RE: Pic Of The Week: Happy 50th, Jaguar E-Type
Discussion
I will say this for it - it doesn't look 50 years old does it? To my mind, 50-year-old cars look like the Austin A35 and the Morris Minor.
However, I'm about to commit heresy.
That angle is one of the few from which the E-Type looks properly attractive.
Elsewhere, the track is too narrow, the bodywork bulges too wide making it look under-tyred, the windscreen rake is far too shallow, the tail is too long, the bonnet is too phallic and the chrome fillet on top of the door line looks aftermarket.
Certain aspects of the design improved over the years - the larger taillights gave the tail a shorter, slightly Kamm-style appearence and the flared wheelarches of the V12 certainly accommodated the wheels better and added greater balance to the shape, but with that they ditched the headlight glass fairings, replacing them with awful chrome strakes that makes it look like it's wearing too much makeup, and they put a great big chrome grille on the front that looked like a pig's snout.
I guess the only E-Type I would go for would be an ultra-rare Australian-market Series III 4.2 (had the flared arches but kept the original grill-less front end). Still, the design just isn't a patch on the XK120, and if you're looking for that 'curvy cigar-shaped oval-grille-and-headlights' look, these two do it far better:
However, I'm about to commit heresy.
That angle is one of the few from which the E-Type looks properly attractive.
Elsewhere, the track is too narrow, the bodywork bulges too wide making it look under-tyred, the windscreen rake is far too shallow, the tail is too long, the bonnet is too phallic and the chrome fillet on top of the door line looks aftermarket.
Certain aspects of the design improved over the years - the larger taillights gave the tail a shorter, slightly Kamm-style appearence and the flared wheelarches of the V12 certainly accommodated the wheels better and added greater balance to the shape, but with that they ditched the headlight glass fairings, replacing them with awful chrome strakes that makes it look like it's wearing too much makeup, and they put a great big chrome grille on the front that looked like a pig's snout.
I guess the only E-Type I would go for would be an ultra-rare Australian-market Series III 4.2 (had the flared arches but kept the original grill-less front end). Still, the design just isn't a patch on the XK120, and if you're looking for that 'curvy cigar-shaped oval-grille-and-headlights' look, these two do it far better:
Twincam16 said:
I will say this for it - it doesn't look 50 years old does it? To my mind, 50-year-old cars look like the Austin A35 and the Morris Minor.
However, I'm about to commit heresy.
That angle is one of the few from which the E-Type looks properly attractive.
Elsewhere, the track is too narrow, the bodywork bulges too wide making it look under-tyred, the windscreen rake is far too shallow, the tail is too long, the bonnet is too phallic and the chrome fillet on top of the door line looks aftermarket.
Certain aspects of the design improved over the years - the larger taillights gave the tail a shorter, slightly Kamm-style appearence and the flared wheelarches of the V12 certainly accommodated the wheels better and added greater balance to the shape, but with that they ditched the headlight glass fairings, replacing them with awful chrome strakes that makes it look like it's wearing too much makeup, and they put a great big chrome grille on the front that looked like a pig's snout.
I guess the only E-Type I would go for would be an ultra-rare Australian-market Series III 4.2 (had the flared arches but kept the original grill-less front end). Still, the design just isn't a patch on the XK120, and if you're looking for that 'curvy cigar-shaped oval-grille-and-headlights' look, these two do it far better:
I have rarely read a post with my mouth so wide open.However, I'm about to commit heresy.
That angle is one of the few from which the E-Type looks properly attractive.
Elsewhere, the track is too narrow, the bodywork bulges too wide making it look under-tyred, the windscreen rake is far too shallow, the tail is too long, the bonnet is too phallic and the chrome fillet on top of the door line looks aftermarket.
Certain aspects of the design improved over the years - the larger taillights gave the tail a shorter, slightly Kamm-style appearence and the flared wheelarches of the V12 certainly accommodated the wheels better and added greater balance to the shape, but with that they ditched the headlight glass fairings, replacing them with awful chrome strakes that makes it look like it's wearing too much makeup, and they put a great big chrome grille on the front that looked like a pig's snout.
I guess the only E-Type I would go for would be an ultra-rare Australian-market Series III 4.2 (had the flared arches but kept the original grill-less front end). Still, the design just isn't a patch on the XK120, and if you're looking for that 'curvy cigar-shaped oval-grille-and-headlights' look, these two do it far better:
The first two sentences are accurate (!) and then it all goes so sadly downhill.
OK .... I will certainly agree that the Elite and the Ferrari are stunning cars .... but whether a car looks good or not is an entirely subjective thing. It is not dependent of whether a "chrome fillet" looks "aftermarket" - but whether the whole thing is pleasing to the eye and the soul. You are clearly in a VERY tiny minority if you don't think the e type looks good. And you are also the first person I have ever come across who thinks that the later models are better than an S1.
Having said all that ..... everybody is entitled to their opinion.
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/NiUxzJGr.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/96Sn5MEo" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/96Sn5MEo.jpg)
The Moose said:
I've always loved the look of the e-type and would love to one day own one.
My problem is that I've always found it hard to know exactly which model (and model variant) is desirable/worth buying and which is less desirable.
Because of this, to my extremely untrained eye (!!) it would appear that nice cars have a massive price range when I'm sure most of this is down to having the "one to have".
Anyway - one day a nice red one with black leather interior and chrome finishes will be mine!!!!
Cheers
The Moose
Have a look at page 2, will that do for you ??????My problem is that I've always found it hard to know exactly which model (and model variant) is desirable/worth buying and which is less desirable.
Because of this, to my extremely untrained eye (!!) it would appear that nice cars have a massive price range when I'm sure most of this is down to having the "one to have".
Anyway - one day a nice red one with black leather interior and chrome finishes will be mine!!!!
Cheers
The Moose
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/IoKKRNiN.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/8jiDqq1y" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/8jiDqq1y.jpg)
Stunning car, I was half expecting Jag to come out with a retro new version of it when the yanks starting re-working all their classic sports cars (Ford gt etc).
I would still love to see some small, lightweight and beautiful sports cars from Jag, I wasn't overly bowled over by the F-type concept. The E, C and D type's were all wonderful cars to make you a proud Brit.
I would still love to see some small, lightweight and beautiful sports cars from Jag, I wasn't overly bowled over by the F-type concept. The E, C and D type's were all wonderful cars to make you a proud Brit.
Just today I was peering through a window at two immaculate Series 1 cars (the best looking IMO), one a roadster, the other an FHC at a high-end dealer about 10 minutes from my house (one of the only official Radical dealers in the US among other things..)
It was like being a little kid looking at the most expensive toy train through the hobby shop window at Christmas time! E-Types =
It was like being a little kid looking at the most expensive toy train through the hobby shop window at Christmas time! E-Types =
Mr Cerbera said:
My Uncle opened a shop a long way from my home wher I used to live with my Gran. Because it was her son, she always used to make me walk to HIS shop to get the groceries. The only redeeming factor to this trudge was the opportunity to occasionally walk past a 4.2 series 2 roadster, in cream.
An indeligible mark of beauty and joy in my motoring history.
Oh, and OP ?.....
Yep, that Chrysler Voyager looks great...An indeligible mark of beauty and joy in my motoring history.
Oh, and OP ?.....
A 3.8 or 4.2 Series 1 Roadster in Opalescent Silver Blue, just has to be the Prettiest car ever !!
As a Sadly and much missed ex G/F said to me when i showed her a few pics of a 62 Opal Silver Blue Roadster (850551 via XKE DATA ) " Wow.... with that in the Garage, who needs Ann Summers"
As a Sadly and much missed ex G/F said to me when i showed her a few pics of a 62 Opal Silver Blue Roadster (850551 via XKE DATA ) " Wow.... with that in the Garage, who needs Ann Summers"
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