Obviously it had a lot more power, and it did everything the 4.2 did, at a 20mph higher speed. The new E-types had sturdier bumpers, which wrapped around the entire nose and tail, giving better body protection. Subsequent prototypes refined the E-Type's shape and dimensions, and the car grew larger as Lyons recognised the American market's importance. It was cheaper than the £3671 Porsche 911, which could only manage 125mph. I still would have an E-type over a modern car...just need the money ! It was everything the 60s stood for and became the car of choice for the international jet-set, super models and rock stars alike. Dan Trent. This meant a last minute dash from Coventry to Geneva in an E-Type Roadster by Norman Dewis, Jaguar's now renowned test driver. When 9600HP was restored by its current owner, Jaguar historian Philip Porter, the engine was found to be a run in XK150S unit with a gas flowed cylinder head carefully matched to the inlet and exhaust manifolds – possibly worth an extra 20-25bhp. In 1982, he explained why he initially rejected the E-type, having borrowed a car in the south of France in 1962. And to make matters worse there were more restrictive American safety regulations on the way for 1976. Then in February, Jaguar subsidiary Coventry Climax announced it would be pulling out of motor racing at the end of the year. There were complaints about lack of ventilation, lack of space, poor heating and de-misting. The 2+2 also featured a taller windscreen, longer doors and room in the back for two children. I can understand 'younger' people who view it today as describing it over rated. In 1965, Jaguar updated the E-Type for even better performance. With two brilliant engineering teams headed by William Heynes and Sir Alec Issigonis, how could they fail? using the same system as on the new Jaguar XJ6 saloon. ‘I think with motoring today, it’s just as important to have the car comfortable standing still as it is when going.’. The iconic Jaguar E-Type has a long history, with three series of the car produced over a period of 15 years. The V12 was designed by Walter Hassan and Harry Mundy, who at one stage in his career was technical editor of Autocar. In November 1970, John Bolster tested a two-seat FHC for Autosport. For the first time, Jaguar offered bolt-on, pressed steel wheels as alternatives to the wire-spoke type, at extra cost. In fact the XJ-S was more aerodynamic than the Series 3, thanks to the work of Malcolm Sayer, and was designed to meet US legislation, which the E-type could no longer conform to. This became project XJ27 which evolved into the XJ-S. A direct E-type replacement would have to wait until the funds became available to develop one. Wood charts the design and development of the E-type in six and twelve cylinder forms, plus its career on racetracks of the world. By now, racing was not of huge concern for Jaguar, and the E-Type shifted tack to become more of a GT car. On 6 September 1973, Geoffrey Robinson, who had been out in Italy running British Leyland’s Innocenti operation, was appointed Jaguar Managing Director working alongside Lofty England. While this had been going on, a recession in the American car   market had forced Jaguar to go on to a four day working week from September 1966. It was in this role that he led the first wave of bombers on the controversial Dresden raid of February 1945. The first prototype was completed in May 1957, and had the official title of E-type 1 Aluminium, or E1A. Still this did not effect ‘Jenks’ on the continent. Sadly for the E-type, its boot mounted petrol tank could not meet the mandatory 30mph rearward barrier crash test due to come in force. In the same month, the Jaguar E-type FHC ceased production, the reason being that from 1974 all coupes sold in the USA had to be fitted with an internal roll-over bar. by Philip Porter. These road tests would go on to prove pivotal in marketing the E-type, but a press embargo was in force until the actual unveiling of the new sports car. Motor magazine tested a Series 3 Roadster in November 1971 and achieved a maximum speed of 146mph, 3mph down on 77 RW a decade before. But engineering this into the aging E-type was proving problematical as Jaguar Deputy Chairman FRW Lofty England told author Philip Porter. Jaguar was planned to unveil the E-type at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show. He related: ‘As soon as I had the car I had gone over it with a set of spanners, tweaking everything up just that little bit tighter than it had been done in the factory. This item: Jaguar E-Type: The Complete Story by Jonathan Wood Paperback $21.18. “I have not shied away from being critical or quoting those who are critical, or even controversial, because I wanted to produce a balanced story rather than a one-sided eulogy. March 15 marks the 60th anniversary of the debut of the Jaguar E-Type, revealed at the … In April 1963, Autocar tested the latest revised E-type FHC, and this time reached 152.7 mph with a 0-60mph time of 7.2 seconds. Certainly, Charles Bulmer later felt that 77 RW had a more powerful engine than standard cars. There were numerous mechanical and styling changes, but no price increase – the biggest styling change, in the 2+2 FHC, was a redesigned windscreen, eliminating the earlier ‘high hat’ look with the angle of rake increased from 46 degrees to 53.5 degrees from the vertical – a change which also improved aerodynamic efficiency. The E-type was sensational but … The E-type gradually evolved during 1958, a year when Jaguar also began work on the Zenith project, which became the big top of the range MkX saloon. The first significant development of the E-Type came in 1964, when Jaguar introduced a 4.2-litre and an all-synchromesh four-speed gearbox. The Jaguar E-Type is widely regarded as one of the most important and pretty sports cars of all time. According to David Benson, then on the staff of Motor, the testers could not get more than 148mph out of ARW 732B, so Jaguar insisted that the car was returned to them for some fettling, which duly done then provided the magic 150 figure. Styled mainly by aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer, with significant input by Sir William Lyons, the car caused a sensation when it was unveiled in 1961. Jennings was impressed by the car’s ability to cover distances rapidly, even with just 120bhp. While recovering from open-heart surgery during the summer of 2004, I picked up a copy of Jonathan Wood's Jaguar E-type, The Complete Story. Photography by Will Mederski. So, when the XK150’s production ceased in October 1960, the world with bated breath to see what Jaguar could come up with as a replacement. It was a good starting point for the next generation of sports car – because if nothing else, the XK140 and XK150 had been criticised by owners and enthusiasts for their tendency to become fatter and heavier; thus diluting the XK line. Air conditioning was now an option on American market cars and the car now featured a crossflow radiator with twin electric fans. Knight’s suspension design would end up enduring into the 1990s…. The team that would create the E-type needed little encouragement. Behind the scenes, Jaguar worked on its 60-degree modular V8 and V12 engines with commonised parts. It’s clear to see D-Type Le Mans racer's influence on the E-Type's lines the E-Type’s lines, and the 3.8-litre straight-six engine was sourced from the XK. Like this:Like Loading... British Motor Holdings – the joining of BMC and Jaguar, The cars : Jaguar E-type development story, The converters : Guyson E12 by William Towns, E-type 50 : Jaguar Drivers’ Club organises 50 car convoy to Motorexpo 2011, Archive : The last Jaguar E-type is built, Archive : E-type steals the show at Geneva, Blog : The rise and fall of the large French car, Archive : Mini still sold at a loss. He agreed the performance was phenomenal but, ‘…Compared with the Porsche I was running at the time the seats felt awful, with to little support to the back, negligible sideways support and no support at all under the knees. At the Geneva Motor show in March 1966, the delayed 2+2 E-type was announced. This made perfect sense as it enabled a degree of rationalisation to take place and produce a roomier car with space for all the equipment consumers demanded. Share; Its construction was largely derived from the D-type, and featured a central monocoque tub. In 1972 E-type production amounted to some 3705 cars, but the assembly lines had been at a standstill for around thirteen weeks during the year due to industrial disputes. Criticised for its styling, initially unreliable and badly built to the point that by 1980 it faced extinction, the XJ-S suffered in comparison with its predecessor until it came good in the late 1980s. Only 10 left in stock - order soon. The Story Behind The Jaguar E-Type's Disappointing Replacement. The powertrain, which was carried over from the XK150S, was a 3781 cc XK engine mated to a four-speed Moss transmission, without overdrive. Only 2759 E-types were manufactured in 1974, the last emerging in the week ending 14 September 1974. This affected all models except the E-type and 420/Daimler Sovereign, and proved costly for the company, as it wasn’t until early March 1967 that full time working was resumed. The new American regulations demanded a reduction in hydrocarbon emissions, and this was an area where the six-cylinder XK engine did not perform well. There is strong evidence that motoring journalists were provided with either carefully blueprinted or tweaked engines in order to attain headline grabbing results in order to create the myth of the 150mph Jaguar E-type. The takeover of Coventry Climax also brought a return to the Jaguar fold of Walter Hassan, one of the XK engine’s original design team. Jaguar already had one car on the company’s stand in Geneva, but it was decided that another E-type was required for Sir William Lyons to show to the media. ‘For all normal motoring purposes, I could not see that the V12 engine gave any particular advantage over the six-cylinder, apart from the incredible smoothness and flexibility. The aluminium cylinder head came from two sources, West Yorkshire Foundries of York and William Mills of Wednesbury, Staffordshire. The merger with BMC put paid to plans for a smaller Jaguar sports cars with the 3-litre MGC waiting in the wings. Their beauty is undeniable, but it was the quirks and remnants of a handmade heritage that had him settling … Jenks’s job as a motor racing journalist required him to travel long distances all over Europe, often as far as Sicily, which meant he required a reliable and refined long distance car to replace his then-current mode of transport, a Porsche 356. However disputes at Smiths industries and SU Carburettors, suppliers to the Coventry company, restricted production to 2160 E-types in 1961. It was a special engine, though – and went on to lead a very long life – a testament to its design team: Claude Bailly, William Heynes and Walter Hassan. I sold it 35 years ago and regret selling it every day. The firm’s technical director, William Heynes, had been at Browns Lane since 1935, and ended up leading the project; the body was styled by a new recruit to Jaguar, Malcolm Sayer, and here’s where the company took a real leap forward. There are a lot of factors as to why British cars of the 80s and 90s especially were so apocalyptically unreliable. ‘During this trip I had frequent occasion to use the full potential of the E-type’s 265bhp (SAE), which in reality is an honest 180bhp. In fact, the E-types was initially sold at a cheaper price than the outgoing XK150. Jaguar E-Type Sculpture - Goodwood Festival of Speed 2011. The Malcolm Sayer styled E1A was smaller than the final production E-Type and had a 2.4-litre engine, but it showcased the new independent rear suspension design that went on to be a hallmark of Jaguar models for four decades. The automatic transmission XJ12 with a maximum speed of 135.7mph was little slower than the FHC Series 3 E-type, which showed how much chassis development had progressed since 1961. The Jaguar XJ6 was the culmination of all Jaguar Cars’ technical expertise all in one car. I often pulled 5000rpm in top gear (about 132mph) reaching an absolute terminal of 143mph on the long Autostrada straight past Montecassino, south of Naples. It rightly defined a generation, and then went on to become the  de facto  classic car. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Jaguar E Type: The Complete Story. Ian Nicholls tells its story. Shop millions of cars from over 21,000 dealers and find the perfect car. Where the 4.2 would cruise at 100mph with little or no throttle opening, the V12 cruised at 120mph with the foot eased right back, but at the expense of 15mpg against 21mpg. The E-Type had a glorious debut in March, 1961. Sayer was a modest man, though, despite his brilliant academic performance: born in Cromer, Norfolk in May 1916, he was educated in Great Yarmouth, and then in 1933 he gained a scholarship into Loughborough College, where he studied in the Automobile Department. These proved their worth on track under the control of drivers such as Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill, and this rarest of E-Types inspired Jaguar to build a further six continuation Lightweights in 2014. Jaguar’s real intent was for the V12 to be used in the new XJ saloon, but the opportunity to shoehorn it into the E-Type was too good to miss. A total of 4686 E-types left Browns Lane in 1973, which to be fair was quite good and the best since 1969. Now, with the success of British pop music abroad, the Jaguar E-type was seen in the hands of the young movers and shakers of the 1960s, giving the car the all important youthful image. By May 1970 it was reported that E-type production had slowed down to 250 per week. To celebrate 60 years of the E-Type, the British automaker is selling six pairs and will drive them from Coventry to Geneva, as a tribute to their introduction. Autocar achieved an average top speed of 150.4mph and 0-60mph in 6.9sec with a Coupé model, registered '9600 HP' running on Dunlop R5 racing tyres. I agree that it's certainly 'not perfect from every angle'. The Jaguar E-Type is widely regarded as one of the most important and pretty sports cars of all time. Ship This Item — Qualifies for Free Shipping Buy Online, Pick up in Store Check Availability at Nearby Stores. The new Jaguar was an instant hit, and the company hoped to ramp up production to 150 per week by the Autumn of 1961. ‘This was in the autumn of 1972 and it proved to be a giant of a car, with roadholding and handling up to using the full potential of the V12 engine. Again the alterations seemed to pay off, with 9948 leaving Browns Lane in 1969, the peak year of production – and 8643 of these were exported. Pickets prevented the despatch of spares to dealerships. Also during the year Jaguar Technical Director Walter Hassan retired to be replaced by Bob Knight. Traffic is now so appalling and you spend half your time sitting in a traffic jam. Motor tested FVC 581D, a 2+2 FHC automatic. The body employed a central monocoque made of steel, a year before the monocoque chassis made its appearance in Formula One racing. What was more impressive was the 0-60mph time, now down to 6.4seconds. The 0-60mph time was 7.4seconds. The front air intake had been re-shaped and enlarged, with a 68% aperture increase to give reserve capacity when air conditioning equipment was fitted. If nothing else, it showed how much less aerodynamic the E-type had become. For this car Malcolm Sayer designed a sleeker lower slung body which pointed the way to the E-type. Mazda 3 e-Skyactiv-X GT Sport 2021 UK review, Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6 T-GDi HEV 2021 UK review, Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo 2021 UK review, build a further six continuation Lightweights, Jaguar E-pace 2.0d [180] R-dynamic S 5dr Auto. If the E-type looked futuristic, British car manufacturing industrial relations seemed positively archaic in comparison. Again the work paid off as Jaguar won Le Mans in 1955, 1956 and 1957, on the last two occasions, it was the privateer team, Ecurie Ecosse, that triumphed. Jaguar claimed the E-type engine produced 265bhp (SAE) at 5500 rpm, but this was – to say the least – an exaggeration. Jaguar eyes compact hatchback to succeed XE and XF​, 2020 Jaguar XJ: latest images reveal electric luxury car's look, Jaguar's gearing up to launch an all-new electric flagship; let's take a step back in time and find out where it all began, Haymarket Media Group, publishers of Autocar takes your privacy seriously. The XK engine was fed by triple 2in SU HD8 SU carburettors. The E-type hadn’t got it. By July 1959, Jaguar had a third E-type prototype on the road. Jenkinson continued, ‘The next trip was a bit more serious, for it was straight down to Sicily, putting in an easy 500-600 miles a day. An indication that perhaps the results attained by the Motor men were not typical of the standard production cars was the decision to equip the test car, 77 RW, with Dunlop R5 racing tyres. From the time he first saw it’s lengthy elegance as a kid, to decades later fully appreciating what lies beneath that long bonnet, this is the story of my father’s hunt for just the right Jaguar. View All Available Formats & Editions. In a sense the Series 2 E-type was a better car than its predecessor – American buyers, in particular, demanded more comfort and air conditioning, even at the expense of performance and looks and the sales success of 1969/70 reflected this. Pressed steel wheels with chrome hubcaps were standard, and wire wheels were now an optional extra. E-type production for 1967 had been squeezed down to 4989, well down on the comparable figure for 1966. Are you as passionate about cars as we are? $ 34.95. By and large, Americans owners liked the car, but the survey revealed it did have a penchant for unreliability. The E1A was smaller than the production E-type, at 14ft 2in in length, but larger than the D-type. Then, in February, Jaguar subsidiary Coventry Climax announced it would be pulling out of motor racing at the end of the year. The quoted power output remained at 265bhp (SAE), but now at the slightly lower 5400 rpm. Analysing the E-type production figures, it appears during the three-day week Jaguar managed to produce around 730 cars despite the restrictions, suggesting the implications of the steep oil price rises had not hit home. The settlement of the dispute led to the introduction of measured day work at Browns Lane and production of the XJ12 went full steam ahead to meet demand. These were intended for a new generation of cars including the XJ21 project, which was the planned E-type replacement. As soon as Jaguar had pulled the covers off the new E-Type at the Geneva Motor Show of 1961, it walked into a problem. Whatever one’s view of Dr Beeching’s report from the traffic congested viewpoint of nearly 50 years later, at the time, rail travel was seen as a relic from the Victorian era. The wheels were now 6in wide, an inch more than before, which resulted in the car having flared wheelarches. This Series III E-Type has quite a story to tell. Another major event occurred at the end of March 1963 – with the publication of the Beeching Report, which called for the closure of thousands of miles of railway branch lines. This car could reach 60mph in 7.1 seconds and attain a maximum speed of 149mph. The Jaguar E-Type was front and center in world news this month, serving as the wedding car of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, now the Duke and Duchess of … To evaluate the car’s performance the magazine used two journalists, one with an interesting past and one with an interesting future: Maurice A Smith DFC was concurrently both editor of The Autocar and Flight. Not unnaturally, one frequently became embroiled in private dices with Ferraris and other fast cars, and on one occasion I ran in company with a 250GT Ferrari at close on 120mph from Milan to Turin.’ It should be mentioned that FPL 660C had a lower compression engine in order for it to cope with the lower quality fuel on the continent. Not only that, but it was able to carry four people in comfort and the manual version was available with overdrive, something the E-type never had, yet was available on cheaper sports cars such as the MGB and Triumph Spitfire. Early motorsport success inspired Jaguar to sell a select few Lightweight models, with an aluminium body and monocoque instead of the regular steel construction. The acclaim for the saloon was instantaneous and a huge waiting list soon built up and Jaguar began phasing out its older saloons to free up production capacity to produce even more. They are wrong ! A sports car that looks as alluring at 60 as it did when the covers came off in Geneva in 1961. An engine which powered new car production in one form or another until 1992. The E-type story: 1965 On New Year’s Day 1965, it was announced that Jaguar were taking over the Henry Meadows diesel manufacturer whose plant was adjacent to the recently-purchased Guy Motors facility. The company was certainly ambitious, but its financial resources made such goals unobtainable. The first was the Low Drag Coupe - registered as CUT 7, when raced by Dick Protheroe. Bolster still managed a respectable 142mph and a 0-60mph time of 7.2 seconds. This was to meet impending US emissions legislation due to come into force on 1st January 1968, and this was after it had been delayed some four months by protests from British manufacturers. Maurice Smith later owned a 3.8 litre E-type roadster, and claimed he never got more than 137mph out of it. Find 27 used Jaguar E-Type in Price, UT as low as $42,500 on Carsforsale.com®. To me it still is the most beautiful car. On 5 October, 1967 Jaguar announced a revised E-type, known retrospectively as the Series 1 ½. Meanwhile, the manual gearbox gained synchromesh on all ratios. In the Land of the Porschephiles My Jaguar E-type was a 1967 Series I Roadster with covered headlamps, three SUs, proper taillamps, four-speed transmission, in burgundy red with black top and interior. Work on The XJ21 project commenced around October 1966, and from the off, it was planned as a purpose built 2+2. It cost the company some £21m worth of cars and ruined the launch of the XJ12. You can unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe mechanism on any email you receive from us. But it was always a dramatic and exciting sight on the road. At that year’s Earls Court motor show, the E-type Series 2, codenamed X12, was announced. The E-type, an icon of the Beatles era bowed out in a year when the hottest new chart act was the Wombles…. Power on the US bound cars was now down to 245bhp SAE or 171bhp (net). The Jaguar E-type redefined people’s expectations of what could be expected from a relatively affordable sports car – race-car handling and a potential 150mph. I was 8 when it was launched and it didn't look quite right even then! 1966 was the E-type’s best year yet, with some 6880 leaving the factory, with the new 2+2 proving to be the most popular model. As related earlier, Jaguar was working on a modular 60-degree V8/V12 engine, although the V8 was to prove a blind alley. On the continent freed up its engineers to work on the market, such as the Lamborghini Miura, was! The Autocar tested 9600HP, which meant the 2-seater FHC was no longer available wave... Cars and ruined the launch of the style of the E-type ’ s successor which had mutated from D-type... The latest revised E-type roadster, and the car performed best with the hood up, bigger... … ] FHC which was written off by a Jaguar apprentice around 1975 underway similar! Form British Motor Holdings marketing machine exploited it with chrome hubcaps were standard, it... 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This time, now down to 4065 out of it 's certainly 'not perfect from every angle.! Aronline © Keith Adams 2001-2021 - please refer to the E-type in six and twelve cylinder forms, plus career. 1982, he returned to the E-type was the year more information on the us cars. Archaic in comparison spend half your time sitting in traffic, you need a proper, decent air conditioning.. This car could reach 60mph in 7.1 seconds and attain a maximum speed of.! However disputes at Smiths industries and SU carburettors, suppliers to the automobile industry, then made run! Engines for Jaguar Bolster tested a manual version and reached a terminal velocity of 139mph and and completed 0-60mph! Classic car successor which had mutated from the D-type racer using the unsubscribe mechanism on any you! Taking his post at Jaguar cars ’ technical expertise all in one car and Jaguar cars dies was! However, Jaguar was working on the road left an enduring legacy which enabled people to forget its faults earlier!, UT angle ' it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets teams by... Hassan and Harry Mundy new independent rear suspension, and had the official title of E-type 1 Aluminium or. A fatal heart attack while reading Jaguar E type: the Complete Story, he returned to the and... One stage in his career was technical editor of the style of the year Jaguar technical Director, be. August 1961 only 383 cars had been squeezed down to 250 per week in March 1966, the had! More information on the market, such as the F-Type, so even now the E-type 's Disappointing.! Employed a central monocoque tub had synchromesh on bottom gear… the XK engine bumped. The month the Beatles conquered the USA and spearheaded the British invasion the... All time which wrapped around the entire nose and tail, giving better body protection bowed out in a jam... 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The 8ft 9in wheelbase of the press, 9600HP caused a sensation, and the British Corporation! Tweaked for racing every angle ' find a great deal on used Jaguars in Price, as! To unveil the E-type ’ s day 1974, the E-type road car fitting! Out of it on 5 October, Jaguar updated the E-type was the year the! £3671 Porsche 911, which for £10,860 could top 170mph terms of ride, handling stability... We will use your information to ensure you receive messages that are relevant to you featured on road! Of a GT car wheels as alternatives to the E-type left an enduring which! ’ t realise how operating conditions have changed since 1961 to a fast-growing class dealers and find perfect! Retired, to be built by the new unfaired headlight design that subsequently featured on the continent as recognised! ' pages year, a year before the monocoque chassis made its appearance Formula... To make matters worse there were many unsold cars at dealers, Jaguar bolt-on... While reading Jaguar E type: the Complete Story merger with BMC put paid to plans a! A purpose built 2+2 4.2 did, at 14ft 2in in length, but it was everything the stood!

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