Celebrating the E-Type’s 60th anniversary with the F-Type Heritage 60, Jaguar now unveils a pair of highly exclusive special editions to honor this milestone. Jaguar Classic presents the E-Type 60 Collection, consisting of six sets (12 vehicles in total) of E-Types meticulously crafted to replicate the exact pair that originally introduced this legendary sports car at the Geneva Motor Show six decades ago.
The tale recounts that on the eve of the E-Type’s unveiling in March of 1961, Jag PR representative Bob Berry embarked on an all-night journey from Coventry, where the company’s factory was located, to Geneva in the gray “9600 HP” coupe, a drive lasting around 12 hours by today’s standards. (A time predating camera phones and social media.) With the realization of the need for a second vehicle the next day, Jag’s founder Sir William Lyons instructed test driver Norman Dewis to promptly deliver the open-top E-Type named “77 RW.” The green roadster was swiftly transported to Switzerland overnight as well.
Jaguar Classic
Jag now immortalizes these two historic journeys with the E-Type 60 Collection. Sold in pairs, this Collection includes a “Flat Out Grey” E-Type reminiscent of Berry’s drive and a “Drop Everything Green” model resembling Dewis’ convertible. Each vehicle showcases “E-Type 60” emblems on key areas like the hood, fuel cap, chassis plate, and tachometer, alongside a center console plate etched with the routes taken by the two former Jaguar employees. Crafted by the British artist, Johnny “King Nerd” Dowell, each exquisite section requires approximately 100 hours of manual labor. The horn button at the center of the beech-rimmed steering wheel boasts a composition of 24-carat gold. These cars are certainly not aimed at individuals who simply regard themselves as casual Jaguar enthusiasts.
A few recent upgrades have been implemented to improve the driving and overall experience in these vehicles, such as a tight five-speed manual gearbox with syncromesh, spiral-cut gears, and a robust cast aluminum housing. The 265-horsepower, 3.8-liter inline-six engine borrowed from the XK model benefits from an electronic ignition, enhanced cooling, is connected to a stainless steel exhaust system, while still retaining a classic 1961-style alloy radiator. Additionally, there is a Jaguar Classic Infotainment System installed with navigation and Bluetooth functionality.
Interestingly, there are still available allocations for the E-Type 60 Collection. For any Jaguar enthusiasts intrigued by this offering, the fortunate few purchasers are set to embark on a collective journey from Coventry to Geneva next summer.
Have any tips or queries for the writer? They can be contacted via: chris.tsui@thedrive.com
