The first Jaguar Classic-restored model to debut in Germany.
Jaguar Classic, a division of Jaguar-Land Rover’s Special Operations arm, will be unveiling its first ‘Reborn’ Jaguar E-Type at the upcoming Techno-Classica Essen show in Germany. This will be the very first E-Type to be subject to the firm’s ‘E-Type Reborn’ service, that allows customers to purchase perfectly-restored classic Jaguars directly from the factory. A similar service was first offered for the Land Rover Series 1 and Range Rover Classic.
Using specification sheets and build records, every one of the 10 E-Types slated for ‘rebirth’ will be brought back to original specification as when those vehicles left the factory in the 1960s. The team at Jaguar Classic will utilise Jaguar Classic Parts throughout the restoration, maximising the quality, longevity, and collectability of the finished product, which will be held to concours-winning standards.
“The launch of E-Type Reborn is a hugely exciting development for Jaguar Classic,” said the director for Jaguar Land Rover Classic, Tim Hannig. “The E-Type is the most iconic sports car of all time, so we are delighted to be able to give new life to expertly-selected examples for discerning customers around the world to own and enjoy. The resources and information available to Jaguar Classic’s expert technicians are unrivalled, which results in the most authentic E-Type restorations possible.”
The first reborn E-Type is a 4.2 Coupe, finished in opalescent gunmetal grey. This car was originally shipped off to California in 1965, with about 125,000km’s clocked before it went into storage in 1983. The body, engine, and gearbox are all the same units as the ones that left the factory, with all the original numbers lining up. Of course, all the mechanicals have been given a thorough going-over by the engineers at Jaguar Classic, bringing them back up to showroom spec.
The original vehicle has been refurbished to the correct specifications, with important parts replaced with new items from Jaguar Classic Parts. Body panels that require replacing will be done so by the restoration specialists’ ‘reverse-engineered panel programme,’ eradicating any corrosion, and even spot-welding the panels back into place the same way the original production line did over 50-years ago.
Jaguar Classic will offer what it calls “sympathetic upgrades” for Series 1 models at extra cost, bringing the cars a little more up to date. These upgrades include improved engine cooling (utilising parts designed for the Lightweight E-Type), a manual transmission with full synchromesh (for models that were not specified with this), or front brake callipers from later Series 2 iterations.
Prices for reborn Jaguar E-Type sports cars are dependent on specification, but be prepared to shell out upwards of £285,000 (or a little over $472,000).
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