Production
How much was a Jaguar E-Type when new?
In 1961 the E-Type was priced to undercut rivals with similar performance. Here are the original UK and US launch prices, with the caveats that attach to sixty-year-old figures.
The E-Type's launch price was part of the story. In March 1961 Jaguar announced a car that could reach roughly 150 mph and carried independent suspension and disc brakes all round, yet it cost less in the UK than the XK150 it replaced. The exact numbers depend on whether a source quotes the basic list price, the price including British purchase tax, or a price for a particular market, but the order of magnitude is consistent.
UK launch prices, March 1961
- Two-seater roadster: about £2,098 with purchase tax
- Fixed-head coupe: about £2,196 with purchase tax
Some published sources give the roadster as £2,097, including the test car reported by Motor magazine. The gap is only a pound and reflects whether the figure is drawn from a press demonstrator's invoice, a manufacturer's announcement, or a magazine's own test. What matters is that the car was positioned as a fast, affordable GT rather than an exotic.
United States prices
- Roadster: about $5,595
- Fixed-head coupe: about $5,895
- Wire wheels (optional): about $175 extra
The United States knew the car as the XK-E. The coupe carried roughly a $300 premium over the roadster, and the wire wheels that became a visual signature were not standard. Even with the extra cost for wheels, the XK-E arrived in North America at a fraction of the price of an Aston Martin DB4 or a Ferrari 250.
Why the price mattered
The E-Type's price was as much a part of its reception as its shape. By delivering the performance and specification of cars that cost far more, Jaguar made the car available to a much wider slice of the market. The result was a waiting list that ran for months and a reputation that has outlasted several changes of ownership at the company.
Prices rose through the 1960s as equipment and engines changed, and by the time the V12 Series 3 arrived in 1971 the cheapest E-Type was significantly more expensive than the 1961 original. The launch price remains the useful reference point, though, because it explains why the car became a phenomenon.
Common questions
How much did a Jaguar E-Type cost in 1961?
In the UK the roadster was listed at about £2,098 with purchase tax and the fixed-head coupe at £2,196. In the United States the roadster started at roughly $5,595 and the coupe at about $5,895. Optional wire wheels added about $175 to the US list price.
Was the E-Type cheaper than an XK150?
Yes. The E-Type undercut the earlier XK150 in the UK despite its more advanced specification, which was one reason the launch price attracted so much attention.
Why do sources quote slightly different launch prices?
Figures differ depending on whether a source is quoting the list price before tax, the price including purchase tax, the price of a press demonstrator, or a price adjusted to a particular market. Some references give the roadster as £2,097, others as £2,098; the difference is tiny and reflects rounding or the specific car being described.
What would the 1961 price be worth today?
This archive does not carry current values or investment guidance. Historic inflation calculators give only a rough sense of spending power; they do not account for how the classic-car market, wages, or the cost of specialist restoration have changed since the 1960s.