- Oulton Blue Drophead Coupe
- Crystal Grey Fixed-Head Coupe
- Modern Mechanical And Technological Details
Jaguar might not be building anything new, but it's still building great old cars.
Jaguar has announced the first pair of E-Type restomods from its in-house Jaguar Classic division as part of the ZP Collection. The ZP Collection will comprise seven pairs of classic cars restored immaculately and designed to celebrate the first E-Types in competition, designated “ZP.”
Each pair will include one drophead coupe and one fixed-head coupe (convertible and coupe), boasting liveries inspired by the original racers.
The first two in this exclusive series have now been revealed, celebrating registrations ECD400 and BUY1, driven by Graham Hill and Roy Salvadori, respectively. Later this year, the two will be joined by two matching F-Type ZP Editions to match, powered by the 5.0-liter supercharged V8. If you thought the F-Type was dead, Jaguar still found life in that old horse to flog.
Oulton Blue Drophead Coupe
The original ECD400 and BUY1 racers claimed first and third while racing at Oulton Park just a month after the E-Type was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, accruing more victories after that, totaling 24 podium finishes between the two.
Paying homage to Hill's ECD400 racer, the drophead Coupe is finished in a shade called Oulton Blue and features a black roof and various other details. The hood roundels are white with a matching 'lipstick' applied to the inner edge of the front air intake, which is devoid of the motif bar found on stock models. The nose itself took more than 40 additional hours of labor to finish by hand. There are other period-correct details, such as welded hood louvers and external latches, with these lockable items bearing P logos and featuring a leather hood strap.
Chrome bumpers and wire wheels are period correct, with the wheel spinners bearing the Jaguar Heritage logo. Elsewhere, ZP logos can be found on the filler cap, car cover, and roof cover, and a side graphic on the wing bears the Union Jack within a silver shield alongside the E-Type's silhouette and “Project ZP” wording.
Inside the cabin, a beechwood steering wheel is offset by red leather from Bridge of Weir, along with Hardura trim. The growler horn button is finished in gold, and the center console is finished in anodized aluminum hand-engraved by Johnny “King Nerd” Dowell.
The ECD400 tribute's center console features the car's silhouette, and the circuit layout for Oulton Park – replete with a start/finish flag – honors Hill's first victory with the car. The final engraved element is one half of a laurel wreath and a quote by Hill himself: “In a race, my car becomes part of me, and I become part of it.”
Crystal Grey Fixed-Head Coupe
All original project ZP racers were topless variants, but Jaguar has reimagined the second car in the ZP Collection as a fixed-head coupe to give clients the option of driving whichever body style they prefer. BUY1's tribute car is finished in Crystal Grey (inspired by the original Pearl Grey), named after the first track at which Salvadori secured a win in the car.
This car mimics the drophead with white roundels and matching exterior details but bears exterior badging created by Vaughtons, specialists based in Birmingham's 'Jewellery Quarter,' that mimics the design of period racing stickers.
This car's interior is finished in Dark Navy leather and Hardura trim, also with a beechwood steering wheel.
Its center console engraving differs, however, featuring the other half of the laurel wreath. Here, the track outline is that of Crystal Palace, and the text is not a quote but Roy Salvadori's nickname, “King of the Airfields,” alongside the car's silhouette.
Modern Mechanical And Technological Details
Each car in the ZP Collection is based on the 3.8-liter Series 1 E-Types. The 3.8-liter Jaguar XK engine produces 265 horsepower, and while it has a 1961-style alloy radiator, it features certain mod-cons like an electric cooling fan, electronic ignition, and a polished stainless steel exhaust.
Instead of a racing transmission, a specially-developed five-speed manual is equipped (one more than the four-speed originally used), featuring synchromesh on all ratios and helical cut gears to aid refinement for “quieter, more comfortable cruising.” Meanwhile, the reinforced cast aluminum casing ensured extra durability.
Jaguar Classic Works has supplied a Jaguar Classic Infotainment system with DAB radio, Bluetooth, and navigation.
Each car takes around 2,000 hours to complete and is finished with a tailormade car cover, a bespoke jack and storage bag under the trunk floor, and a handmade helmet by Bill Vero of Everoak that matches those worn by the drivers of the originals.
In total, there will be 14 E-Types and, as we mentioned at the outset, 14 matching F-Types. As you'd imagine, no price is mentioned.
Keyword: Special-Edition Jaguar F-Types Get Matching E-Type Restomods