2002-12-23 16:50:05 | Anonymous writes:

Christie's auction, 4/23/1999 Tarrytown, NY, lot #40. Sports Car Market report reads:

"Early flat floor E-type. One owner, 72,377 miles. Chrome wire wheels. Good recent repaint and interior. Clean engine (with the ""Mustard"" head, some wag noted). Chassis is dirty and oily, showing use since restoration. Books and records..."

2003-04-29 10:39:30 | David Littlefield writes:

I purchased this car from the widow of the original owner at the Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson auction in 2002. The original owner was Bob Bourke, a well-known automotive designer that worked for Raymond Loewy at Studebaker. Mr. Bourke ordered the car at the 1961 New York Auto Show, where the E-Type was introduced to the U.S. Bourke passed away in 1996. His widow attempted to sell the car at a Christie's auction, but it didn't make reserve. Her son later took it to the Scottsdale auction where I purchased it.

The vehicle came with all its original tools and documents, including owner's manual, service book, dealer list, etc. It also came with the original key fob issued by the dealer with the NY dealer's name imprinted on the back. Included in the documents was Mr. Bourke's carbon of the order form he filled out at the NY auto show.

According to the paperwork, the dealer received the car in October of '61 and delivered it to Mr. Bourke in November. It was finally registered in January of '62, so it is officially a 1962.

The car is a flat-floor. I believe the bonnet should be welded louver, but it is not. The son seems to think that the bonnet may have been damaged early in the car's life and the bonnet replaced, but he isn't sure since he was quite young at the time.

2004-02-07 01:03:38 | pauls writes:

Car was sold at barrett-jackson auction in '02 for $45,360
www.barrett-jackson.com/auctionresults/common/cardetail.asp

Auction comment:
3.8 litre flat floor series model, 73,000 original miles, full ground up restoration in 1995, including baremetal repaint. one owner since new. all original documation, including owners manual, maintance books, key fob, spare and tool kit. from the estate of the late robert e. bourke, noted desinner of the award-winning 1953 studerbaker.

2004-09-21 11:35:57 | pauls writes:

Note that the car was NOT SOLD at the '99 Christies auction which coincides with Dave's comments. Info from that auction:

Jaguar E-Type S1 (1961)
Lot Details
Auction Classic Cars
Christies, New York Head Office, New York
Type Car
Lot Number 040
Hammer Price -
Hammer Price (inc premium) -
Year 1961
Condition rating 2
Registration number
Mileage -
Chassis number 875462
Engine number R1617-9
Engine capacity (cc) 3781

2017-03-03 15:54:02 | Lofty writes:

classicjaguar.com/cj/875462.html

1961 Jaguar E Type roadster - 875462
High quality driver, 2 owner car, absolutely steeped in history!


Every once in a while a truly special E Type comes to the market, and this 1961 flat floor roadster is just such a car.

875462 is a genuine two owner E Type that was special ordered new by renowned Studebaker designer Robert Bourke. Mr. Bourke was attending the New York Auto Show in April 1961 when he saw the stunning new E Types on display. He placed an order for a black roadster with biscuit interior and a black top. He added whitewall tires, chrome wire wheels and a radio to the specification, requesting delivery 'asap'.

We know the precise details of Mr. Bourke's order because we have the original carbon copy of the hand written Purchase Contract (see below). We also know that it would be more than five months before Mr. Bourke's E Type was ready for him, and that it cost him $6,072.00. We know this because we have the original invoice dated October 1961.

Mr. Bourke owned his beautiful 1961 E Type for 35 years until his death in 1996. We can see from the invoices in the extensive ownership file that the car was undergoing some major refurbishment at the time of Mr. Bourke's passing. These invoices document a bare metal repaint, a new interior, new wire wheels and a significant amount of new chrome plating carried out between April 1994 and December 1996.

Mr. Bourke's wife kept the car until January 2002, when it was sold at the Barrett Jackson classic car auction in Arizona. The current owner purchased the car at the auction and was fortunate enough to meet the Bourke family at the time of the sale. Many stories were recounted about the car, which had clearly been much loved by Robert Bourke. Richard Bourke, Robert's son, actually learned to drive in the E Type, and was understandably very sorry to see it go!

The new owner brought the car back home to Texas where it has remained ever since. He kept in contact with Richard Bourke, who just a few days ago said that he would be delighted to hear from the new owner and share his memories of the car growing up. Once back in Texas, the car was entered in several shows and concours events, always acquitting itself very well. Among prizes won (and included in the sale), are a JCNA Best in Class at the Houston Concours in 2004. There was another Best in Class at the 2008 Keels and Wheels event, where the car was also selected by the Corwin family to receive the Raleigh Corwin Memorial Award for the family's favorite car in the show.

When 875462 was new, it would have had a welded louver bonnet. According to Richard Bourke, the bonnet was swapped out following a minor accident during the early years of his father's ownership, with a later style 'pressed in louver' bonnet being installed at that time. Other than the replacement factory bonnet, the car retains all of its original factory sheet metal. This car has clearly never been rusty as the original floors are as solid as you are ever likely to find on an unrestored 1961 E Type. There are two or three tiny rust holes in the floor immediately to the left of the right hand radius arm (see close-up photo below), but that is about it as far as rust is concerned. The boot floor is in fantastic condition - bone dry and totally rust free. It still has the rarely seen clips for the long jack handle in place along the center boot floor support rail, and it is a rare treat to see the rows of factory spot welds on the underside of the boot floor.

The 1995 repaint has held up very well, but is now showing its age in places. Although obviously no longer show quality, the black paint still retains a nice gloss and is more than presentable for a driver condition car. The black leather seat covers are in excellent condition, although the carpets are not quite up to OEM specs and could stand to be replaced. The chrome and bright work is very nice, including the wire wheels, which were apparently replaced around the time the car was repainted. The canvas convertible top is in excellent condition and fits very well.

I would describe this as a very strong driver condition car. In my view it would be a real shame if someone were to restore 875462. It doesn't need a restoration! It needs to be driven, lovingly maintained, and perhaps improved a little here and there along the way.

Included in the sale are all the original order and purchase documents, invoices for work done during Robert Bourke's ownership, a complete original tool kit, owner's manual, service book, original 1961 sales brochure - and even the original key fob from the Manhattan Jaguar dealer! There are also several trophies and a number of Jaguar, Robert Bourke and Studebaker related books. The original jack is missing, but otherwise the new owner of this car will receive everything that was handed to Robert Bourke when he took delivery of the car almost 56 years ago.

Ladies and gentleman, this is a truly wonderful opportunity. Not only is this an extremely solid, running and driving, matching numbers, two owner, 1961 E Type flat floor roadster, but it is also a rare blend of Jaguar and American design history.

Price: $179,500

Inspections are welcome and actively encouraged. Please call (512) 288 8800 or email sales@classicjaguar.com with any questions or to make an appointment to view.

This vehicle is being sold as is, where is, with no warranty of any kind being offered. Clear, unencumbered title conveys to the new owner.

This is a high quality driver condition car

Canvas convertible top in excellent condition
and fits very well

All chrome and bright work presents very well

Seats are excellent, dash is presentable, alloy
console trim has quite a few scratches

Note very early style door top chrome with
groove along the bottom edge

Correct early style steering wheel

Complete original tool kit

The best unrestored 61 roadster boot floor you are
ever likely to see

Note spring clips for jack handle in center
support rail

Underside of boot floor is in fantastic condition

Rare to see all the factory spot welds beneath the
boot floor

Original matching numbers engine runs well

Early heater box

Original soft top boot is probably too stiff and dry
to use, but great to still have it!

Mohair soft top boot has biscuit beading

Probably the original Dunlop spare tire

Brakes have recently been serviced with new rotors

Note very early style bonnet hinge frame

Floors are extremely solid and dry

Rare to find a 61 E Type with its original floors
in such great shape

This is the worst of the rust beneath the car

Close-up of 2 tiny holes just inboard of the radius
arm bushing

License plates not included - sorry!

The original signed Purchase Contract

The original Invoice

All of the original documentation is still
with the car

Original dealership keyring!

Ultra rare, first edition E/122

The 1 suffix denotes 1st edition

Publication was so early that they had yet to decide
where the data plate would be installed!

E/122/3, published later in 1961, has a drawing on
page 5 showing location of data plate

Various concours awards

A selection of books also accompany the car


Inspections are welcome and actively encouraged. Call (512) 288 8800 or email with any questions or to make an appointment to view.

This vehicle is being sold as is, where is, with no warranty of any kind being offered. Clear, unencumbered title conveys to the new owner.

2017-04-23 13:25:29 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 4/23/17
www.ebay.com/itm/1961-Jaguar-E-Type-/201901686738
Car has a buy it now price of $179,500 for 6 days, seller classicjaguar, 74k miles.

Seller and description same as above.