It was pure lust on wheels. Jaguar's voluptuous E-type had car
enthusiasts' tongues hanging down to their knees when it was
introduced. And to this day the car commands head-spinning
attention whenever it makes the scene.
First conceived in 1956, the E-Type was originally intended as a
replacement for the Coventry, England firm's mighty D-Type
endurance racers. Jaguar quit racing shortly after the E-Type's
development began, but work on the car continued nonetheless,
culminating in a production roadgoing version introduced at the
Geneva Motor Show in March, 1961. Offered as a two-seat coupe or
convertible, it was an immediate hit.
Among the car's revolutionary features was independent rear
suspension, a first for Jaguar, at a time when almost all
streetable sports cars still used a more primitive solid-axle
setup. But the E-Type's most compelling claim at the time was
its speed. The car's smooth aerodynamics and 265-hp 3.8-liter
inline six allowed it a top speed of 150 mph -- strictly the
domain of race cars and ultra-pricey exotics back then. Although
not cheap, the E-Type offered such thrills for far less money
than similar-performing machines.
To ensure the E-Type's continuing sales appeal, Jaguar gave the
car a succession of changes over the years. The 3.8-liter six
was replaced for 1965 by a 4.2-liter version that had more
torque. The following year, a 2+2 bodystyle was introduced. In
1971, Jaguar launched the final iteration of the E-Type, powered
by a 314-hp 5.3-liter V12. The last of the 72,507 E-Types left
the plant in early 1975.
Today, experts invariably list the E-Type as one of the world's
most beautiful cars. Combine that appealing design with the
car's pleasing road manners and sporty smooth exhaust purr, and
you've got one of the finest sensory delights known to man.
For more articles on vintage sports cars, along with drive-test
articles on today's hottest performance cars, go to
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