What more can be said about the legendary, groundbreaking Jaguar E-Type? The car that dropped jaws across the planet at its reveal at the Geneva Auto Salon in 1961, a car that caused no less than Enzo Ferrari himself to declare it the “most beautiful car ever made”, the car that made ample use of low weight and high speed to claim a then scarcely-believable top speed of 150mph? The E-Type truly defines the world “superlative.”

Based on the racing D-Type, the E-Type was stunningly reimagined by Malcolm Sayer with a teardrop body and the finest in racing technology: a 3.8-litre straight six, fully independent suspension, disc brakes, unitary construction for light weight. Over three “Series” the E-Type would grow to include a V12 engine and 2+2 ‘FHC Fixed Head Coupe’ but the earliest cars are the most famous and highly sought after. By any standard, all the E-types are extremely popular: 33,205 Series I cars were produced, 18,808 Series 2s and when production finally concluded in 1975, another 15,287 cars had left the Browns Lane assembly line.

This E-type OTS (Open Two Seater) must count as one of the most collectable specimens extant, being an early 1964 example in the original 3.8-litre six, but with a later 4.2 synchromesh transmission for greater driving pleasure – of course, the original unit is still available.

Delivered initially to Mr Clement Columbo of Califonia, Chassis #880875 has spent virtually its entire existence in the US, including stints in Georgia and Vermont. Restored extensively in the 1990s in Carmen Red, it went on to glory as Best in Class at the Lafayette Concours D’Elegance, as well as third place at the 2014 Meguiars Concours D’Elegance in Vermont. It also bears a Certificate from the Jaguar Heritage Trust verifying that it is a matching-numbers vehicle, as well as all original tools and manuals and a thick stack of service history from its many custodians over the decades.