It’s hard to believe, but the Jaguar E-type celebrates its 50th birthday this year. From the moment the covers came off at the 1961 Geneva motor show, it created a storm of admiration. Enzo Ferrari described it as the “most beautiful car in the world”.
My favourite is the series-1 coupé. Visually, it’s as close to perfection as you can get and the detailing is mesmerising. I particularly like the side-opening boot hatch, pencil-thin chrome bumpers and perfectly positioned twin exhausts.
Eagle is an East Sussex E-type specialist selling the best examples and producing some of the most exquisitely restored ones in the world. Many are fitted with Eagle’s updates designed to make driving more modern and manageable (early E-types had poor brakes, unpredictable handling and dodgy electrics).
A full rebuild isn’t cheap — budget for at least £285,000. My perfect E-type would have Eagle’s brake upgrade, 4.7-litre engine, five-speed gearbox and sports suspension, as well as upgraded wire wheels and tyres. If there was any money left, air-conditioning and Eagle’s sports seats would be nice.
Think it’s time I started saving.
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Pulling power
It has got to be very good. Eagle wisely doesn’t interfere with the car’s acclaimed styling, so anyone would appreciate a ride in one. If you’ve got an Eagle E-type, you’ve probably got pots of money, too. That’s never usually a disadvantage in the pulling-power stakes.
Desirability
If you want to know how desirable it is, look at the people who’ve bought one. Eagle customers include Martin Brundle, the former racing driver, and the architect Norman Foster. You sense Eagle is producing something really special here — albeit at a cost.
Kudos
Owning an Eagle E-type marks you out as a connoisseur of classic performance cars. Car enthusiasts will know you have chosen wisely; unknowing onlookers will simply think it’s a beautiful E-type.
Bank manager’s reaction
Once you modify a classic such as the Jaguar E-type, some would say you devalue it. But Eagle has a good reputation and, according to Henry Pearman, the managing director, it builds only three cars a year. Both facts should help maintain value.
Running costs
Eagle suggests an inspection every 3,000 miles or once a year, and it charges £1,272 plus Vat for this. Reliability should be good. “Every single component is restored to brand-new condition” while “maintaining the spirit of the E-type”, according to the company.
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The Jaguar E-Type in action: