1962 Jaguar E Type Series 1 'Flat Floor' Roadster | The best E-Type?

Is the first always the best? Take this early Jaguar E-Type, a 'Flat Floor' 3.8 Roadster, perhaps the purest expression of all the E-Types, but is it the best? James takes Jaguar's finest out on the road to find out.
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[@neilwheel]

I was betting on the "Enzo Ferrari" quote coming in the first 40 seconds. I was out by 2 secs...

[@thamil1365]

😂

[@user-gl5ld9vm7i]

Enzo Ferrari never said this.

[@neilwheel]

@@user-gl5ld9vm7i that's what I thought. It was probably a PR guy at Jaguar who came up with the line, but because Clarkson used it, it must be true...

[@user-gl5ld9vm7i]

Here's what Wikipedia says, that it is a mere rumor, and that it was never confirmed: ""It is rumored that, on its release on 15 March 1961[4] Enzo Ferrari called it "the most beautiful car ever made," but this statement is not fully confirmed."""

[@jk3838]

@@user-gl5ld9vm7i He never said it in a speech or on record, but to say he ‘never said this’ is impossible to declare. The quote originates from the Jaguar stand at the 61 Geneva show where Enzo Ferrari arrived with his engineers and said something in Italian, perhaps intended to mock Jaguar, perhaps to compliment Jaguar. Norman Dewis later asked one of the ferrari engineers who was speaking with him in English, what Ferrari had said, and he recanted that he’d said “Congratulations! What a truly beautiful car, it must be the most beautiful car in the world! But you know, it has one fault? It does not have a Ferrari badge on it!” For years after, Enzo would not admit nor deny he said it

[@grantchallinor5263]

I love the purity of the design of the early cars (like the Series 1 example featured). There are many things that appeal to people who own (or would like to own) a classic car from this period, and for sure the design and beauty of that era (before government legislation made all cars look so similar) of such a vehicle (especially when you're talking about the E-Type) is right up there. Whatever the benefits of the Series 3, it just doesn't have the visual appeal that the earlier cars have. I can remember (aged 4 or 5) at the very end of the 1960s visiting a schoolfriend who lived in a village just outside Portsmouth. Whenever he and I would travel together in his father's car, we'd both be jammed together in the passenger seat of his father's E-type coupe for the journey (it was a Series 1 or 2) - happy times!

[@TheHorsebox2]

Now, those were happy times.

[@brianiswrong]

Never had the chance to sit in one let alone drive one but, all E types are a thing of beauty. A car made in England,sold to a budget that made the whole automotive world ,turn around,take note and secretly test and strip one to bench mark it.

[@TR4man]

I think this is the first Collecting Cars video in which the car hasn’t been described as “iconic”!

[@dodgywheelsandropeywiring5697]

I'd have the inline 6 over the V12, simpler and easier to maintain, something to be considered when owning classic cars if you actually want to enjoy it.

[@skylined5534]

Serious question, do you have extensive experience with both engines in this model of car?

[@dodgywheelsandropeywiring5697]

@@skylined5534 no, just personal preference.

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Beautiful car 🚘🚙🚗👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@markrivers2651]

Good video. A 5spd gearbox was never offered on any E-Type/S3 V12 E-Type though

[@steveferguson6809]

You are correct A 5 speed was never offered although it should have been I believe the Jaguar engineers wanted a 5 speed upper management denied the request

[@robharding4028]

I happen to agree with The late great Enzo Ferrari, The E-type is a beautiful design.

[@timbrookes3699]

sitting NOT sat. “From where I’m sitting”!! Sat is something you did yesterday

[@brucecolby5016]

Enzo was referring to the coupe,and was nowhere near the auto show when the

[@themrmarkprior]

This probably wont't sell for a billion trillion pounds....as it's not all original. But it might go for a million.

[@Sam_Green____4114]

Where's the front registration plate ?

[@alexsmart2132]

I have a s3 etype and they all came with a 4 speed box no etype ever left the factory with a 5 speed gear box

[@brucecolby5016]

..Roadster showed up the next day.

[@timgosling6189]

Nice to see the previous owner had swapped out that dreadful Moss gearbox. Personally I prefer the look of the wider track of the Series III, even if it had become more of a GT than a sports car by then.

[@RichardMichaelOwen]

Later S1 4.2 cars with the diaphragm clutch and all-synchro gearbox are "the best".

[@roystonvehicles9129]

All v12 s were still all 4 speed

[@OldLien1]

Do you know the worst thing about E-Type and E- type ownership is the absolute bull s*** and snobbery behind it all. they are all aesthetically beautiful and a fabulous cars to own and drive when set up properly I do wish the so-called aficionados, half of which have probably never even owned one would Pi"" off

[@quackyduck1499]

I will agree it's in the top five most beautiful cars ever made. But to drive, ah no. I have only driven one, a Mk3 V12. Yes it makes you feel special but it floats, pushes and feels... Well what feeling? Absolutely no connection with the road. Would I buy one, in a heartbeat. But it wouldn't be in my top ten.

[@skylined5534]

That doesn't seem to line up with any one else's findings. Hoovies Garage's Tyler has driven some incredible cars and rates this as his number one experience from that era of cars.

[@geoffclarke3796]

My dream E Type. I always preferred the 3.8 litre E Type engine to the 4.2 as a more revvy engine and more suitable in a sports car. This car also benefits from a modern 5 speed gearbox which is a big improvement on the ancient 4 speed moss box. Still a beautiful looking car more than 60 years after it entered production.

[@matthewcoupeofficial]

Series 3 V12 Auto would be the best E Type, if you wanted a Sports car back then you would have gone for Something like an Elan or 3000

[@LarsAgerbk]

and the least pretty

[@Wahlsinn.1]

For me, the V 12 is the best. It has the decidedly more beautiful sound. It is music. And in terms of power, it has to be said...Group C World Champion, European Touring Car Champion...it doesn't get any better than that....For me, the V 12 is the best. It has the decidedly more beautiful sound. It is music. And in terms of power, it has to be said...Group C World Champion, European Touring Car Champion...it doesn't get any better than this...only for the collector...it's different. The worse the car, the more expensive it is...not for me. I love the better car. My E-Type V12 is with the unbrocken line..with Headlight covers.... :-)

[@ItsTheNada]

I LOOOOOOOOVE this car but it still freaks me out not to see any seat belts 😬😬😬

[@skylined5534]

Just how it was back then. Mind you, the lap belts which were optional weren't exactly safe 😂

[@tribsa7503]

Very nice. But, if you’re going to talk about an English car, at least speak English! It’s from where you’re sitting, not sat!

[@bigmacdaddy1234]

And you are wrong. "I'm sat here" is a Britishism or UK colloquial slang. Good going Einstein.

[@tribsa7503]

@@bigmacdaddy1234 Sat is past tense. It’s in the dictionary as such - Einstein. But perhaps people like you say “We was”…

[@bigmacdaddy1234]

@@tribsa7503 In other words, I was right and this is just burning you up.

[@tribsa7503]

@@bigmacdaddy1234 If it makes you happy to think so. I’ll return my degree in English Language, waste of time obviously.

[@DoWorkExotics]

Lol at the V12 comments…. No. Ugly and the engine is no where near as playful as the straight 6. 3.8L is the way to go.

[@Marcke-tb1hb]

I don’t get XKE prices. There are thousands for sale and auction all over the place. Hardly rare. Sell now guys, the end is in sight.

[@dazzeroubarb]

Not a chance - I don’t care how low the price drops - money/investment potential not a big issue for me as an enthusiast

[@lionel66cajppppp0]

series 2 2+2 was the best car Better gearbox, more room, space for kids in the back,more head room, better 4.2 engine and many more refinements that made it a far better car to drive flat floor is horrible to drive any distance its just a snob value due to the comparative rarity Jaguar changed away from the series one for good reasons mostly complaints

[@roystonvehicles9129]

I've had both at the same time and the 2 seater is a far better sports car, the 2 plus 2 is bit annoying with a worse turning circle, I couldn't pull into my drive without having another bite at it, definitely felt too long, not as fast or as chuckable, I'd spend hours going from 1 car to the other.

[@Schlipperschlopper]

Sadly soon all combustion cars and trucks including classics will be banned from public streets in entire EU and Scandinavia :-( In Germany the Green Peoples Party gave order to shorten fuel supply from 2025 on by reducing all conventional fuel stations to only one state operated central gas station per city or county. Car washs will be forbidden too because they are climate killers, now they want to slow down all the gas station pumps from 20 litre per minute to 2 litre per minute...From 2027 on in the EU certain car spare parts will be banned too....as exhaust systems, turbo chargers and even some engine and gearbox oils...California and New York will do the same from 2027 on.... So no investments should be done in oil burning cars any longer....They even created a new kind of crime here, called emissions and smoke crime. (BABVVEN & TEBBVEN & BEFVO laws)!!!!

[@mvmallinson]

Nope, the Series three V12 is by far a better car but most people don’t appreciate it and follow the ill informed love for the over rated series one like sheep. You think that sounds good…..you should hear a fully worked on V12, no comparison.

[@leonardsmith5660]

If you buy a series 1 go for the 4.2 with footwells and jag box