The Jaguar E-Type, a stunning car hailing from Britain in 1962. It was a car that charmed and dazzled the car manufacturing community with its uniqueness and beauty. Enzo Ferrari, founder of the Italian race car powerhouse, called it, ‘’the most beautiful car ever made.” It was truly admired, so much so that Jaguar could hardly keep up with orders from all around the world. Even the founder of Jaguar, Sir William Lyons, drove his own car from Britain to Switzerland to be sold.
This was also because the E-Types were a fraction of the price of its sports car competitors. Whether it was their intention or not, Jaguar put together a car that would go on to become a cult icon. Upon its release, the E-Type enraptured car admirers with its elegance and would go on to become a status symbol of the elite. The car was adored by celebrities and was seen as the go to car of the 60’s rich and famous. As in art, fashion and money were things to be flaunted, so too the Jaguar E-Type. No wonder, because the E-Type itself was a piece of art.
As with most automobile success, the Jaguar’s rise to eminence was rooted in its captivating appearance. It is the front hood that sticks out, and it quite literally does too. The profile is long and uniquely curvy, making for an visual delight. There just weren’t any cars that looked like that at the time and its popularity served as a platform for Jaguars success in the decades to come.
The interior is tight-knit and isn’t ideal for taller folk, but does offer plenty of leg room. The trunk for that matter, is similarly stingy and offers no more than space for perhaps a suitcase. Space aside, the cabin and interior as a whole is extraordinarily detailed. The steering wheel has a beautiful wooden finish and the aluminium-trimmed dashboard is filled with knobs and gauges, it almost resembles a cockpit. The cabin is mostly leather and makes for a comfortable ride overall, despite the lack of space.
Enzo Ferrari, founder of the Italian race car powerhouse, called the E-Type ‘’the most beautiful car ever made”.
The E-Type, beautiful as it was, along with most Jaguars, was not known for its speed in comparison to other sports cars of that generation, though the speeds were nothing to sniff at with 241 km/h capability. The 1962 E-Types featured triple carburetted 3.8 litre six-cylinder engines. They later increased engine size to 4.2 litres which elevated torque by 10% although, acceleration remained relatively the same with identical speeds for both engines. Both engines came with options of four-speed manual or three-speed automatic gearboxes, although the automatic versions were typically quieter as the synchromesh gearboxes suppressed noise levels better.
The E-Type was marvelled at in its day and has been recognised by many reputable magazines and influential figures as one of the most beautiful cars in automobile history. There aren’t too many around from the 60’s these days and the ones that are, are not in good condition. It is hard to find a mint-condition E-Type, and if found, it will be worth some good money, somewhere in the 6-figure range. One extremely rare 1963 E-Type that won many international races sold for a cool $7 million! Though a production model from that era won’t sell for anywhere near that, the real value is represented by its historical importance and cultural status.
The E-Type was one of the coolest cars of that era and reminds us of what cars can be. The Jaguar E-Type was more than just a car, for some it was a status symbol and for others, it was a piece of art.
