Ten things you need to know about...
Although the E-Type has matured into a true masterpiece of automotive engineering, there are a few interesting facts about this good looking sports car that aren’t common knowledge
The Jaguar E-Type – A car that became a legend in its own lifetime.
Launched some 57 years ago, the good old E-Type might be beyond the reach of many now but it still represents a sea change for the British motor industry. Even at the staggering price of the £150,000 a near perfect 3.8 Coupè costs, that’s still a lot less cash than a DB4 or Ferrari 250GTE, cars that some might say are not as good as the E-Type in some areas.
The E-Type would probably run rings around a 300SL Mercedes as well. What the E-Type represented was a small company in the Midlands making a car that was the equal of Ferrari or Aston Martin, but at the price of four basic Minis and that made it all the more remarkable.
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Development of the E-Type Jaguar began in 1956, just before the XK150 was launched. The XK range was getting old, especially compared to the C and then D Type sports racing cars. Early prototypes were coded E1A, A being for Aluminium from which the bodies of these early prototypes were built.
2
That same prototype was powered by a 2.4 litre engine from a Mark 1 saloon, yet it could achieve 120 mph when tested secretly by Christopher Jennings from MOTOR magazine. This top speed pretty much confirmed the aerodynamics of the car as designed by Malcolm Sayer, although a steel version would have been slower.
3
Bob Knight designed Jaguar’s independent rear suspension in just 27 days for a wager with company boss Sir William Lyons and the set-up was used until the final Aston DB7 left production in December 2004. The E-Type was developed side by side with the Jaguar Mark 10 saloon, a car that would also debut in 1961, although the barge-sized saloon arrived a few months after the E-Type.
4
At just £2097, the E-Type roadster was not only cheaper than the Aston DB4 at £4084 and the even more expensive 250 Ferrari, but it was also fractionally cheaper than the outgoing XK150. In today’s monetary terms, the 1961 E-Type cost £42,000 when the DB4 would have been over £84,000 – that’s why Jaguar sold so many.
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The much vaunted 150mph claim was achieved on hand built cars running on Dunlop D5 racing tyres and minus overiders and other unnecessary trim. In reality, 135mph was about as fast as a 3.8 would go or 140 on a really good one with a following wind. Only the later V12 car stood a chance of getting up to 150 (but wouldn’t) and the more powerful 4.2 cars were tested at 140 mph.
6
Virtually all Series III E-Types were powered by the 5.3 litre V12 – all except three that were built with the 4.2 litre engine. Whilst there is a romance around the XK engine, it cannot be denied that the V12 was far superior and gave the E-Type better performance - as you’d expect with an extra 50- 80 bhp on tap.
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The V12 was markedly improved in many areas although in some circles it’s seen as a step backwards. It was faster with
better roadholding and better brakes. In truth though, the E Type was becoming outdated by 1971 and the V12 engine with 270bhp highlighted the car’s deficiencies – but it was a third of the price of a Daytona…….
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The last E Type V12 Coupè was built in September 1973 – the month the first XJ- C Coupè was announced. In reality, the US market demanded an internal roll over bar for Sports coupès from the 1974 model year and it wasn’t worth retooling the car. Nevertheless, the E-Type roadster production continued into 1974, the last car being built in September.
9
The 2+2 E-Type was launched in 1966 – whilst many don’t like the bulbous shape, it turned out to be very popular when new and in 1966 was the biggest selling sporting E- model leaving Browns Lane. The Series 2 version was given a much less steeply raked windscreen to soften the looks and the V12 model with its fatter tyres and wider track looked very fine.
10
Why was the E-Type replaced by the XJ-S? Quite simply, it was because the concept was thought to be outdated. There was too little elbow room in the cabin and not enough space to fit a decent air conditioning unit, both official reasons for the E-Type not to be replaced like for like. The XJ-S, after a shaky start, went on to be more successful in the end.