1961 Jaguar XKE Series I green

This 1961 Jaguar XKE is a flat-floor Series I roadster .385 left-hand-drive roadsters built with external-bonnet-latches before Jaguar revised the model later in the year. Finished in cream over black upholstery, the car is powered by a 3.8-liter inline-six mated to a four-speed manual transmission. Additional equipment includes 15″ wire wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, a black convertible soft top, a vented bonnet with welded louvers, and a Blaupunkt push-button radio.  Early-production XKEs featured outside latches securing a vented bonnet with welded louvers as well as a single, continuous floorboard under each seat. External bonnet latches were phased out in 1961, while production of “flat-floor” cars concluded in 1962. This example was finished from the factory in Cream and is said to have undergone a refurbishment in the mid-1980s. Exterior details include a black convertible soft top, recessed headlights with clear covers, triple windshield wipers, and taillights mounted above the rear bumpers. Pitting is noted on the split chrome-finished bumpers, and the latch escutcheons have been replaced. Chrome 15″ wheels are secured by two-eared knock-off spinners and wear 185-width Michelin XVS tires. A spare wheel and tire are stored in the trunk along with a tool kit. The car is equipped with a fully independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, with the rears mounted inboard. The interior houses a pair of low-back bucket seats upholstered in black leather accompanied by a color-coordinated dashboard, door panels, and carpets. Textured aluminum trim adorns the dashboard and center console, and additional appointments are a sliding rear-view mirror as well as a Blaupunkt AM/FM push-button radio linked to speakers mounted on each side of the center stack. The driver’s seat shows wear. The wood-rimmed steering wheel fronts Smiths instrumentation including a 160-mph speedometer and 6k-rpm tachometer with an inset clock. Auxiliary gauges are housed in the center stack above a row of toggle switches for vehicle functions. The five-digit odometer shows 21k miles. The 3.8-liter inline-six is equipped with triple SU carburetors and sends power to the rear wheels through a Moss four-speed manual transmission.  The engine block is said to be an unstamped replacement. Additional underside images are presented in the gallery below. The Jaguar Heritage Trust Production Record Trace certificate shows the original colors and drivetrain numbers as well as the build and dispatch dates. Service records and refurbishment photos will also accompany the sale.