History of the Jaguar E-Type

The Jaguar E-Type holds a special place in the hearts of car enthusiasts, and while today’s Jaguar still embodies the luxury vehicle, the E-Type is a reminder of the fact that luxury and performance can go hand and hand.  Officially released in 1961, the Jaguar E-Type was part of the British vehicle renaissance, and the influence of the early E-Type is still seen in today’s Jaguar sports cars.

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The history of the Jaguar car company itself begins in 1922, when partners Williams Lyons and William Walmsley decided to create a line of motor carriages and roadsters.  The first line produced by the company, in the 1930s, was called the SS Jaguar.  Later, the company became known simply as Jaguar Cars, Ltd.  In the wake of World War II, William Lyons began creating new cars intended for the British market.  The 1948 release of the XK120 produced 160 hp, reaching speeds of up to 133 mph.  During the 1950s, the influence of the XK120 was everywhere- the Corvette and Thunderbird were both inspired by the luxury and performance found in the XK120.  The success of the XK120 lead the company to develop two separate lines- the larger and more luxurious 140 and 150 Jaguars, and the race cars known as the Jaguar C-Type.  By the mid 1950’s, the C-Type had given way to the D-Type, which featured a bolder exterior and many upgrades designed for the race track.

With the racing success of the D-Type, Jaguar went to work creating a sports car that would perform as well on the street as it did on the track, and the Jaguar XKSS was born.  After a fire destroyed the castings of the XKSS, Jaguar put plans for a new XK sports car on the back burner for four years.  In 1961 at the Geneva Auto Salon, the E-Type made it’s debut.  A few weeks later, the American version, called the XKE debuted in New York City.  The E-Type was a combination of the front end styling from the XKSS, and was available in either a cabriolet or coupe style.  The long nose made the petite car seem longer, although it was smaller than it’s American cousins, and the modern styling was instantly popular on both sides of the pond.

Under the sleek styling, the E-Type was just as impressive.  The E-Type used a monocoque body configuration which was becoming increasingly popular among automotive manufacturers.  British aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer had a hand in the body work, and Bob Knight created an independent rear suspension that aided in handling and created a smoother ride.  The same motor used in the XK150, a 3.8 L six-cylinder aluminum model, and all-wheel disc brakes rounded out the package.

The E-Type made brief forays into professional racing, but the E-Type was beat out by the newly introduced Ferrari’s 250 GTO’s and other lighter weight cars.  The E-Type sold well as a production vehicle, but changes to the design of the E-Type came rapidly.  The four passenger coupe arrived in 1966 with an automatic transmission, and a new four-speed 4.2 L L-6 engine arrived.  The 1968 E-Types saw the addition of a Stromberg carburetor, a new black dash, and the loss of glass headlamp covers.  By the time the Series II E-Type was released, pressure to meet US safety standards meant power-steering, large bumpers, air conditioning, a new configuration for taillights, and a wide fascia.

The 1971 series III Jaguars had a fast 5.3L LV-12, a faster engine than ever before to meet the demands of the American market.  By 1973, the coupe was no longer offered, and the company saw the popularity of the E-Type fade.  While the E-Type did not continue releasing new models, car enthusiasts continued to remain interested, and by the early 2000s, top option Mark Is and the V-12 cabriolet models were selling for more than $100,000.

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