The Evolution of the Jaguar E-Type

The Jaguar E-Type (or XKE) is one of the most beautiful cars ever made. Buying one is a dream that many have and it’s a car that’s seen its value rise dramatically in recent years. However, like any classic car it’s a car that should be approached with educated caution. It may be the best purchase you’ve ever made or it could turn out to be a very expensive lemon.

ECD Automotive Design E-Type is famous for its stunning curves and drool-worthy lines. In fact, the design is so iconic that it’s even been immortalized on the back of a $1 bill. But the Jaguar E-Type wasn’t always such a beauty. It began life as a troubled company that had just come out of the war and luxury wasn’t top of the list for Jaguar customers in Europe at that time.

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Despite a sprinkling of successes in racing on the European circuit, the XK straight six struggled to compete with the faster Ferraris. In order to meet the demands of the American market Jaguar needed to find a new engine that would deliver the same power but tip the scales closer to the old XK six’s.

Jaguar started work on a new engine in 1962 which they called the 4.2 litre. This new engine was a lot more refined than the older 3.8 litre and it changed the personality of the E-Type from being a wild cat to being a sleek and sophisticated machine. It also ushered in the Jaguar all synchromesh gearbox and it’s these changes that made the Series 3 E-Type a true GT.