Chassis No. 1E20358

The Jaguar E-Type turned heads amongst showgoers when it was unveiled at the March 1961 Geneva Auto Salon, combining a lithe body with ahead-of-its-time engineering, a 150-mph top speed, and a price at least half that of more exotic rivals from Aston Martin or Ferrari. Owing much of its underlying design and construction methods to the Le Mans-winning Jaguar D-Type, the E-Type utilized a light and rigid semi-monocoque structure with the engine and front and rear suspension mounted on tubular steel subframes. Bolstering its sharp handling and supple ride quality was an independent coil-sprung rear suspension and torsion bar front end, rack-and-pinion steering, and four-wheel servo-assisted disc brakes descended from those on the Jaguar racing cars.

While supremely advanced on debut, today, the E-Type offers merely impressive performance with the inexactitudes one would expect from a machine built in the 1960s. For those seeking a more contemporary driving experience while retaining the timeless E-Type silhouette, Auto Sauer of Bamberg, Germany offers an ideal solution. This superb E-Type Roadster GT began life as a 4.2-liter Series 1 Fixed Head Coupe before its radical modernization by Auto Sauer, which involved an estimated 2,000 hours of labor and exceeded € 300,000 in total. The aim of the project was to preserve the unmistakable E-Type driving experience while faithfully bringing the legend into the 21st Century with modern mechanicals. The remarkable transformation began with extending the track via wider aluminum knock-off wheels modeled on the original Dunlops wrapped in modern Avon CR6ZZ radial tires, which necessitated widening the body. Modeled to resemble the fabled Lightweight Competition E-Type racing cars, the gorgeous hand-formed aluminum panels give the E-Type a more aggressive stance and sleek, unadorned appearance lacking chrome bumpers and brightwork. In addition, the roof was removed and the windscreen truncated to create a striking open roadster. The E-Type's fundamental mechanicals remained, albeit substantially upgraded for increased performance – including its 4.2-liter “XK” inline-six which was completely overhauled, and its output increased to 298 horsepower. This newfound power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a newly fitted five-speed manual transmission and mitigated with new racing suspension and brakes at all four corners. These performance-oriented upgrades did not come at the expense of its grand touring credentials, however, as the cabin remains an extremely pleasant environment, swathed in high-quality leather and appointed with a RetroSound San Diego Classic DAB radio with Bluetooth/USB connectivity.

Exquisitely presented in light blue over tan and entirely renewed throughout – including all-new exhaust, fluid tanks, and wiring harnesses – this outstanding custom Roadster GT is the ideal way to experience the classic 1960s character of an E-Type combined with modern sports car performance. Desireably, the Jaguar has passed inspection in order to be registered in Germany as a classic car with the coveted “H-Plate.”