Eeeee...What A Car! (The History of the E-Type Jaguar)

Member Name: kenjohn

Product:	The History of the E-Type Jaguar
Date:	11/06/09 (118 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful classic car

Disadvantages: Not a lot!

From the time it first hit the tarmac in 1961 the Jaguar E -Type was destined to become an instant classic. Its aerodynamics and in your face showmanship made it the iconic sports car of the 1960's and its scintillating performance more than matched its good looks.

Jaguar claimed a top speed of 150mph (241kph) for the E - Type which was unbelievably quick back in 1961. In reality the true top speed was probably nearer the 140mph (225kph) mark.

But it was still far and away the UK's fastest production sports car and its relatively low price insured it was also a great bargain. (It undercut the price of its nearest rival, the Aston martin DB4,, by a staggering 33%!)

Its graceful, curvy body shell was inspired by Jaguar's famous Le Mans - winning D - Type racing car; all the better to take full advantage of the new wishbone and coil spring independent rear suspension. The ride was so smooth that you could be forgiven for thinking you were riding in a limo, but it still handled superbly and clung onto the road with a limpet like grip, despite the ultra-slim cross ply tyres that to modern day eyes would look better suited to a child's pram!

The engine was the tried and tested and very powerful 13-year-old 3.8 litre unit from the old Jaguar XK, but it was let down somewhat by the ageing and slow shifting unit from Moss which was a feature of all Jaguars from the 1930's onwards. It had an efficient enough set of disc brakes but these were spoiled by a spongy feeling brake pedal.

The car was an instant success in the "Swinging 60's" and racing drivers, actors, pop stars and royalty jostled for a position in the waiting list that lengthened on a daily basis. The British producer Lew Grade wanted to borrow one for his new UK TV series "The Saint" but was turned down by Jaguar as they had no need of the publicity and could instantly sell every new E - Type they produced.

Despite the almost unprecedented demand Jaguar didn't stint on development, and in 1964 they increased the engine size to 4.2 litres, replaced the dated gearbox and improved the brakes. The seating and trim was also upgraded and the electrical system made more efficient, making the 4.2 Series 1E the ultimate jewel in the Jaguar crown.

In 1966 they finally listened to the growing public demand for a slightly larger car and released a two-plus-two version. An automatic gearbox was also offered as an option in an attempt to reconcile the E - Type's performance image with the companies desire to improve sales in America.

1968 saw the launch of the Series 2 version of the E -Type, and also the first signs that the big cat was finally starting to show its age. Safety demands from the North American market tarnished the purity of the E - Type's styling with overly fussy open lights, while at the same time the awesome power was throttled back with emission controls. By the turn of the decade in 1970 the car had become a mere shadow of its former youthful, vigorous image!

The final V-12 Series 3 E - Type completed the sanitation process. The new version was still smooth and fast but somehow lacked the soul of the original car, and the former sylphlike shape was ruined entirely by the much longer and fatter V-12 with the addition of the then fashionable fatter wheel arches and a cheap and tacky chrome grille. By now the E - Type was akin to an old boxer who has gone to seed; it was a flabby spent force living on past glories and borrowed time.

It's hard to believe that Jaguar, who were now gearing up for the release of the E - Type's successor, the XJS, actually had problems selling the last few E - Types produced in 1975.

It's sleek and sexy design won the Jaguar E - Type a place in the Museum of Modern Art, and it lives on today as a much loved and sought after classic.

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Jaguar E - Type (1961 to 1975)
Engine: Straight Six/V-12
Power: 265 bhp
Transmission: 4-speed manual. 3-speed automatic.
Top Speed: Up to 150mph (241kph)
Number Built: All models; 72,507.

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© KenJ May 2009

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Summary: One of the iconic sports cars of all time