Jaguar Type "E" Roadster in (historic) test - rocket pour deux with super roadholding

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Jaguar Type "E" Roadster in (historic) test - rocket pour deux with super roadholding

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Created on October 20, 1961

Text:

Olaf von Fersen

Photos:

Jaguar Heritage

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The Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Roadster of the first series is equally breathtaking in its steel exterior and performance.

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The soft top does not fit seamlessly into the elegant lines of the sports car, but it can be put on and stowed away quickly and easily.

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Despite all its power, the E-Type always remains manageable and controllable.

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The very first E-Type Roadster, example 77 RW, was used for demonstration drives in Geneva in 1961. Test driver Norman Dewis had driven non-stop to Geneva the day before to be able to present the open-top version to the press.

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Jaguar E-Type - Side view of the fast Englishman

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Jaguar Type E (1962) at the Geneva Motor Show - Le Mans was the model for the rear design of the E-Type

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Jaguar E-Type (1965) - you can only dream about it

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During the development of the E-Type, not as much attention was paid to the interior as to the engine and chassis.

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A look at the three-spoke steering wheel and the dashboard, with the choke lever and associated warning light on the far right.

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Jaguar E Type (1961) - William Lyons with his masterpiece in Geneva

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Jaguar E Type - Sir William Lyons demonstrating the E Type - Geneva Motor Show 1961

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Rightly proud of his first-born - Sir William Lyons with the E-Type Coupé with chassis number 9600HP.

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Jaguar E-Type - the famous 9600 HP on the occasion of the 1961 Geneva Motor Show

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Jaguar E Type - the sensation of the 1961 Geneva Motor Show

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Jaguar E-Type Coupé (1961) - silhouette of the closed version

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Jaguar E Type (1961) - a dream on four wheels - at the 1961 Paris Motor Show

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Jaguar E Type - the star of the 1961 Geneva Motor Show at the exterior presentation

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Jaguar E-Type - the sensation of the 1961 Geneva Motor Show

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Jaguar E-Type - the wonderfully curved rear of the E-Type Coupé on the occasion of the 1961 Geneva Motor Show

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Jaguar E-Type during the tire test - thanks to disc brakes all round, the fast cat decelerates excellently.

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Jaguar E-Type - the interior of the sensational sports car - shown at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show

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Jaguar E-Type (1961) - Driver and passenger seat

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Anyone who wanted to load up their sports car properly would opt for the Coupé. The open-top cat is not suitable as a load donkey.

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Jaguar E-Type (1961) - Spare wheel under the trunk.

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Jaguar E Type - the engine of the show star of the 1961 Geneva Motor Show

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Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 Litre Roadster (1962) - Transparency drawing

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The in-line six-cylinder engine with two overhead camshafts had been continuously developed since 1948 and gave the Jaguar a real boost.

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Jaguar E Type Lightweight (1963) - achieved racing success for Jaguar

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Fit for racing with 200 kilograms less on the ribs - only 12 of the E-Type Lightweight were produced at the time.

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Jaguar (1962) - Advertising in the USA in 1962

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Jaguar E Type (1962) - Advertising in the USA in 1962

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From the Jaguar E-Type/"XK-E" brochure 1969

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Jaguar E V12 (1972) - the V12 engine in the E-Type

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Summary

When Sir William Lyons sent his latest model onto the road in 1961, the automotive world collectively dropped its jaw. With the E-Type, Jaguar had created an incomparably attractive "driver's car". Its performance and roadholding were second to none, as were the brakes. Despite all the enthusiasm for the beautifully designed big cat, a few shortcomings were also noted. This article quotes an original test report from October 1962 and shows the sports car in extensive historical images and sales material.

This article contains the following chapters

Top speed of a mid-range car in 2nd gear
A car of contrasts
The convertible and its features
How it drives
A chapter in itself should be devoted to the brakes

Estimated reading time: 14min

Preview (beginning of the article)

It is an old ideal of automobile designers to build a car that combines the characteristics of a racing car and a touring sedan. As these contradict each other in some respects, the goal remains unattainable. No one has come closer to achieving it - at a reasonable price, of course - than Sir William Lyons with his Jaguar "E" type. Before we look at the construction and characteristics of this car, which is without doubt one of the most remarkable creations of the 1961 model year, we must look at it from the perspective of its price. The E-Roadster costs DM 26,000 in Germany, including customs, transportation, VAT, etc. DM 26,000. That's a lot of money, but it's still around 6,500 less than the price of the only comparable German car without customs duties and other surcharges. How is that possible?

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