Called by Enzo Ferrari as “the most beautiful car ever made”, the British produced Jaguar E type is one of the most recognizable classic cars out there. If Enzo’s comments alone aren’t enough to give an idea of the pure class of the car, know it’s one of the few cars displayed at the Modern Art Museum in New York.
Pricing
The car itself is relatively rare, with only 72,250 ever being created. Upon release, the car was priced around $5,600 which was a very fair price at the time. Today, the car starts around $40,000 going all the way up to $100,000+ depending on the model and features.
Development
Derived from the D Type and developed between 1961-1975, the vehicle features incredible looks, top tier performance, and class, all at an affordable price point. The initial version release saw 33,205 cars made. In terms of pricing, the Series 1 is the most expensive and sought after.
After the Series 1 release in 1961, the automobile saw several additions in the Series 2 and 3 versions. There’s even an unofficially recognized series “1.5” that was developed in 1968.
The Series 2 was released in 1970 with 18,808 being created. Due to new legislation in the United States, the Series 2 saw several modifications, most notably being the missing headlight covers. A few other distinguished changes are the new shape of the rear bumper, enlarged “mouth”, and less powerful carburetors. The carburetor change caused the car to decline in horsepower and torque which is likely why the model is much less in demand.
Last but certainly not least, the E Type Series 3 was released in 1971 becoming the only car at the type to have mass produced V-12 engines capable of just under 270 BHP. In addition to the new engine, the Series 3 added further customization with wire wheels, AC, and an automatic transmission.
Performance
The vehicle was able to push 150mph with a 6.5 second 0-6 0mph time upon its release in 1961. What makes the E type so incredible is not necessarily the car’s raw performance, but more the performance it’s able to offer considering the price point.
History
Famous owners of the E-Type include Frank Sinatra, Steve Mcqueen, Tony Curtis, and Brigitte Bardot. After just one quick look at the car, Sinatra is on the record for saying “I want that car, and I want it now.” The last 50 E Types created are known as the “Commemorative” versions and are sleek black roadsters.
Bob Jane, an Australian race car driver, won the 1963 Australian GT Championship wielding one of the rare variants known as the “lightweight”.
Conclusion
Driving a Jaguar E Type is a visceral experience. Given its size and the driver’s proximity to the hood, you’ll encounter a driving experience unrivaled by nearly any other car. Between it’s incredible design, famous owners, and impressive performance, the E-type will be a key part of Jaguars’ history. Anyone from the classic car nut to the everyday person realizes this vehicle carries a presence. Overall, the Jaguar E Type is an industry-defining automobile that changed the game forever.