1962 Jaguar XKE 3.8 Roadster

Early E-types had a variety of distinctive styling features that complemented the elegance of their lines, though not all of them were practical

by Gary Anderson

The new E-type had understandably received rave reviews at the Geneva Auto Show in March 1961, so Jaguar Cars Inc. geared up for another public relations coup as the new model arrived in the U.S. The launch was accompanied by all the pomp and circumstance Jaguar and the auto show management could muster, an acknowledgement of the importance of the U.S. market. The New York International Auto Show was held in April 1961, and to say that the two cars shown—the roadster and fastback coupe—were the show sensations is an understatement. Six cars were sold within 30 minutes of the show’s opening, and the E-type was an immediate hit. Owing to a lack of supply, it was some months before journalists were allowed to drive the E-type. The first Road & Track road test appeared in the September 1961 issue. Under the header “Sensational is the word for this Coventry Cat,” the introduction read as follows: “If a new car ever created greater excitement around our office...