RE: Jaguar E-Type Reborn | PH Review

[unsprung]

bigothunter said:

1953 Corvette?

That did come to mind, yes.

[anonymous-user]

Lovely new old thing!

[Mr Tidy]

Callum43 said:

I think the only issue with an E-Type from a looks point of view is the inset wheels . A Lightweight always had it just right . Other than that , and bearing in mind how it made everything else on the market that was remotely affordable seem at the time, it still was unique then and remains so now. As a buyer of a new one back in the mid sixties it seems so strange to have been able to afford it then and now see how the market values them . Much as I love the Reborn ethos you’ve really got to want one very badly at these prices .
But how wonderful it was back in the day to be able to drive them as intended and to this day remains the quickest motoring I’ve ever had on UK roads . In retrospect the E-Type represents the spirit of those times to me and I feel fortunate to have experienced it first hand . Nostalgia over and done with for the day !

Thanks for that - it's good to get some first hand insight from someone who owned one in their era.

I always wanted an FHC since I was at primary school and a class-mate took the Corgi model of a red FHC to school (his mother worked in a toy-shop)!

As stunning as they are, looking at them now the track does seem rather narrow and we all know that by current standards they don't get close to the claimed power outputs.

I'd still love one even if I would have to sell my house to get one, but I doubt living in one would be too pleasant!

[lowdrag]

unsprung said:

In New York, the Museum of Modern Art has for about 25 years displayed an E-Type as exemplary in design. The car is parked indoors for all to see. It is described as something that simultaneously moves a culture forward while also holding a mirror to our sensibilities.

Photographs here:
https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/282?

Here's a PDF copy of a book that accompanied the original launch of the E-Type exhibit:
https://assets.moma.org/documents/moma_catalogue_2...

The aforementioned book includes, among other interesting things, an early image by Malcolm Sayer -- a watercolour labeled as Study for E-Type. This piqued my curiosity because it actually looks more like one or two other cars of the past. Just my two cents of course.

The preceding links display the year 1996, the year that the E-Type arrived at MoMA. The car has been on display almost continuously since then.

Below: Study for E-Type from PDF link above.

While staying with the Heynes family I took this photo of the original design studies for the E-type. I'm sorry it is a crap picture, but I had not the time nor equipment with me to close the curtains and set up lighting etc. One can clearly see a likeness to a Corvette in the early renderings.

Edited by lowdrag on Friday 18th December 07:57

[combine]

Probably a bit daft making any comments about a car youv'e never driven etc ! Get someone who has !

[unsprung]

lowdrag said:

While staying with the Heynes family I took this photo of the original design studies for the E-type. I'm sorry it is a crap picture, but I had not the time nor equipment with me to close the curtains and set up lighting etc. One can clearly see a likeness to a Corvette in the early renderings.

Whatever the value of this thread, it can be said to have doubled with the introduction of your photo. In my opinion, anyway.

The likeness is visible. More importantly: There's the people side of things.

All of us on this thread catch a glimpse of how past and present are somehow joined. People coming and going. All the while, in the background, there is this shared idea about the development of the Jaguar company and the disruptive appearance of the E-Type.

It can be pretty amazing, the unique things, the first-person experiences, that one appreciates / enjoys here on PH.

[lowdrag]

That was a very kind comment sir. My research into Jaguar, mostly post war, commences with this - the prototype XK engine, but four cylinder you'll note and two litre, proposed as a cheaper option for the XK120. It was dropped because of NVH in the end, and they found that the 2.4 6-cylinder was much better. The block on this example (the only one not in a museum) dates it from 1946. Only four are known to exist. Also a photo of the pre-launch leaflet.





I also have copies of the engineering notes on the development. Being a journalist and not an engineer, I don't fully understand it all but enough to see where they came from and where they were going! It sits proudly in my lounge. Anyway, we've gone off topic

Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 19th December 07:54

[paul13]

lowdrag said:

You do appreciate that an Eagle low drag is north of £600,000?

Yes, that is why I stated "in a completely different price range", in fact I thought that they were more expensive that £600k.

[lowdrag]

They are. The list of options takes it much further. But, should I win the Loto, I would order one from Henry like a shot. I missed buying the last Lynx low drag in 2003.

[Strider]

An exquisitely written article, Matt and very well observed. Enjoyed the £15k Porsche article too, the ability of PH journalists to tell an engaging story in very few words: it's a rare and valuable art.

[Bendrix]

Call me Mr Picky but I quite like to drive a car wearing shoes.

[RobXjcoupe]

lowdrag said:

That was a very kind comment sir. My research into Jaguar, mostly post war, commences with this - the prototype XK engine, but four cylinder you'll note and two litre, proposed as a cheaper option for the XK120. It was dropped because of NVH in the end, and they found that the 2.4 6-cylinder was much better. The block on this example (the only one not in a museum) dates it from 1946. Only four are known to exist. Also a photo of the pre-launch leaflet.





I also have copies of the engineering notes on the development. Being a journalist and not an engineer, I don't fully understand it all but enough to see where they came from and where they were going! It sits proudly in my lounge. Anyway, we've gone off topic

Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 19th December 07:54

Love the look of that engine, if that had been manufactured in numbers it would have been a good 30 years ahead of its time and I would imagine could have also been engineered as a 16 valve engine. Interesting the specs show the bore and stroke in metric

[lowdrag]

You are, though you don't know it, quite right. One engine was used in 1948 by Lieutenant Colonel "Goldie" Gardner in a MG Special and much modified by Jaguar for a world speed record attempt. Running on methanol with a 14:1 compression ration the engine - not supercharged but normally aspirated - propelled the car at Ostend to 173 mph over a flying mile. Not bad for a prototype in 1948 I feel. If you look at photos of the twin cam 1588cc MG engine I think you might see where they got their ideas from. The engine is at Gaydon in the museum.

Edited by lowdrag on Monday 21st December 21:42

[biggbn]

MyV10BarksAndBites said:

I like it but let's not get silly.... Macca every time....

Not even a huge e type fan but I'd have the jag over any modern Mclaren which have all the appeal of a well made photocopier for me. Luckily I have zero loot so this most first world of problems will never rear its head. I dont even own photocopier

Edited by biggbn on Monday 21st December 21:54

[RobXjcoupe]

lowdrag said:

You are, though you don't know it, quite right. One engine was used in 1948 by Lieutenant Colonel "Goldie" Gardner in a MG Special and much modified by Jaguar for a world speed record attempt. Running on methanol with a 14:1 compression ration the engine - not supercharged but normally aspirated - propelled the car at Ostend to 173 mph over a flying mile. Not bad for a prototype in 1948 I feel. If you look at photos of the twin cam 1588cc MG engine I think you might see where they got their ideas from. The engine is at Gaydon in the museum.

Edited by lowdrag on Monday 21st December 21:42

Also the specs show a max power at only 5000rpm as they also do with the 6 cylinder. I know these engines were designed for torque hence the long stroke but even modern engines prior to forced induction were struggling to get to those outputs at a relatively low rpm. I think power outputs are a simple equation of torque and max rpm, so to give these old engines a theoretical max rpm a little higher at perhaps 7000rpm would give impressive figures on paper

[bigothunter]

RobXjcoupe said:

Also the specs show a max power at only 5000rpm as they also do with the 6 cylinder. I know these engines were designed for torque hence the long stroke but even modern engines prior to forced induction were struggling to get to those outputs at a relatively low rpm. I think power outputs are a simple equation of torque and max rpm, so to give these old engines a theoretical max rpm a little higher at perhaps 7000rpm would give impressive figures on paper

Power = Torque x Speed
Max torque engine speed occurs when cylinder filling is optimised (highest imep)
Max power engine speed occurs when charge flow rate is optimised

Camshaft duration and overlap has a dominant effect on max power engine speed. Compression ratio of 7:1 won't help but it coped with low octane Pool petrol available after WW2

[bigothunter]

lowdrag said:

My research into Jaguar, mostly post war, commences with this - the prototype XK engine, but four cylinder you'll note and two litre, proposed as a cheaper option for the XK120. It was dropped because of NVH in the end, and they found that the 2.4 6-cylinder was much better. The block on this example (the only one not in a museum) dates it from 1946. Only four are known to exist. Also a photo of the pre-launch leaflet.

Thanks so much for sharing this info on the 4-cylinder XK

DATA section was enthralling with Piston Area sq in per ton of 30.1 and Litres per ton-mile of 2903

[vpr]

biggbn said:

MyV10BarksAndBites said:

I like it but let's not get silly.... Macca every time....

Not even a huge e type fan but I'd have the jag over any modern Mclaren which have all the appeal of a well made photocopier for me. Luckily I have zero loot so this most first world of problems will never rear its head. I dont even own photocopier

Edited by biggbn on Monday 21st December 21:54

Very well said Sir.

I’d rather drive around in a 2CV