[E-Type] Monterey Historics; New E-Type lightweight: late review

I sent Pete an article about this, but maybe others would be
interested? Monterey Motorsports Reunion (Historic Races), 8/2014.

The races of course are mostly interesting for the sounds and
watching those fabulous shapes in motion. Walking through the
paddock as amazing historic cars pop and crackle as they drive by
you on the way to the track is not to be missed. And the owners
and drivers, some of them famous or historic themselves, make for a
great background. There was one Ferrari 250 GTO racing, as well as
a few SWB Berlinettas and a Lusso. Well, that would add up to
maybe a half million dollars on the track at least!

Jaguars were not a feature, in general, but there was one low-drag
lightweight E that looked and went really well, and one E-Type
racer (oddly with a nice, full interior) too. I was doubtful about
the authenticity of that low drag car, but then Monterey does a lot
of due diligence so I guess it was real.

For me the highlight was Jaguar�s display featuring their new E-
Type lightweight. The project leader was there and I spent a lot
of time discussing the car with him. Comparing this (which was
really a prototype and not one to be numbered and sold) with the
low drag car running, the details were amazingly identical (well,
duh!). The new lightweight was first shown at Pebble Beach the day
before and would be shown there again on Sunday.

It strikes me that this is a real stroke of genius on Jaguar�s
part. All of the F-Type hoopla has centered on the E-Type as well,
and the 50th anniversary also highlighted the merits of the E, so
by making new Es Jaguar shows again that it�s a classic car maker
for all time. Many E-Type owners have always said �why don�t they
just build one like the original?� and in this way they will be
doing just that. By making identical to original cars using the
numbers from the original run they can sell them at prices similar
to the prices the original ones fetch, say, $1.5M and I was told
that all 6 were sold (last one there at Monterey) at about that
price. I don�t care how much handwork was done, Jaguar is making a
huge profit at that price! Then, as there are a few excellent
companies already making alloy E-Type body parts and an XK alloy
engine block, all they had to do was order parts from them to spec
and assemble them. OK, there were probably a few parts they had to
make, but I was told the team had only 5 members! And, the go-
ahead from the Jaguar board was only finalized last December. So,
is this just a lightweight reproduction sold by Jaguar? Some say
so, but after all the original E-Type body was all subcontracted to
Abbey Panels, so how is this any different? And will the Historic
racing clubs recognize it as a classic car?

Who knows, but the controversy will make for good viral Jaguar
advertising for years to come, and all not only free but at a huge
profit. I see it as part of the original run of lightweights, but
better.

Jerry–
Jerry Mouton '64 FHC 889791 ‘MIK Jaguar’
Palo Alto, California, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–


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