Speedbroker are very proud to offer this particularly interesting example of one of the most important British sports cars ever produced.

The Jaguar E-Type needs little introduction. Launched in 1961, it combined genuine high performance, advanced engineering and styling that remains instantly recognisable more than 60 years later. Today, the earliest Series 1 cars remain the most sought-after examples, particularly the covered-headlamp Fixed Head Coupés.

This car is a right-hand-drive Series 1 4.2 Fixed Head Coupé, manufactured on 31 August 1965, and importantly is presented in its original factory colour combination of Opalescent Silver Blue with Dark Blue interior.

Factory details

According to its Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Production Record Trace Certificate:

Model: Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 litre
Body: Fixed Head Coupé
Drive: Right-hand drive
Transmission: Manual
Date of manufacture: 31 August 1965
Chassis number: 1E 20916
Body number: 4E 22735
Gearbox number: EJ 4660
Original colour: Opalescent Silver Blue
Original interior: Dark Blue
Original distributor: P.J. Evans, Birmingham
Original dealer: Dartmouth Garage
Date of dispatch: 23 September 1965
Original registration: DEA 615C

The car was first registered in October 1965.

An unusual piece of Jaguar factory history

There is one particularly interesting element within this car’s factory record. Rather than recording a conventional engine number, the Jaguar Heritage Certificate states:

“Slave Engine Fitted.”

Correspondence within the history file shows that this was investigated directly with Jaguar Heritage after a discrepancy was identified with an engine number recorded on an older V5. Jaguar’s surviving factory ledger confirmed that the car had been fitted with a slave engine at the factory. The correspondence also records discussions surrounding Jaguar’s historic use of slave engines during factory testing and pre-delivery work around Coventry.

We would not make claims beyond what can be documented, but the factory record itself is clear and gives this particular E-Type a genuinely unusual piece of provenance.

Why the Series 1 4.2 matters

Introduced during 1964, the 4.2-litre Series 1 retained the features collectors associate with the earliest E-Types, including the elegant covered-headlamp bodywork, while introducing a number of worthwhile mechanical improvements.

The 4.2 brought:

Increased torque from the XK straight-six
Jaguar’s fully synchromesh four-speed gearbox
Improved seating and usability
The original Series 1 styling

For many enthusiasts, this makes the 4.2 one of the best combinations within the entire E-Type range. It retains the visual purity of the early cars but is generally a more usable proposition than the earlier 3.8.

Why this example stands out

With E-Types, specification and provenance matter enormously. This car has several important points in its favour:

Genuine Series 1 Fixed Head Coupé
Desirable 4.2-litre specification
Right-hand drive
Manual gearbox
Original Opalescent Silver Blue / Dark Blue specification
Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certification
Factory-recorded chassis, body and gearbox numbers
Original registration information
Known manufacture and dispatch dates
Unusual documented “Slave Engine Fitted” factory record
Supporting historic correspondence and registration documentation

An older registration document records the car as having been green at one stage of its life. It has since been returned to the Opalescent Silver Blue specification recorded on its Jaguar factory record.

The E-Type as a collector car

The E-Type is not simply an attractive classic Jaguar. It is one of the defining sports cars of the post-war period and one of relatively few British cars to have achieved genuine international collector status. Series 1 cars sit firmly at the top of the E-Type hierarchy, with original-specification, right-hand-drive Fixed Head Coupés being particularly desirable. As the market becomes increasingly focused on provenance, correct specification and documented history, cars with an interesting and traceable story become increasingly difficult to replace.

Final summary

This is a very appealing example of an increasingly important collector car. A 1965 Series 1 4.2 Fixed Head Coupé, manual, right-hand drive and finished in its original Opalescent Silver Blue specification, supported by Jaguar Heritage documentation and an unusually interesting factory record. It offers everything we look for in an important E-Type: the right body style, the right Series 1 appearance, strong factory documentation and a history that distinguishes it from the many other examples available.

For somebody looking for a proper Series 1 E-Type with genuine provenance and an interesting story, chassis 1E 20916 deserves serious consideration.

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PLEASE NOTE: We work closely with our vendors to ensure the accuracy of vehicle's specification and identity. Due to the vehicles ages and restoration status we cannot always ensure total accuracy and we urge you to conduct your own thorough checks and due diligence prior to any transactions.

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