Jaguar Classic is celebrating 60 years of the iconic E-type by offering a handful of restored cars based on the specification of the very first cars.
Called 9600 HP and 77 RW after the registration numbers of the coupe and roadster E-types unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, the new cars look absolutely original, but do have some concessions to modern driving that should make them more enjoyable to use.
One of those is a five-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh on every gear in place of the notorious Moss ’box fitted to early E-types, which only had synchro on the upper three of its four gears.
There’s also a stainless steel exhaust system for the 3.8-litre straight six, which Jaguar says improves the sound quality and should last longer than an ordinary steel system, while reliability is likely to be improved by the electronic ignition and uprated cooling system.
The coupe is painted in Flat Out Grey, and the roadster, Drop Everything Green, in another nod to the original motor show cars, which arrived in Geneva with barely any time to spare before the car’s planned reveal.
When Jaguar’s then-PR man, Bob Berry, arrived in Geneva with 9600 HP having been held-up in the UK while journalists drove the car, the company’s boss, a fretting Bill Lyon, exclaimed: ‘I thought you’d never get here!’
Realising he needed a second car in Geneva, Lyons instructed Jaguar’s legendary test driver, Norman Dewis to ‘drop everything and come now’ in 77 RW.
Inside, each gets beautifully trimmed period-looking upholstery, plus a modern Jaguar infotainment system and a hand-finished route map commemorating the Geneva run engraved on the console.
Can’t decide which one to have? You’re in luck, because the cars will only be sold in matching pairs. But you’ll need to have been lucky on the lotto to afford them. Only six pairs will be built, and while Jaguar hasn’t publicly revealed prices, they’re likely to set you back at least £600k for the set.
Keyword: Jaguar celebrates E-type's 60th with 12 special restored cars