{"id":12945,"date":"2021-03-16T12:55:14","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T19:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/?p=12945"},"modified":"2021-04-20T13:13:38","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T20:13:38","slug":"first-ever-e-type-sold-takes-to-the-road-to-celebrate-60th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westerndriver.com\/?p=12945","title":{"rendered":"First-ever E-type sold takes to the road to celebrate 60th anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jaguar 1VHP the first right hand drive production E-Type Coupe with 1600 RW the first E-Type to be sold and 564 DFJ (Chassis 60) another of CMC\u2019s famous restorations pictured at Davenport House, Worfield, Shropshire. Photo: Tom Clutterbuck<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Two of the most famous E-Types in the world have taken part in a special birthday run to celebrate the opening of the 31st\u00a0Geneva Motor Show on March 17, 1961,\u00a0when the E-Type was unveiled to the public for the first\u00a0time and\u00a0described by the\u00a0media as\u00a0a sensation.<\/p>\n

On the opening day of the 1961 show, Jaguar received a flood of orders for the car and it is believed that the first sale was to M. Jacques Charrier, husband of Brigitte Bardot. The French film star\u00a0then drove\u00a0from Rome to test the 150-mph car. There was no advertised price for the car at the 1961 show, but press reports suggested that it was\u00a0selling for\u00a0approximately $4,945 CDN.<\/p>\n

Today, a well-sorted and\u00a0restored early E-Type\u00a0can fetch $432,000 CAD or more.<\/p>\n

The run was organized by one of the world\u2019s leading restoration companies, Classic Motor\u00a0Cars (CMC) of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, which has restored more famous E-Types than any other company and won restoration of the year twice for work it has carried out on Jaguar cars.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe company was set up 28 years ago with the prime objective of restoring\u00a0Jaguar cars\u00a0and in particular E-Types,\u201d said Nigel Woodward, managing director of CMC. \u201cDuring\u00a0that time\u00a0it has restored hundreds of\u00a0E-Types,\u00a0many of them famous early outside bonnet lock cars. We now have a worldwide reputation for restoring other marques to the same exacting standards.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Jaguar 1600 RW on the road with 1VHP. Photo: Tom Clutterbuck.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

E-Type 1600RW: Chassis Number 4,\u00a0Lofty England\u2019s E-Type,\u00a0the first\u00a0E-Type ever sold, and 1VHP, the very\u00a0first right-hand drive production Jaguar E-Type Fixed Head Coupe, both restored by CMC, were\u00a0two of a number of cars that took to the road to mark the birthday.<\/p>\n

Other E Types including several important restorations were on display.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to mark the day 60 years ago at the Geneva Motor Show when the public first saw this iconic car and fell in love with it,” said Woodward. \u201cIt is the most recognized car in the world and was famously described by Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car ever made.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis\u00a0marks yet another milestone in the history of this famous marque and it seemed fitting that we mark[ed] the birthday in style\u201d.<\/p>\n

Don’t miss the special display of E-Types to be featured at the Vancouver ABFM in fall 2021, subject to the relaxation of COVID restrictions. Check\u00a0westerndriver.com<\/a>\u00a0in June for more information.<\/p>\n