SOLD: 1961 Jaguar E-Type Roadster

Flat Floor, LHD

S/N 875978

Opalescent Silver Blue with Dark Navy Blue Leather and Dark Blue Top; Early-Production Flat-Floor E-Type (#978); Roadster, Numbers Matching; 3.8-liter 6-cylinder Engine, Moss 4-speed, Cosmetically and Mechanically Restored to a High Level; 4 Owners from New; Excellent Records with Tons of Recent Service Work.

This 1961 Jaguar 3.8L E-Type Roadster was completed at Browns Lane in Coventry England on November 1, 1961. The car was then imported to the USA by Jaguar Cars New York. This E-Type is number 978 of 1,581 flat-floor Roadsters produced in left-hand drive (LHD) and was originally finished in Opalescent Dark Green with Suede Green interior and a French Grey convertible top. The current colors are Jaguar period-correct Opalescent Silver Blue exterior with Dark Navy Blue interior and Dark Blue top.

Production numbers for flat-floor E-Types totaled 2,616, with 1,581 being LHD Roadsters. “Flat Floor” references the footwell configuration of the early cars. Later E-Types feature an expanded footwell area.

The original owner was R.W. Loveland in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Around 1967, the E-Type was sold to Mr. D. Booth of Lakeville, Minnesota. Mr. Booth kept the car for nearly 30 years, selling the car in 1995 to Minnesota Jaguar collector, Mr. G. Berghoff. In 2007, Mr. Berghoff completed a comprehensive restoration of the body and interior and performed a thorough engine detailing including plating and painting as well as additional work meticulously recorded in the included restoration records. Mr. Berghoff owned the car for more than 20 years before selling it in 2015 to the current owner (and long-time Fox Motorsport client) in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

This E-type Roadster is in excellent condition and has been kept under our fastidious care since arrival in Grand Rapids in 2015. The body work and paint are finished to a high standard, complimented by excellent chrome and interior details. It has had regular cleaning and annual waxing and chrome polishing regardless of use. Extensive mechanical work was performed by Fox Motorsports (see below work list). The car starts, runs, and drives as it should and has covered 872 miles since 2015. The E-Type has never been driven in snow/salt and has always been kept in climate-controlled storage (and on a battery tender) when not in use.

Items included with the car: Jaguar Heritage Certificate, two sets of carpet floor mats, cockpit tonneau cover, boot cover, tool roll and tools, original "Shelley" jack, car cover, show presentation board, owner’s handbook in original pouch, and front license plate bracket assembly.

Mechanical/Service Work Performed by Fox Motorsports

-Six (6) annual fluid changes since purchase (coolant, engine oil, brake fluid).

Engine Work (2015)

-Full rebuild including:

--New pistons and liners

--Updated crank seal (including machine work)

--All bushings, bearings & seals replaced

--New timing chains & guides

--New valves/seats/guides

--Polish crank

--Balance engine

--New paint on block and head