Jaguar E-type is known as the most beautiful sports car of all time. It is a classic car that had great influence in the 1961.  Jaguar E-type claimed 150mph whereas the average family runabouts ran at 70 mph. The E-Type, launched at the Geneva Auto Salon in 1961 did not only bring out a unique look, but also claim its place till date. Enzo Ferrari referred the car as the most beautiful car in the world, while a few people regard Roadster and Coupe as the perfect models from every angle. However, Jaguar almost had one E-type display in the Geneva show. The founder and boss of Jaguar, Sir William Lyons ordered another car just before the day of the show. that meant a last-minute dash by Norman Dewis, a renown driver to test-drive the car.

The story of Jaguar E-Type

The Jaguar E-Type began long before the eleventh-hour dash. It was clear that D-Type Le Mans racer’s influence in the E-Types, the 3.8 litre straight-six engine that was sourced from XK and the E-Type’s lines. However, the E1A lesser prototype of 1957 was the genesis of the E-type story. The Malcom Sayer styled E1A was smaller than the final E-Type production. The new prototype had a 2.4 litre engine. However, the E-Type engine came with new characteristics such as rear suspension design that later became the hallmark of jaguar models.

The prototype that came earlier refined the shape of the E-type’s shape and dimensions. The car was designed to be larger as the American market required such. By the type it was unveiled in 1961, the Jaguar E-type had a 265bhp 3.8-litre engine with a four-speed manual gearbox. The model claimed a top speed of 150mph. This was the optimistic for production versions.

The Jaguar E-type model was the fastest car of its time with 150.4 mph top speed and 0-60mph in 6.9 sec. the car was especially prepared for these tests. It was designed for racing. However, celebrities and racing drivers flocked to buy the E-Types. The autocar was registered running 9600 HP on Donlop R5 racing tyres.

Jaguar E-Types Series Updates

Early motorsport success inspired Jaguar to select several lightweight models to use monocoque and aluminum body instead of regular steel materials to construct the body. This concept proved that worth on track under Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart was worth their rarest E-type that was inspired by Jaguar to build more Lightweights.

Apart from the body, Jaguar continued to develop the car to fit the largest4.2-liter XK engine in 1964. The 4.2 engine was torque, even though it still offered 265 bhp. At the same time, the gearbox increased the synchromesh on all ratios. In 1965, Jaguar E-type joined a 2+2 model that ranged from the sporting family driver.

Two years later, Jaguar launched an updated model that was known as the Series 1 ½ that was only produced in 1967 to 1968. The model came with the new unfaired headlight design that was featured on S2. Among the tings that were updated, the brakes were among them.

By 1970s, racing was not a major concern for Jaguar, thus, E-type shifted to more of GT car. The GT transformation was completed in 1971 where a V12 engine that powered the S3 model. The style of the car changed from a wide track to a less comely front-end styling. A smooth 5.3-liter engine sat under the bonnet.

The V12 engine was designed by Harry Mundy and Walter Hassan, who were technical editors at Autocar. The main intention behind designing the V12 was to be used in the XJ saloon, however, the opportunity could not be missed in the E-Type. As a result, the XJ-S replaced the E-type in the 1975. Today, the E-Type is regarded to as a blue-chip classic. The impact of the E-Type continues to be felt even today.

Jaguar E-Type Restoration

One question is, is Jaguar E-Type a worthy project? Personally, owning a Jaguar E-type means you have one of the most valued classic cars. The value of this car is not going down any time soon This is a kind of a car that increases its value as time goes. While the price of the car varies depending on the condition and the type of the series, it ranges from £40,000 for a “fixer-upper” or rusted to £230,000 and above for a FHC in pristine condition.

Secondly, very few cars are as enduring as the Jaguar E-type classic. Until 1961, there was nothing else like it. The performance of this car is also iconic up to date. Not forgetting the advancement in the design. The car has undeniably beautiful proportions and curves that represents the very best of car designs.

3 Tips that ensure that you Restore your Jaguar E-Type Project

As you think of owning a Jaguar E-Type, there are some tips that will help you realize it. Here we will provide practical advice you can follow through during your project. Whether, you are taking your restoration project during your retirement or in your prime years, the idea of a long-term restoration project will be romantic and exciting at the same time.

That said, it is important to take some factors into consideration. Usually, the first step is to choose the car that you will spend time and money restoring. If you are careful, the project will definitely come with immense satisfaction. Conversely, careless decisions will lead to waste of money, time and eventually lead to a crushing disappointment.

According the value of Jaguar E-Type, the restoration will be worth much now and in the future. Settling into this project is not impulsive. It is a car with appreciation value. Remember that the cost of buying a car is one component of the total project cost. Definitely, the value of an old Jaguar E-Type model will not the same after restoration. The Jaguar E-Type is an iconic classic car that is here to stay! It is referred as the world’s beautiful car’ of its time Not to add its speed”. Other factors to consider during the restoration is:

1. Beware of the Rust

Car rust is an important factor to consider when trying to restore any car. It adds up to the cost and time of restoration. In some cases, you might come across a car whose chassis has been eaten away by rust. Body parts that have been consumed by rust will consume a lot of time trying to repair and, in some cases, it will require you to replace steel body panels. If you happen to buy a rust bucket, be ready to strip the entire chassis, cut of sections that cannot be repaired and sand blast every inch of the metal. If you are lucky, you will buy replacement panels from aftermath manufacturers. Else, you will have to custom build or fabricate them from sheet metal. Rust repair is definitely not for everyone, it is thus important to know what you are getting yourself into.

2. Buy a Car that Starts

When purchasing a Jaguar E-type model for restoration, buy one that runs. This significantly reduces chances of expenses during mechanical repairs. Buying one that is not running and has been sitting for decades is a risky investment. Best case scenario is that you might need to buy a new battery, fuel pump or starter. Worse case scenario, you need to replace or rebuild the entire engine. You don’t have to incur such costs while you have the chance of finding another project car.

3. Bring an Expert

Restoration process requires precision that has been done by someone with experience. You can by bring a friend or an acquaintance who has knowledge about auto restoration during the purchase. This act will save you a lot of money and time. It is a good idea to find someone with greater experience to get feedback about the project, parts to be buy and how to install. An expert will provide feedback on various issues that may arise during the restoration process and how to solve them. You will save yourself from a lot of time, money and headache.