This beautifully restored Jaguar E-type Series 1 FHC dates from 1961, the first year of production. Chassis number 860120 was completed at the Browns Lane factory in Coventry on 18 December that year and is one of the coveted ‘flat floor’ models. It was finished in Imperial Maroon with Maroon trim and dispatched via Henlys London on 10 January 1962. It’s believed that it was then sold to a wealthy farmer – Albie Malan – in Ladybrand, South Africa. Malan was apparently a great enthusiast who owned a number of expensive cars and would regularly cover the 140 kilometres between Ladybrand and Bloemfontein at high speed. The E-type is then thought to have been acquired in the 1980s by the owner of Dorian Hats in Johannesburg, where it was used only infrequently. In 1988, it was bought by John Lawrence in Auckland and shipped out to New Zealand. Having been registered BJQ 260, the E-type remained in New Zealand for more than 25 years. Records from its annual Warrant of Fitness Inspection show that it was used sparingly from 2003 onwards, and covered a little over 2000 miles from then until it was sold to a new owner and exported to the UK in 2015. When it arrived, the Jaguar was entrusted to Lincoln-based Richards of England and given a thorough restoration. It was completely stripped down and the shell was fitted to a jig before being bead-blasted to take it back to bare metal. It then received in the region of 500 hours of work in the Richards of England fabrication department, with the intention of retaining as many original panels as possible. It was resprayed in its original shade of Imperial Maroon and displayed mid-restoration at the London Classic Car Show. The engine was rebuilt by M&C Wilkinson, the gearbox and differential were also rebuilt, and all of the brightwork was rechromed. Inside, Maroon Connolly Vaumol hide was used on the seats and centre console, while wool carpets and a wool headlining was fitted. The original alloy dash and wood-rimmed steering wheel were retained, and Richards of England even considered details such as using the correct ‘mid blue’ colour on the Girling dampers and creating an aluminium replica of the early ‘side fin’ radiator, which has been painted black. Now being offered for sale, this Jaguar E-type Series 1 was the 120th right-hand-drive Fixed-Head Coupé in terms of chassis-number sequence and represents a rare opportunity to acquire a matching-numbers ‘flat floor’ car. It is still fitted with engine number R3270-9, body number V1453 and gearbox number EB2428JS – all of which are listed on its Heritage Certificate – and is a superb example of this iconic model.