This great little film tells the story of the Jaguar E-Type, including its two famous prototypes, E1A and E2A. The E-Type legend starts here.
Today, the Jaguar E-Type (XKE in North America) is universally regarded as one of the most beautiful cars ever built. But when it was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 1961, it was a revelation in many ways, beginning with its performance. With its cat-like dynamics and a top speed of 150 mph, the E-Type offered exotic car capabilities at a relatively affordable price.
This little film tells the story of the E-Type’s development with some rare footage of the two original prototypes for the series, forever enshrined in Jaguar lore and legend as E1A and E2A. (Unfortunately, E1A was scrapped, but E2A is still around and well.) Advanced features included four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, with the rear units mounted inboard to reduce unsprung weight, but it was the E-Type’s stunning look that captured the world’s imagination. In just four minutes, this film captures all these key engineering details and the car’s impact on popular culture as well. Video follows.
Always a pretty car, but one with some very British problems. Corrosian, slightly offset by the oil spray underneath and a fairly good design offset by fitment issues, to get at those inboard rear brakes is a major job, and to replace rotors even more. That and Lucas,,, the prince of darkness. That and everything mechanical is very heavy, even by 60s standards.
And that lovely silouhette with such a narrow track.