Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Continuing the occasional series of posts like this, concentrating on one particular model of car.

As it's the E-Type's 50th birthday this year, what are people's experiences of the E-Type? Have you owned one in the past? Do you have one now? Do you like them, or do you think they're over-rated? All thoughts, memories and experiences welcomed

Personally I really like the very early cars, ideally in coupe form. If I had one I think I'd fit slightly wider-than-standard wheels, just to fill the arches out a little, otherwise I'd leave it as standard

RJ


_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[badhuis]

First experiences were when the father of a schoolfriend offered to drive us boys (aged around 10) to school. He was a Volvo dealer salesman and they had this car as an exchange. Still remember that drive, georgeous!
Now I am the co-owner of a very very rusty series 2 convertible. This is going to be restored in the next year.
A friend owns a similar car but in very good condition. I have driven this car a lot and it is a great car. You would not expect such a comfortable ride. Still very fast with its 4.2 litre XK engine.
A long time ago a friend owned a series 3 Coupe (2+2), this was the first car for me to go over 200 km/h (around 140 mph).
An E-type is a very nice car but too flashy and too long, small luggage storage (convertibles). I still prefer my TR4.

[lowdrag]

Well, I've had my flat floor roadster (chassis #152, September 1961) nearly 30 years now, and we've been a long way together, visiting 20+ countries and covering over 120,000 miles, including hill climbs and track days. Overall the consumption has been about 23mpg and oil consumption, since an engine rebuild in 1990, virtually nil although now she is using a litre every 2,000 miles. So much is talked about the frailty of Jaguars, but my experience does not bear this out, having been stranded twice, both times a dynamo rear bronze bush letting go and destroying the armature. A quick call, overnight delivery, and on my way again. This year we have notched up 8 countries already, including Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Lichtenstein, Germany, Switzerland and the UK, plus of course where I live in France and we traversed over 50 passes in the Alps, all without a problem.

This being an early model leg room is at a premium and even at 5' 8" I have the seat back as far as I can go, and the seats get uncomfortable after about 200 miles. The later cars, from 1965 on, are far more comfortable with new seats, the Jaguar synchro box, and so on, but I wouldn't change mine for the world. It is always satisfying when you get the downchanges right with the Moss box!

My experience of ownership has proved that if you can afford one (mine was peanuts all those years back) then running one is relatively cheap. Spares quality, like all makes, is somewhat hit and miss (like oil pressure senders and in-line brake switches for example) and as an example since the rally we've pulled the rear axle to change the two prop shaft U/Js, and bought new rear pads, diff seals, steelocks, nylocs and all the bits and pieces for the princely sum of £120, delivery included. That's the first time the rear of the car has been touched in over 20 years, so not bad considering the hard usage in all weathers, winter included.

But what still captivates me, every time I look at the car, is the purity of line, the comparitive price 50 years ago, the ability of the car compared to its peers. It was astounding, and still is. EVO borrowed it to compare it agains the - at the time - new XKR and on the slalom test it was almost equal, and on a damp track she posted 7.2 for the 0-60. They were also comparing a 105E/Focus, and the poor Anglia took 28.5, which was about par for the course for standard saloons in the day.

In a year or two she'll have an engine out makeover, but not an engine rebuild since she is running well even on 90,000, so it is a refit and general tidy-up to see her through the rest of my life. She needs a new hood, the seats are decidedly patinated, but she'll stay like that 'cos I love her as she is. Strangely, probably because we used stone chip paint underneath in 1988, she is not at all rusty, which again shows up the myth as to Jaguar bodywork and rust.

In conclusion, on a pound-per-mile basis, I have never had so much fun with a car, and next week we'll be off to Silverstone once again for the Classic, then in September back to Switzerland for the Morges display, so she'll probably cover about 7,000 miles this year.

Here she is on top of the Albula pass this spring. Interestingly, my 3.8 car (blue) used about 5 litres less per day than the 4.2 series 1 alongside.

[alan 869]

Fantastic story. Thanks for sharing. Your car has always been my number one favourite. Not a hope in Hellinsbough of ever getting one though. Second choice was a Stag and I´ve now had a 1977 model since 2005. Also a lot of guff talked about Triumphs V8. If one does the services as they should be done, no probs. Mine goes really well

[nqtraderman]

I had my Series 2 roadster for over 10 years and used it regularly in the summer. This is one of the last photos taken by lake Windermere a few months before it was written off in '09 when a 4x4 did a u-turn in front of me on a main road. The Insurance company said it was a write off due to their calculations of the expected repair bill. I was paid off at the agreed value as per my insurance policy so I didn't loose financially and then they offered it to me as a CAT D for a huge sum which I declined. It was subsequently sold through an on line breakers yard so I guess someone wanted it for parts or is restoring a CAT D roadster. So if that numberplate re-appears on an Etype guys, its a CAT D.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us
_________________
Owner of a 1953 Sunbeam Alpine

[peter scott]

Have only driven one once but in this car there wasn't sufficient distance between clutch and steering wheel. I had to resort to angling my foot in an awkward way to operate the clutch. I can't recall whether I checked that the steering column as fully extended but for my 6' 1" frame this car was no pleasure to drive.

Maybe they should have considered a movable pedal box as in the Marcos.

Looked beautiful on the outside though.

Peter
_________________
https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[lowdrag]

According t the DVLA site the car stillexists and is taxed.

The enquiry is complete

The vehicle details for RRN 385K are:

Date of Liability 01 01 2012
Date of First Registration 01 06 1990
Year of Manufacture 1972
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 4235CC
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status SORN Not Due
Vehicle Colour RED
Vehicle Type Approval

So someone rebuilt it and it lives on

[nqtraderman]

I wonder if the new owner knows its CAT D ?
_________________
Owner of a 1953 Sunbeam Alpine

[47Jag]

My experiences are similar to Peter's. After lusting after one since they were released in 1961 I had the money to buy a used coupe in 1967. I took it for an extended test drive (the saleman was a good friend) I found that I would cancels the signals when I changed gears approaching corners and when the tail stepped out big time on a mildly moist (to quote Top Gear) road that was the clincher. Back it went and I bought an Bertone Alfa GTV and lived happily ever after.

Art

[Calum]

Beautiful cars, Series 1 FHC flavour for me, please!

I have helped out with a few E-Type racers in the past few years, noteably when I was helping out with Jackie Stewart's old E-Type (SSN 300, formerly FSN 1) at the Goodwood Revival.
Will own one..... one day.....

[bob2]

Have always liked e types, preferably would want a series one fhc like calum but with the money they are fetching I think it will remain a dream for me.

[Car-Nut]

I know Ive only driven my 420G 600miles in its ownership but i have to say out of my Jags its my favouite, it puts a smile on my face everytime I drive it.
I got another award with it the other day at a show (silver)

I cant wait for next week-ends event at Silverstone classic I'll post some pics of the event, Im hoping to be in the record breaking event to get as many cars on the track as possible.....

I certainly second what Enzo Ferrari quoted

"The most beautiful car ever made"
_________________
Car-Nut
'62 S1 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 FHC
'70 420G - 13th from last RHD
'70 420G - 17th from last RHD

[Rick]

[Car-Nut]

Im at 6' 2" average build it was a tight fit but I got a steering wheel reducing the diameter by 1" and now Im fine
_________________
Car-Nut
'62 S1 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 FHC
'70 420G - 13th from last RHD
'70 420G - 17th from last RHD

[nqtraderman]