1964-67 Jaguar XKE Series I 4.2 Coupe

by Gary Anderson

Spend less, get more.

At the Monterey auctions this year, roadster-bodied Series I Jaguar E-types that were brilliantly restored were selling for $75,000 to $100,000. Yet at the same auction, a Series I E-type coupe in similar condition sold for less than $30,000. For the motoring enthusiast, as opposed to the investor, this anomaly is one of the great bargains in the marketplace. In 1961, when Sir William Lyons introduced the replacement for the long-in-the-tooth XK 150, the E-type coupe was the car on the display stand. It was an instant sensation, recognized by the automotive press as an exceptionally pure form of automotive design. In addition to the graceful body style, the E-type coupe offered a comfortable, leather-trimmed interior, adequate luggage space accessible through a convenient rear hatch, and the ability to cruise all day on the new divided highways at speeds above 100 mph. The roadster was introduced later, with its drop-top coming at the expense of all-weather...