1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Fixed Head Coupe
Malcolm Sayer’s aerodynamic expertise shaped the E-Type’s breathtaking proportions, with a long hood and abbreviated tail creating a fastback coupe silhouette derived directly from Jaguar’s Le Mans-winning D-Type racer.
Glass-covered headlights, a small front air intake, and distinctive roof buttresses set the Series 1 Fixed Head Coupe apart, while the rear-hinged hatchback provided surprising practicality for a pure sports car.
Early production cars featured external hood latches and flat floors, before transitioning to internal latches and dished footwells during the 1961 model year.
Monocoque construction used a tubular front subframe carrying the 231 cubic inch (3.8-liter) inline-six and independent front suspension, all bolted to the main body structure. The proven XK engine, fitted with triple SU carburetors, produced 265 horsepower at 5,500 rpm, delivered through a Moss four-speed manual transmission that lacked synchromesh on first gear.
Independent suspension at both ends worked with four-wheel disc brakes (mounted inboard at the rear), delivering handling that justified comparisons to purpose-built sports racers.
Contemporary road tests recorded top speeds approaching 150 mph and approximately 7-second acceleration from 0 to 60 mph, performance that stunned observers following the car’s March 1961 Geneva Motor Show introduction.
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