Historical Overview
Enzo Ferrari called it 'the most beautiful car ever made.' It is difficult to disagree.
Unveiled at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show, the E-Type paired D-Type racing DNA with civilised road manners at a fraction of the price of its Italian rivals. It was, and remains, the great democratiser of exotic motoring.
Design
Form as intent.
Malcolm Sayer's aerodynamicist eye produced a shape closer to a Concorde than a car. The Series 1 3.8 with its flat floors, external hood latches and 'moustache' bumpers is the purest expression.
Historical Significance
Why it endures.
A cultural artefact of the swinging sixties — permanent collection, Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Restoration Notes
Preservation over perfection.
Monocoque corrosion around the boot floor and rear radius-arm mounts is common. Matching-numbers engine and correct pressed-steel wheels lift value considerably.
Collector Notes
The state of the market.
Early flat-floor 3.8 roadsters are the enthusiast's choice; low-mileage matching-numbers examples routinely trade above US$300,000.
