1963 JAGUAR E-TYPE

Jaguar is in deep; they’ve dug themselves into a hole, and they’re up a proverbial creek without a paddle. Their “Copy Nothing” campaign left an audience confused, divided and wondering why they didn’t just copy something.

After all, Jaguar’s back catalogue is glorious. Filled with straight-six saloons and V12 coupes. Though no Jaguar is of greater cultural significance than the E-Type. On the road, on the track, in the movies and on posters, it has been the darling of British motoring since its launch back in the early 1960s. There is an E-Type for everyone, and almost every budget. But for those who can, a bespoke-built E-Type that blends classic lines with a lightweight motorsport pedigree might be the ticket.

This car started life as a 1963 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Roadster. An already special car that was sent to classic car restorer Adam Redding to be turned into an ultimate, no-expense-spared E-Type. Over 3,000 hours were spent honing the Rolls-Royce Midnight Blue bodywork to perfection. The chrome bumpers? Deleted. The bonnet? That’s made from aluminium with flared front arches, a deeper valance and custom louvres.

At the rear, the arches have been meticulously extended to accentuate the E-Type’s elegant lines into an aggressive, purposeful stance. The wheels are 16” Torrino Wires, with Jaguar knockoffs and are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tyres. Plenty of inspiration has been taken from Jaguar’s own motorsport E-Types, the lightweight and semi-lightweights, as well as that E-Type Mr Clarkson was rather fond of.

The interior is trimmed in St. James Red Connolly leather, with dark Blue Wilton carpets. Whilst it looks period correct, the interior hides modern amenities like heated seats, air-conditioning, DAB Radio and Bluetooth connectivity. No classic Jaguar interior is complete, however, without a Moto-Lita wood-rimmed steering wheel.

The original engine has been bored out to 4.7 litres, fitted with forged internals, and larger valves. The cooling system has been upgraded with a race-spec alloy radiator, braised cooling pipes and an uprated water pump. Fitted with electronic ignition, fuel injection, and servo-assisted AP-Racing brakes, this is a truly usable classic. Thanks to Koni dampers, power steering and a host of uprated suspension bushings, it handles too.

Building this car is a demonstration of what becomes possible when budget ceases to be a barrier. The craftsmanship throughout is exceptional, with every detail executed with a level of care and engineering intent that firmly places the E-Type in the modern era. It now carries more than 360bhp, delivers the comfort of heated seats and offers the civility of air conditioning, all whilst enhancing the original design.

The work has been chronicled with almost obsessive dedication. Its history file is among the most complete we have ever encountered: more than 300 pages of invoices, notes and records, capturing everything from the engine rebuild to the purchase of a humble tube of Autosol. In total, the documented spend exceeds £500,000.

Beauty may be subjective, yet it is difficult to imagine anyone standing before this car and reaching for a contrarian view. It is, quite simply, breathtaking. Finished to an extraordinary standard, it stands as a celebration of everything that has made Jaguar great.

As with all our vehicles, an entire digital folder is available upon request and contains more images, walk-around videos, and scans of the service history. The car can also be viewed by appointment at our West London showroom.