Debuted in blockbuster fashion, the E-Type's journey rocked the foundations sportscar potential. Its iconic status transcends time, and is deemed in petrolhead folklore as one of Jaguar's greatest hits
Callum Alexander | Callum on Cars | Icons
Enzo Ferrari called the Jaguar E-Type 'the most beautiful car ever made' on its release in March 1961.
Praise and approval could not come from a more prominent entity, but Mr Ferrari’s omission does succinctly summarise the beguiling appearance and sense of feeling the E-Type evokes when casting your eyes over its sleek silhouette.
Its aesthetics are one of its strongest assets, effortlessly gorgeous but not ostentatious, the E-Type retains a classy, dignified manner that commands respect over adulation. The styling transcends time - the simplicity of its design is ageless - a trait that is hard to create or replicate.
Its bewitching beauty is just one compelling reason that make up the E-Type’s legendary status as an icon, because there are a host of features under the skin that extol the E-Type as innovative engineering that rippled through the car industry, as much as a piece of exquisite art.
The E-Type was spawned out of Jaguar’s success in the Le Mans 24-hour race, winning it five times during the 1950’s; this elevated the brands status and transformed the image of Jaguar. Another project soon occupied the racing team: to create a replacement for the XK150 road car.
The D-Type template became the inspiration that influenced this vision. In the development process, two concept models were made: the first called the E1A in 1957 and the second called the E2A in 1960. The latter existed in the format of a racing car - Jaguar’s justification that it provided a more productive testing platform.
From their diligent efforts evolved the first road production E-Type, later referred to as the Series 1. But, the story of the its breakthrough has a frenzied backdrop. Scheduled to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1961, Jaguar rolled up with just one E-Type, yet just days before its launch, Sir William Lyons - the founder and boss of Jaguar - wanted another E-Type displayed alongside the one example brought to Geneva.
It meant a scrambled sprint from Jaguar’s base in Coventry; Norman Lewis - now the brands esteemed test driver - piloted an E-Type Roadster to Geneva for the unveiling. It was worth the rush though: the Series 1 E-Type was the coolest car to grace Geneva, it not only stole the show, but grabbed the headlines too.
Looking at the details, it’s not hard to see why: the engine, a 3.8 litre six-cylinder unit is derived from the XK150; it made 265bhp and created 240ft-Ib. It resulted in performance that rattled road car standards: the E-Type could prowl to 60 mph in just 6.4 seconds and continue snarling all the way to a 150mph top speed, making the pioneering E-Type the fastest car in the world at the time.
But it wasn’t just the pace that broke barriers. Delving under the skin of the Series 1 E-Type, so did the technical underpinnings; they ripped up conventional methods and were ahead of the times in comparison to the status quo of their rivals. Ferrari were left dumbfounded at their lapse of ingenuity.
Elements like: independent coil spring rear suspension with torsion bar front ends and four-wheel disc brakes that were all power assisted; these are both examples where Jaguar redefined the standard and boldly set the precedent for the car industry to follow.
From a prospective buyer’s perspective, the E-Type surpassed its exotic rivals in each department and equated to a formidable proposition. Even more so considering the price: the Roadster cost around £2097 with the Coupe totalling about £2196, half the price of its competitors.
In February 1963, Jaguar seized upon their racing success in Le Mans and produced a Limited-Edition E-Type, called the Lightweight. Embarking on such a bespoke project, 18 cars were planned, but only 12 were made.
Produced in hardtop guise to improve structural rigidity, an aluminium skin and chassis replaced the standard steel shell and platform. This improved driving dynamics. The 3.8 litre engine was optimised with Lucas fuel injection and dry-sump lubrication, these modifications contributed to the increase in extra horse power, now equating to a 293bhp output. An added gear to the transmission compensated for the extra grunt while the chassis had revised suspension geometry.
It is the rarest and possibly the most special E-Type created, so much so that in 2014 Jaguar sought to make up the E-Type Lightweight deficit, and complete the production cycle. The model was built to the exact same specifications, replicating the original racecar. This rare retro replica represented the bridging of a void in one of Jaguar’s most sacred chapters in their history: the end of a fairy tale story. The six remastered versions were sold to Jaguar collectors, but it symbolised something more: it heralded and honoured the impact and influence of the E-Type as it stood the test of time.
Jaguar continued to tinker and fettle with the Series 1 E-Type, and in 1964, the 4.2 litre engine from XK150 was slotted under bonnet - parts of the unit were redesigned to accommodate modified components. Even so, it made the same 265bhp but torque jumped to 284Ib-ft. The Moss four-speed manual gearbox was upgraded to feature synchromesh on all gear ratios.
Expanding on the two variants, a 2+2 model was added to the line-up in 1966 providing a practical, grand touring aspect, further broadening the Series 1 E-Type repertoire. The options list included an automatic gearbox, adding yet another dynamic to its pallet of credentials.
But time doesn’t stop and in 1967, Jaguar introduced a transitional E-Type, known unofficially as the Series 1.5. The changes introduced were incremental as the Series 1.5 donned some features from the upcoming Series 2. Production of the Series 1 officially ran for seven years until December 1968; in that time a total of 33,205 cars were produced.
In October 1968, the Series 2 E-Type broke cover. It wore a styling evolution, decisively moving the revamped E-Type into a new guise. Hallmark traits were predominantly cosmetic: on the outside, the glass headlight covers were removed; a wrap-around front and rear bumper was added with larger front and rear side lights placed underneath; pressed steel wheels were selectable instead of wire wheels, and an enlarged front air intake doubled up not only as a defining stylistic attribute of the Series 2 E-Type, because it also boosted cooling to the engine.
On the inside, rocker switches replaced the toggle version from the Series 1; options like air conditioning and power steering were both available for the first time - this moved the E-Type with evolving technology.
The technical details included the reduction of carburettors from 3 to 2; this reduced horsepower output from 265bhp to 246bhp, thus consequently neutering a fundamental asset of the haloed Series 1 E-Type: performance. This infringement capped the 0-60mph dash to 7.2 second and held the top speed back at 142mph.
Still eliciting that captivating silhouette, the Series 2 E-Type could still attract attention at every turn, but perhaps it missed that certain mythical novelty and romanticism that came like an unspoken addendum accompanying the Series 1 E-Type. Jaguar sold 18,808 Series 2 E-Types until production ended in September 1970.
But the E-Type story doesn’t end here, it came in the form of the third and final model to be despatched off the production line: the Series 3 E-Type. It was a distinctive departure from the conventional E-Type platform of its predecessors. With production starting in March 1971, two models were available: the roadster or the two plus two. Jaguar’s association with racing and the thoroughfare of success that inspired in part the E-Type philosophy faded and fizzled out. Therefore, the blueprint of the Series 3 E-Type merged into one of a Grand Tourer, hence the engine switch.
Under the bonnet it was out with the 4.2 litre six-cylinder engine and in with a hefty new 5.3 litre V12 unit. Power output had risen compared to the Series 2 E-Type, but it still only chucked out an underwhelming 272bhp – that’s 21bhp less than in the Series 1 E-Type. In the Series 3 roadster, that equated to a 6.4 second 0-60mph time, with the speed continuing to climb until it topped out at 146mph.
To the untrained eye, the subtle styling differences on the Series 3 E-Type may merge and blur into obfuscation between the Series 1 and 2 E-Types. But the details point towards a sportier looking rendition that only those in the know will identify.
The front and rear wheel arches were flared to accommodate six-inch rims what two styles: wired wheeled or pressed steel; the large oval air intake was fitted with a grille and had an additional air air scoop cut out below. And like a trinket accessory, four fishtail exhaust pipes replaced the splayed style ones from the Series 2.
Production ceased in February 1975, in that four-year period, 15,287 cars were produced. But, the E-Types time in the spotlight was dwindling. Once the most sought after sportscar that redefined parameters of possibility and potential, had run out of road and hit the buffers: the Series 3 was the last original E-Type model ever made. The sun had set on its time, and it was consigned to the pages of history. Spanning 15 years, more than 70,000 E-Types were made, reflecting a golden era for Jaguar.
But every legend has a legacy, and the E-Type is no exception. In tradition, Jaguar added to the alphabetic line of lineage, naming the successor as the F-Type. It has had a lot to live up to, but the weight of expectation has borne fruit. The visual similarities epitomise the conspicuous influence of the E-Type – subtle, but classy and cool.
There is a selection of five models to choose from, but the SVR Convertible is the pick of the bunch. With a supercharged 5.0 litre V8 packed under the bonnet, it’s the most untamed and feral Jaguar F-Type, epitomized by the performance.
The SVR is anything but tame: it will prowl to 60mph in 3.5 seconds before powering to a top speed of 195mph - suitably undomesticated, just like a wild cat. That is all propelled through four-wheel drive, making lots of traction that gives great assurance to drive briskly, but without the bite and snap back.
A slight blotch in the SVR’s otherwise strong stats is that it weighs 1705kg – even taking into consideration the convertible roof apparatus – that’s too hefty for Jaguar’s range topping supercar. In spite of that, it’s helped by 515Ib-ft of torque to disguise the bulk, so that it can be hooned to your heart’s desire if you feel compelled to.
In the F-Type SVR lurks so much more than what meets the eye: it’s the legacy to the legend of the E-Type, one of Jaguar’s finest hours and most iconic cars of all time. Through the F-Type, the mythical E-Type lives on, in some form.
Callum Alexander | Callum on Cars | Icons
Photos: Eagle E-Types, Coys of Kensington, The Motoring Enthusiast, Romans International
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