BEST OF THE REST
Tiff Needell RACER AND BROADCASTER
It has to be the Joaquín Folch-rusiñol car we took to third in the 2012 RAC TT. I’ve raced other E-types at Goodwood, and they are the best cars I’ve driven there because they are so perfectly balanced. Unfortunately the American V8s have been so developed that nowadays a Jaguar win is out of the question.
Henry Pearman EAGLE E-TYPES
Although there are at least half a dozen really special E-types for me, it was our Eagle Speedster that I felt made the biggest impact. For Jeremy Clarkson to declare it not only the most beautiful car, but the most beautiful thing he had ever seen blew us all away – and likewise the estimated 600 million Top Gear viewers, especially those from the younger generation who, until then, seemed to have little interest in classic cars. The fact that the car has also featured in the Forza games and even a Fast & Furious film cements the E-type for hopefully many generations to come. To dare to play with the exterior of ‘The Most Beautiful Car in the World’ was risky, but it certainly paid off.
Edward Bridger-stille HISTORICS AUCTIONEERS
The purist in me votes for a Series 1 3.8 fixedhead in grey with a red leather interior, but ‘Dark Edward’ would strip off the bumpers, fit an external filler cap, paint it in Briggs Cunningham colours, and devil take the hindmost. I suppose that is why I’ve just taken the crazy step of actually putting my money where my mouth is and buying one. I fell off a ladder in 2017 and broke my back; I’ll never walk again, so naturally I bought an E-type! I’ve done the engine and diff assembly, but need an interior and a system of changing gear with no legs – I haven’t quite figured that one out yet…
Nick Whale SILVERSTONE AUCTIONS
I would have to choose the ex-dick Protheroe Series 1 fixed-head coupé racer, originally registered CUT 7. It was a privilege to own this particular car from 2000-2004 and to race it at all the major events including the Spa Six Hours, the Le Mans Classic and several Goodwood TTS. Nothing mechanical has given me more pleasure before or since, and my biggest regret in life is selling it. A truly superb and majestic piece of British history.
Bob Tullius GROUP 44 INC
As far as I was concerned, the 4.2 coupé was the most beautiful thing on four wheels, but I never really paid a whole lot of attention to Jaguars until we started racing the E-type. I enjoyed racing the V12s because they were powerful enough to destroy the competition – which back then was the Corvettes. With the mods allowed by the SCCA rules, we could make it really competitive. It was an outstanding conqueror.