What’s the difference between a 1961 Jaguar E-type 3.8 Series 1 ‘Flat Floor’ Roadster and a 1961 Jaguar E-type 3.8 Series 1 ‘Flat Floor’ Roadster? The correct answer: circa 150.000 pounds or, in euros, 177.000.

At the recent Goodwood Revival, Bonhams sold both cars, both dating from the first year of E-type production (the ‘flat floors’ – in 1962 heel wells were built in). One would think the red one is the more valuable car. Not really. In spite of it having been fully restored, including an engine rebuild and with all the documentation and bills still present. It made a good price though: 74.000 pounds (87.000 euros).

The blue one, on the other hand, has had its engine replaced, since the original block cracked during the severe winter of 1963/64. That was just after the Jaguar was sold to the family in whose ownership it would stay for 50 years! Between 1980 and 2004 the car was in storage. Then a Jaguar interior specialist, who had worked at Jaguar for 20 years, discovered that this specific car was one of circa 60 demos for dealer’s use, all of which had hand-made interior panels. So we’ll leave it up to you to judge if the world record price of 225.000 pounds that Bonhams fetched for this E-type at Goodwood is justifiable.