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Jaguar’s E-Type is a true icon. Not in the sense of the overused Instagram comments section, but a true bona fide icon. Its shape turns just about every head, and yes, by law we have to mention that Enzo Ferrari said it was the most beautiful car in Tout’s history. It makes a glorious noise, and in its day it was the absolute bombshell.
Today, no matter how much you love them, E-Types are pretty cars with the engineering and dynamics of the ’60s. Some have stood the test of time and drive like a dream. Others are silver pits for bearded people. Sure, there are companies out there that will create your perfect E-Type for a price, but they share a very specific problem: they aren’t Jaguars. These are people in fancy hangars with expensive coins and hammers.
A few years ago, Jaguar decided to jump into the E-Type restoration game itself with the E-Type Reborn project. Jag’s plan is to find Series 1 (1961-68) E-Types, the prettiest of the bunch, that had something of a lifetime and bring them back to their former glory.
Customers can choose between a coupe or a roadster, a 3.8 or 4.2 liter engine, left or right hand drive. While an E-Type can enter Jaguar Land Rover’s Classic department much like a shed, it will leave as if it kind of jumped straight from the line in the 60s straight into the 2020s. on his journey he will have met Jaguar engineers with 60 years of experience in fixing things that blew up E-Types. They also have modern tools at their disposal to make sure things line up the way they were meant to in the ’60s and are made to the size they were originally designed to be. A Reborn E-Type is a full reset that brings the car back to pristine condition.
For just under $ 400,000 (£ 295,000 to be precise) you can have your own old / new E-Type. If you want to spend more money on it, you can specify a series of cool upgrades to make it easier to live with. A synchronized gearbox is a good start (and essential); Series 2 E-type brake calipers will help it stop better than the desperate Series 1; and better cooling is probably a wise move to keep this glorious XK engine healthy.
The resulting car will be, according to Jaguar, “the winning standard of the competition”. Easy to claim; difficult to live. But Jag’s internal team is made up of engineering assistants, which means the resulting car is perfect in every way. The leather is flawless, smells like the inside of an expensive handbag, and is smooth when you sit on it. The skins lining the trunk look so delicate that you’ll feel guilty putting on anything other than a bag of pillows and hugs. Each switch is perfectly weighted, each doing its job with a reassuring click. The panels fit correctly. While tall people may find it difficult to fit into the comfortable cabin of the fixed-head car, they will enjoy playing with the slim wooden steering wheel while adjusting their necks. Everything feels … good. And that’s before you press the start button. Did you think the trailers were good? Wait for the movie.
A short break is followed by this glorious XK engine coming back to life. The cab shakes smoothly and a wonderful hum bounces off all available surfaces. The sound is a throwback to a time when engines were happy, loud things with their own distinct characteristics, where hardcore gearboxes could tell exactly what was going on without looking.
The surprisingly light clutch is quite easy to dip. Placing it first is a remarkable but rewarding experience, allowing you to hum easily. At low speeds, the unassisted steering is heavy, even in a car that weighs 2,600 pounds, but it gets easier the further you throw it.
Give the gas a slight tickle, and after a very short ride the engine will start to bellow and drive the car forward. Hit harder and the pace picks up with a slight urgency, like someone in a hurry doing some kind of graceful walk / run in a busy hallway. While the 265 hp, 284 lb-ft inline-six 4.2-liter inline-six powering Jaguar’s test car may seem huge, peak horsepower kicks in to high revs. Jaguar says the Reborn E-Type will crack 0-60 in 7.0 seconds and hit 153 mph. It’s pretty quick, frankly; The E-Type may be as new as they come, but its dynamics can be traced back six decades. The management does not give a big return compared to the standards of the current century. Its brakes are better than the standard E-Type 1 Series, but they are still outdated by today’s standards. The suspension is smooth and leans you in the corners.
The E-Type is not designed to cut through the peaks, but to announce your presence to the world as you sail. Pin the throttle in, wait 3,000 RPM to roll, and you’ll hear the engine blast across the countryside, feel the nose lift gently as you accelerate, cranking up speed to speed thanks to its wonderfully notched four-speed manual. box, and watch the world as onlookers gaze at the car of their dreams. It’s smooth, and yes, braking requires more planning than usual, but who honestly cares? Enjoy the ride, don’t cross it and end it early.
You can see where cars like the F-Type get their personality from. Okay, the F is incredibly fast, but it’s also smoother than anything else. It’s a relaxed way to go fast, a gentle way to enjoy the trip rather than rushing to the destination (although it’s pretty exciting when you’re in a rush). Grace, Space, Pace and all that; types E and F share more than a naming convention. They share a spirit.
The Jaguar Classic team has set a high standard with the Reborn E-Type. It’s not a perfect car to drive, like no E-Type is, but it’s a perfect E-Type. It’s really wonderful to be a part.
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