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JAGUAR E TYPE HISTORY
On this page you can read about the history of the Jaguar E-Type and its evolution. For more details on hiring any of our Jaguars click here
The Jaguar E Type was launched in 1961 to replace the aging XK series. Its style borrowed heavily from the short-lived XKSS and Jaguar’s D-Type Le Man racers.
The E-Type was always conceived as a low cost Grand Tourer that would capitalise on the improving road network in Europe and America and the lust for long-distance travel. It was launched in closed coupe and open top cabriolet variants and in a reverse of the modern trend, the cabriolet was the cheaper version.
It was an instant success. In an era where products rather than brands shone brightest, the car’s looks, performance and low price proved highly attractive to the newly affluent Western world. The car captured a moment in time when Britain was regaining its self-respect and throughout its early life in the ‘60s, the E-Type came to epitomise ‘Cool Britannia.’ Although the claimed 150 mph top speed was only ever achieved by subtly tweaked press cars, the performance was still phenomenal for a car in its price band. The Jaguar E-Type made much more expensive sports cars suddenly appear bloated, over-priced and out of date. The side hung hatchback also made the E-Type very practical in coupe form.
The E-Type wasn’t without its faults. As Grand Tourer it was rather flawed, being cramped with poor legroom, the cabriolet lacked boot space and a terrible Moss gearbox. Jaguar addressed these problems throughout the cars life, adding footwells, a new gearbox, creating a 2+2 version in 1966 and from 1971 using this extended floorplan for all Series 3 cars. The aging 3.8 litre straight six, carried over from the XK, was replaced in 1964 with the gorgeous 4.2 straight six and in 1971 with the classic, ultra-smooth all-alloy 5.3 V12. E-Type production ended in 1974 and the car was replaced by the XJS.
By the Series 3, Jaguar had evolved the E-Type from a sports car with grand touring pretensions to a grand tourer with sports car pretensions. Whether one iteration or the other is closer to the original intention will occupy classic fans for years to come.
Evolution
The E-Type evolved into an almost bewildering number of combinations of engines and bodystyles. The factory’s tendency to mix and match specifications during transitional phases – a common practice at the time – also causes confusion. There were three bodystyles – coupe, convertible and 2+2 – with Series 1, 1.5 and 2 cars built on the standard platform and all Series 3 cars on the longer chassis. Three engines complemented the bodystyles, successively the 3.8 and then 4.2 litre straight sixes and then the 5.3 litre V12.
Only Series 1 cars feature the classic ‘cowled headlamps,’ which were deleted due to US Federal Safety laws. The Series 3 cars are significantly beefier in appearance than the delicate first models. Most E-Types were manuals, with an automatic option introduced with the Series 2 2+2 cars. The E-Type has been out of production for over 30 years but as proof of its enduring appeal specialist companies still keep tinkering with Jaguar’s original design. Through companies like Eagle and Vicarage it is now possible to spend over £100,000 turning a rusty E-Type into a modern daily driver with satellite navigation, power steering, cruise control, electric windows and many other interior fittings from modern Jaguars.
Preference
Selecting the ‘best’ E-Type specification is the sort of debate that could and has occupied many a pub table. Pushing motoring snobbery aside, it’s purely a matter of personal taste. Generally speaking, Series 1 cars are considered the best looking but Series 2 E-Types with the later gearbox, better brakes and 4.2 engine are a good real-world compromise.
It might be heresy in E-Type circles, but at Great Escape we prefer the style of the Series 3 cars. There’s something purposeful and rather less effeminate about these cars, plus they look like the actually could embark on a grand tour. We’re also big fans of the 5.3 litre V12 and think that the combination works particularly well in the E-Type.
Are we right to like the Series 3 best? Tell us which Jaguar E-Type you think is the ultimate version and we'll print your comments here. Email jaguar@greatescapecars.co.uk.
