Would you buy a brand new E-Type? Someone did
Jaguar Classic has built two E-Types from scratch. And sold them
JLR is fiercely protective of its intellectual property. As it has proved (not always successfully) in court. But it is also not above drawing on it as an additional revenue stream. In fact, as its product lineup strains to seem ever more progressive and forward-thinking, the more keen it seems to remind us about its wonderful back catalogue - and the ways it might potentially be used to inflate the company's bottom line like an electric compressor.
The E-Type, of course, is close to the nub of this bustling cottage industry. It is both hugely famous and an unarguable classic. You might recall the Reborn programme, where JLR’s Classic workshops committed to returning a small number of examples to like-new glory. Well, now (having doubtless absorbed many lessons in the process) it has gone one step further and built two new E-Types entirely from scratch. And very lovely they are, too.
Nominally, the Jaguar Classic E-Type Commemorative cars - both drophead coupes, one Signet Green, the other Opal Black - were painstakingly recreated to mark 50 years since the end of the original model’s production in 1974. But really they’ve been built at the request of a ‘loyal, discerning’ customer in Southeast Asia. And while it’s fun to speculate just how loyal you have to be to convince Works Bespoke to break out its original blueprints and spend 2,000 hours sweating the minutest detail, it’s probably quicker to just guess how much money changed hands. The Bespoke cars were at least £300k. Probably you can add a zero to that.
“With E-type Commemorative, our Classic team set out to improve on an already near-perfect design. As the original creators of E-type, we are uniquely positioned to subtly integrate both aesthetic and engineering enhancements borne out of decades of knowledge, skill and passion,” said Lennard Hoornik, JLR’s Chief Commerical Officer.
Each example is said to include references to ‘key moments’ in E-Type history, although the advantages of modern technology and techniques are probably best highlighted by an interior that features Bridge of Weir tan leather seats and a Classic Bluetooth radio (not to mention a heated windscreen), and the 3.8-litre engine now with electronic fuel injection and a five-speed manual gearbox. Jaguar also collaborated with England’s oldest jeweller, Deakin & Francis on other fixtures and fittings, which accounts for their sparkling loveliness.
Naturally, then, both E-Types qualify for work-of-art status (or as close to it as functioning cars ever get) and, because they are inspired by the final 50 Commemorative Editions from 1974, Jaguar is adamant that they are the only two examples that will ever leave the Classic workshop. But now it has the taste for extensively revisiting and recreating past glories from scratch - and an international customer base to encourage it - it’s hard to imagine the firm resting on its money-making laurels for very long.
"Jaguar is adamant that they are the only two examples that will ever leave the Classic workshop." - They are going to make a lot of money and sell a lot of these. Make something very desirable and tell rich people they can't have it and the demand will be overwhelming.
Apart from that it looks lovely. I hope they found a bit more room in the footwell for the bloody pedals. I can’t drive mine for any length of time as there just isn’t enough room for my size 10 feet.
Apart from that it looks lovely. I hope they found a bit more room in the footwell for the bloody pedals. I can’t drive mine for any length of time as there just isn’t enough room for my size 10 feet.
Apart from that it looks lovely. I hope they found a bit more room in the footwell for the bloody pedals. I can’t drive mine for any length of time as there just isn’t enough room for my size 10 feet.
I still think the FHC looks a nicer design than the convertible
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