40 years with an E

In 1957  the folks in Coventry were making plans for the replacement of  the XK 150. A small 2/3 scale  aluminum prototype was tested. This was E1A. Norman Dewis was the test driver,putting this early design through it’s paces. The look of the E Type was already evident in this early car, taking some  of it’s styling cues from the D Type. 

The next step was  the prototype E2A one of its major improvements was  the independent rear suspension that would be a big part of the XKE. E2A was given a trial by fire in the 1960, 24 hours of Lemans. Driven by  Walt Hansgen and  Dan Gurney, Members of Briggs Cunningham’s team. Jaguar never had luck with the 3.liter version and E2A  was a DNF.

 Still Sir William Lyons felt it was time  to take what they had learned from the two prototypes and give the world a new sports car. On March 15, 1961, the world was introduced to the XKE.

It may have seemed like a quantum leap from the XK150 to the XKE, but all you had to do was look at Jaguar motorsport to see the connection.  

The E was a Kick - off to the swinging 60s. it’s sexy long bonnet and tight clean lines were the answer  to many road going dreams.  And the price wasn’t over the top, but many from the land where the Jaguar was born had to wait as many of the first cars were bound for export.

The early cars  were powered by a 3.8, straight six  engine with triple SU carburetors from the XK150S.  mated to a Moss box with a non-syncro first. They were also  supplied with disc brakes, the rear being inboard, as standard equipment. Jaguar was one of the first manufactures to do this.  The earliest of cars had  flat floors and external  bonnet latches, requiring a special tool to open. Later cars had latches on either side of the cockpit.

By 1964 engine size was brought up to 4.2 and the floors were dished to allow for more leg room. The power and top speed were the same for 4.2 as the 3.8, but increased torque helped maximum power to be reached sooner, and gave better throttle response. Other improvements were more comfortable seats, better brakes and electrics and an all syncro 4 speed box.

 Legend has it, that no less a personage then Enzo Ferrari exclaimed on his first site of the new Jaguar at the Geneva motor show. “It’s the most beautiful car ever made!”

Mt.Equinox in Manchester Vermont is not a bad place to be mid August . It’s made even better if you have the keys to a fire-breathing E-Type. Just out of a multi year restoration, ithat’s again taking on the mountain 40 years after its owner first brought it here. During the restoration it was decided to give the car a cleaner look. In keeping with the style of the  light-weight Es of the time, the Jag was put on a bit of a diet.  The bumpers were removed, as well as the chrome on the door tops, front fenders and  headlight cover surrounds . The covers themselves were replaced with plexiglass. For a more period motorsports look Dunlop wheels were added along with a D Type  steering wheel and shift knob.

For more grunt, Isky Cams and 45 DCOE webers were part of the engine rebuild. These were attached to a (Gasp!) More modern 5 speed. An aluminum radiator to keep things cool, a big bore stainless exhaust to keep things flowing, and uprated  series 2 brakes to bring it all back to a halt.

You never mistake an E-Type with another car, it has a certain feel, and look, that is distinctly British. You have two large Smiths gauges right in front of you, that can be a bit vague, but keep you informed. To the right in the center of the dash you find everything else. Water,oil, fuel ,and amps and under them all the various switches.

Give the key a turn, and listen to the fuel pump click away, then hit the starter and VROOM! You are ready to be off.

You look out over a bonnet that seems to go on forever, and all you want to do is follow it. The return spring is fairly heavy on the gas pedal so you really have to tell the Jag you want to go fast, but it is in total agreement. The steering is light and responsive, and the chassis feels very neutral. so carving turns or blasting up a straight the E feels wonderfully planted.Even though the seats are not competition style, they do a reasonably good job of keeping you in place, you are in a cocoon of  period British style, that is hard to get out of figuratively and literally. But who cares this is a Jaguar E-Type! ”Hey Enzo. Sono completamente d’accordo.”

My thanks to Bob Millstein for giving me the keys to this cool cat.
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