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2018 Shannons Melbourne Autumn Classic Auction
Lot
70

1970 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Series 2 2+2 Coupe

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Description

This lot is no longer available

There can be few cars more desirable collector cars than Jaguar's iconic E-Type, the sports car that best represents the Swinging ‘60s and all that was great about that era. When it was launched to a stunned world in 1961, the E-Type offered genuine 150mph performance at a price well below contemporary Aston Martins, Ferraris and the like. Malcolm Sayer's aerodynamic styling was derived from the streamlined D-Types that dominated Le Mans in the late ‘50s … after the E-Type’s launch Enzo Ferrari famously describing it as the “most beautiful car in the world”. Throughout its model life in the ‘60s and early ‘70s, the E-Type underwent a number of major revisions, most notably the upgrade of the original 3.8-litre 6-cylinder engine to 4.2-litres in 1964 and the adoption of an all-synchromesh gearbox. Later, the Jaguar V12 engine was even shoe-horned under that long bonnet. Other changes included improvements to the interior, stronger brakes and better electrics along with the option of automatic transmission, plus the introduction of a more practical but still lovely 2+2 body, alongside the classic coupe and roadster body styles. The Series 2 was introduced in October 1968 with minor styling modifications to the nose, new tail light clusters and a new dashboard, with rocker switches in place of the toggles to meet new safety regulations. Ownership of an E-Type is a guarantee of respect and the fulfilment of a dream for many.