When the etype jaguar buids made its debut in Geneva back in 1961 it wowed the world, and deservedly so. Ever since people have been swooning over its beauty, and restoring and modifying them to suit their own tastes.
But as with all things it is best to start with a plan – and this means having some cash behind you before you start looking for an E-Type to buy. Because buying one of these rare cars is expensive, and they don’t tend to increase in value much.
Jaguar E-Type: A Collector’s Guide to Owning a Timeless Classic
The original E-Type, or XKE as it was known in North America, benefited from a lot of changes as it developed during production, most notable being the removal of the glass headlamp covers, due to the fact that they fell foul of US safety regulations. Other updates included an improved steering wheel, a new front bumper and the switch to a negative earth electrical system from the old positive earth variety.
This meant the engine had a single distributor contact breaker instead of twin six contact ones, which would have required complex synchronisation to work reliably. The cars also benefitted from the introduction of a Salisbury limited-slip differential, and a more reliable Moss gearbox to send the power to the rear wheels.
In a year where the classic car market seems to be going through a bit of a resurgence it’s great that the Jag E-Type is still being so celebrated. And that’s not just because of its beauty, but because it remains as relevant and desirable as ever.