This 1961 Jaguar XKE is a left-hand-drive Series I roadster that was completed on November 22, 1961 and distributed to the US through Jaguar Cars of New York. It reportedly underwent a cosmetic refresh in the 1970s and was acquired out of California approximately six years ago by the selling dealer and subsequently exported to The Netherlands. Finished in red over beige leather upholstery, the car is powered by a 3.8-liter inline-six paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Features include welded hood louvers, flat floors, glass headlight covers, triple SU carburetors, a beige soft top, Blaupunkt push-button AM radio, four-wheel disc brakes, and knock-off wire wheels. This XKE is being offered by the selling dealer with a Jaguar Production Record Trace certificate and Dutch registration.
Finished from the factory in Carmen Red, the bodywork is believed to have been repainted in the 1970s. Features include split bumpers, glass headlight covers, welded hood louvers, central exhaust outlets, and a beige soft top and boot cover. Areas of pitting on the brightwork can be seen up close in the gallery below.
The 15” wire wheels are secured by two-eared knock-off spinners and mounted with 205/75 Uniroyal Tiger Paw tires. A full-size spare is found in the trunk. Braking is through four-wheel discs with inboard-mounted rears that were reportedly serviced in 2021.
The cabin was trimmed in beige leather upholstery from the factory, and the seller believes that certain areas of the interior have been reupholstered. Textured aluminum accents the dashboard and center console, and equipment includes a Blaupunkt push-button AM radio, toggle switches for vehicle functions, and a height-adjustable rear-view mirror. Fraying is present on the headliner of the soft top.
The wood-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel features exposed aluminum on the inner rim and frames Smiths instrumentation including a 160-mph speedometer and a 6k-rpm tachometer with an inset clock. Approximately 99k miles are shown on the five-digit odometer.
The 3.8-liter inline-six features triple SU side-draft carburetors and was factory rated at 265 horsepower, which is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. Work in 2021 is said to have included fluid changes and servicing the carburetors. The radiator expansion tank is reportedly a replacement item.
The cylinder head stamping is shown above. A photo of the engine block stamping is provided in the gallery below, along with compression test results from 2021.
Additional underbody images can also be seen in the gallery.
The Jaguar Production Record Trace Certificate shows the original colors and drivetrain numbers as well as the build and dispatch dates.
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