1965 JAGUAR XKE COUPE BY HELM AUTOMOTIVE

1965 Jaguar E-Type Coupe
Reimagined by Helm with Bill Amberg Studios
Chassis no. 1E31723

The Series 1 Fixed Head Coupé is possibly the most iconic of all the iterations of the E-Type Jaguar produced between 1961 and 1974. This example was originally built in 1965, and was the third in a series of 20 bespoke examples recreated by the acclaimed 'restomod' specialists at Helm Motorcars, in collaboration with renowned leather designer Bill Amberg. 'The Rhode Island Commission', named for the New England client who commissioned it, embodies the convergence of timeless aesthetics with modern refinement, executed to the highest possible standard.
The rebuild was completed in 2024, a project that took 3,800 man-hours and cost nearly $600,000. Under the hood there is a 4.2-liter engine with a calibrated ECU and fuel injection, skillfully disguised as a “Weber” carburetor set-up providing modern drivability with the visual purity of a classic E-Type engine bay. The stainless-steel exhaust is hand-polished while a high-efficiency radiator with uprated pumps, pipework and header tank, keeps things cool. The transmission is a Tremec five-speed manual gearbox and aircraft-grade aluminum calipers on four-wheel vented discs rein in the power. The ride is uncharacteristically smooth for a 60s car, thanks to the adjustable Öhlins suspension. All this sits atop a reinforced chassis and engine frame.

The exterior is finished in 20-liters of metallic British Racing Green applied using electrophoretic body coating techniques for added corrosion resistance. The traditional chrome brightwork has been replaced with hand-polished nickel.

Moving inside, the cockpit is a bespoke masterpiece, with semi-aniline calf suede in ochre to contrast and complement the hand-crafted aluminum interior paneling and metallic BRG exterior. Speed sensitive electric power steering assures the driver an effortless drive, and all the plastic toggles are redressed in leather for aesthetic and tactile opulence. A heated windscreen, soft-close door mechanisms and seven-speaker audio system with Apple CarPlay, plus a reversing camera, complete the package.

Accompanying this Jaguar is a set of matching bespoke luggage, comprising two trademark Bill Amberg Rocket bags and two Weekender bags, held neatly in place with handmade leather straps. The set is executed with the same artisanal quality found in Amberg pieces held in the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Sixty years ago, Malcolm Sayer's design was acclaimed by Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car in the world, and today this commission with its improvements in technology and techniques melds classic with the contemporary to create the best of all worlds. As Chedeen Battick, founder of Helm, stated of this Jaguar "This is how an E-Type was meant to be."

The one and only 'Rhode Island Commission' presents a rare opportunity to own one of the most meticulously crafted and collectible E-Types in existence with just 100 miles on the rebuild; a rolling sculpture born from the collaboration of two design powerhouses.