Jaguar E-type roadster Convertible 1961

Roadster 77 RW became one of the defining cars of the E-type launch. After the coupé 9600 HP reached Geneva, demand for demonstration drives encouraged Jaguar to send another car from Coventry. Norman Dewis was instructed to leave immediately and drove the open E-type to Switzerland so journalists could experience it. 77 RW was later used by The Motor for its road test, published on 22 March 1961. The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust now identifies it as the oldest surviving open E-type, giving the early roadster a particularly important place in Jaguar’s history.

The Jaguar E-type was produced from 1961 to 1975, covering several series and body styles. Jaguar states that more than 70,000 examples were built during that period, making it a relatively high-volume sports car for its class. The 1961 model belongs to the earliest Series 1 production and combined the 3.8-litre XK engine with the roadster and Fixed Head Coupé body styles. A precise production total for the 1961 roadster alone is not included here because the consulted sources do not provide a sufficiently consistent figure for that exact configuration. The earliest cars, including flat-floor examples, represent a particularly early phase of the E-type’s production history and are now distinguished by their launch-period construction and equipment.

The E-type’s reception in 1961 was immediate and unusually intense. At Geneva, public and press demand quickly exceeded what a single demonstration car could handle, prompting Jaguar to rush the roadster 77 RW from Coventry. Its claimed performance, approaching 150 mph, was especially striking because the purchase price remained below that of many comparable European sports cars. The Motor tested 77 RW shortly after the launch, helping establish the car’s performance reputation. The design also received lasting institutional recognition. New York’s Museum of Modern Art included an E-type roadster in its collection, reflecting the importance of Malcolm Sayer’s shape and the car’s broader influence on automotive design.