875462

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 virtually complete original tool kit (missing only the feeler gauge and 7/16" X 1/2" box wrench), 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.

This vehicle is now sold - thank you

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





	Approximately 74,000 miles from new


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


Robert Bourke (L) with colleague and legendary fellow designer Raymond Loewy	The E Type was launched in the US at the New York Auto Show in April 1961