“DESPITE THEIR RELATIVELY HEFTY NUMBERS SURVIVORS SEEM TO BE THIN ON THE GROUND”

that the E-type borrowed much from the iconic D-type factory racers, and there was some truth to that.

Early cars like this ran with the 3.8lt DOHC straight six and a four-speed manual with no synchro on first. It may not have been the quickest production car on the planet – that’s a debate for another day – but it was widely recognised as being seriously fast. That six claimed a healthy 265 horses (198kW ) and a phenomenal 149mph (240km/h) top speed. The latter was measured with a roadster, and we’re talking very quick for 56 years ago.

The 3.8lt Series 1 cars were successful, selling over 15,490 units over their three-ish year production. Despite those relatively hefty numbers, the survivors seem to be pretty thin on the ground.

Talk to owners, and the refreshingly honest ones will admit that you should not compare these things to a modern car. Yes, they’re still relatively quick, but the handling and grip leave something to be desired. Great for a 60s car essentially designed in the 50s, but that’s it.

But that’s not what they’re about. The appeal is in the style and the era they represent.

The profile of this example says it was hatched in January 1962 – so a very early car – and dispatched to New York into the clutches of a Mr PA Barchus. That of course means it started life as a lefthand-drive.

Barchus took it to the west coast and owned it for some three decades – clearly a man who made a decision and stuck with it. The car subsequently lobbed in Australia in 1996 and had the steering converted. These days you wouldn’t bother, but the local rules were very different back then.

It’s in the original colours and the overall presentation looks pretty good. That, given the history, helps to make sense of the $269,000 price tag. It’s a lot of money, but the international market is showing no signs of slowing down.