The story of Jaguar’s near-miss launch at the 1961 Geneva motor show is the stuff of legend. Whereas today, a similar last-minute dash from Coventry to Switzerland would likely be ruined by traffic and lots of faffing at French toll machines, in the sixties, PR man Bob Berry’s journey was all about heroic pedalling. He famously arrived with the launch car just 20 minutes before its scheduled reveal time, to the relief of Jag founder, Sir William Lyons, who apparently said, “Good God, Berry, I thought you were never going to get here”.
On March 15, it will be exactly 60 years since that overnight drive. Jaguar announced its intention to mark the occasion with a run of E-Type 60 Collection models last year. Made up of six pairs of restored 3.8 E-types, the cars – one roadster and one coupe – are inspired by the ‘9600 HP’ and ‘77 RW’ examples that were shown at the sports car’s 1961 Geneva launch. As an official Jaguar Classic project, the work naturally involves a strip-down and rebuild in the most thorough sense possible. Now the manufacturer has gone into more details about the actual cars, which, as you might expect, are absolutely stunning.
The cars are painted in Flat Out Grey and Drop Everything Green paint, a cheery reference to the driving style of Berry and Jag’s legendary test driver, Norman Dewis, in that all-important week. Along with the complete renewal of chassis, bodywork and trim, they get a raft of upgrades that are in-keeping with the original style of the car. New features include a Jaguar Classic infotainment system with satnav and Bluetooth, as well as a stainless-steel exhaust system for the engine, electronic ignition and a cooling upgrade that includes an in-period alloy radiator.
In fact, Jaguar Classic’s engineers have developed a five-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh on all ratios for the 60. The transmission features helical cut gears and a reinforced cast aluminium casing for stronger reliability and durability, as well as closer gear ratios for punchier performance. That should do no harm to the 269hp 3.8-litre six-cylinder XK motor, each example of which has been positively renewed and boosted with Jaguar Classic's freer flowing, lightened exhaust system. It’s of the same diameter and appearance to the original pipework, to keep the anoraks happy, but is said to provide a deeper tone.
Jag wants these cars to be driven properly (as unlikely as that is), so it’s gone through the trouble of confirming the full specification of the rebuilt 3.8 powerplant to emphasise that both E-Types will be genuinely exciting. Peak power for the six comes at 5,000rpm, while torque peaks at 260lb ft at 4,000rpm, which is plenty in a car that weighs only 1,188kg in coupe form and 1,163kg in roadster guise. The E-Type was pioneering in its use of a weight-saving body-chassis, rather than the ladder layout that was more conventional at the time. Jag claims a seven-second 0-60mph time and, as per the original, a 150mph top speed.
No less important for the buyers of these machines will be the design details, which have been developed in conjunction with Julian Thomson, Jaguar design director. They include an engraving by artist King Nerd on the centre console of each car, illustrating the drive routes from Coventry to Geneva. Each piece of art takes more than 100 hours to create by hand, in consultation with the owner. They also feature engraved Geneva show quotes from Lyons, to add to the specialness. Additionally, the centre console, bonnet badge and clock face within the tachometer, as well as the fuel cap and chassis plate, each get a commemorative E-type 60 logo. Finishing it off is a light beech-rimmed steering wheel, as fitted to 1961 cars, with a 24-carat gold horn push.
Jaguar also throws a tailor-made E-type 60 car cover, tool roll and jack storage bags into the bargain, the total value of which is not being disclosed, as per usual. For reference, when Jaguar Classic remakes E-Types, they’re typically not cheap – see the £295k Reborn here. But they’re obviously always very special and lovely, so for deep-pocketed collectors and Jaguar fanatics alike, the number is probably largely irrelevant. That these cars celebrate such an iconic story will only sweeten the deal, as Jaguar Classic director, Dan Pink, explains.
“Sixty years after its unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1961, the talented team at Jaguar Classic are releasing the ultimate birthday present to the E-type: The E-type 60 Collection,” he says. “The attention to detail demonstrates how this project has been a labour of love for our designers, engineers, craftspeople and partners. Exquisite detailing combined with enhanced usability ensure these E-types will be coveted and enjoyed for decades to come by their discerning owners, starting with a once-in-a-lifetime Coventry to Geneva pilgrimage for our six customers and their guests in Summer 2022.”
When the six lucky buyers receive their celebratory E-Type pairs, they’ll also be invited to take part in an E-type pilgrimage, from Coventry to Geneva. While the roads will be quite different to those experienced six decades ago, Jaguar will ensure the route includes the same picturesque views and Alpine passes. With no stopwatch to beat this time around, there will likely be a few stop-offs in posh hotels and restaurants on the way. Sounds lovely.
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