961), I think it's price tag was about £2,000. OK, not pocket money now and in the early 60s, this would probably buy the best part of a house! But, allowing for inflation over the last 50 years, this only equates to something like £30,000. If you're lucky you may pick one up for restoration at this price, but you could be looking at 5 or 6 times this price for a good one!

Enzo Ferrari exclaimed that the E-Type was the most beautiful car ever built when he saw it, and this particular model is in what I would call Ferrari red, perhaps as a nod to Enzo. It was just sitting there, empty, waiting for someone to play with it's Moss gearbox (no synchromesh on 1st gear) and it's 6-cylinder 3.8 litre engine. This is a Series 1, which means it was built before 1967, with aluminium dash, hardwood steering wheel and bucket seats. It's the Fixed Head Coupe version with the optional wire wheels of which there were about 7,600 built. I wonder how many are on the roads now and how many are wrapped in a tarpaulin, just sleeping, waiting for the day their owner dare take it for a drive?