Sunday 8th May 2022

Unleashed by E-Type UK | PH Video

You've read about E-Type UK's to-die-for Series III - now it's time to hear it

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You may have read our review of the Unleashed by E-Type UK last week. In which case, you’ll know many things about the many things that E-Type UK has done to make the once-maligned Jaguar E-Type Series III somewhat more loveable. And judging by the comments, it’s very loveable. The general feeling was a thumbs up, despite it weighing in at the thick-end of £400,000 by the time you’ve paid for the donor car, the exquisite restoration and the numerous upgrades. It’s certainly a rich man’s game, that’s for sure.

And while we always strive to get a sense of that over on page, let’s face it, there’s only so much you can do with words. For a car like the Unleashed by E-Type, it would be a terrible shame not to make a video; if only to convey the true theatre of what a car like this feels like to drive. Well, guess what? We did.

Want to hear what a bored-out 6.1-litre 400hp Jaguar V12 sounds like when it’s breathing through twelve individual throttle bodies and fuelled by bespoke injection? And, a bespoke exhaust system, bar the little signature fantail at the end? We hope we’re not ruining the surprise by saying it sounds bloody fantastic.

There is one thing, though. You may get to the end and wonder why we didn’t drop the hood on such a lovely sunny day. That’s simply because we were asked not to. This isn’t a demo car, it’s an owner’s car, and he hasn’t taken delivery yet. He agreed to us driving it, but kindly asked if we could leave the hood up to avoid creases. We thought that was a reasonable request for the privilege of having a go. We won't soon forget it. 

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• Unleashed by E-Type UK | PH Review
• Jaguar E-Type Reborn | PH Review

[GTRene]

oooh, the sound when starting it up and it seems to go good as well, love it, can't buy it, but can love it.

[Drinksleeprepeat]

Seems strange that the owner did not want the top being put down for the fear of creasing it. Does that mean the quality of the top is such that it will crease when you take the hood down. Doesn’t say much about the materials used if that is the case. Especially considering the price.

Why did he just not buy a fixed head coupe as it appears the top is never going to be lowered

Edited by Drinksleeprepeat on Sunday 8th May 14:39

[s m]

Drinksleeprepeat said:

Seems strange that the owner did not want the top being put down for the fear of creasing it. Does that mean the quality of the top is such that it will crease when you take the hood down. Doesn’t say much about the materials used if that is the case. Especially considering the price.

Why did he just not buy a fixed head coupe as it appears the top is never going to be lowered

Edited by Drinksleeprepeat on Sunday 8th May 14:39

I’m surprised he let some randomer go out for a blast in it at all!

If I’d just ordered a car for half a million if want to be the first person other than the the makers to have a go in it

[cml]

Mmmm, V12, drool...
Okay this can sit next to the Series I/II FHC in my garage in the clouds. It is lovely bubbly.

I wonder if these cars are going to live forever, like old rollers. Just getting full restorations every generation or two.

[hungry_hog]

Drinksleeprepeat said:

Seems strange that the owner did not want the top being put down for the fear of creasing it. Does that mean the quality of the top is such that it will crease when you take the hood down. Doesn’t say much about the materials used if that is the case. Especially considering the price.

Why did he just not buy a fixed head coupe as it appears the top is never going to be lowered

Edited by Drinksleeprepeat on Sunday 8th May 14:39

it is bizarre. Maybe the owner has a special technique to avoid creases, or will iron it between uses

[bleunos]

I was advised to not lower the new mohair hood I had fitted to my mx5 for a few weeks, it needs to shrink to a tight fit to ensure the creases form in exactly the right places I think.

[Caterhamfan]

The earlier story "PH Review" with a road test

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/unleash...

said

"...even if I wasn't allowed to put the hood down. The owner..... asked us not to for fear of creasing the rear screen."

which made much more sense

[thegreenhell]

Hopefully that's just because the owner wants to be the first one to put a crease in it rather than some random journalist, and not an indication that he isn't going to use it.

[smifffymoto]

My father had one of the last 250 V12 Etypes made,they had a little brass plaque by the gear stick.
When ran well, it was a glorious thing to be in,it had the same tail pipes as the car in the video.
My father had difficulty finding somebody competant to work on it.

He bought it from Hansons( I think) in Winsford for £120,000 in about 1988/89

I have no idea where it is now as there was a monumental fk up in his will and it left the family.

[Owlwood]

s m said:

I’m surprised he let some randomer go out for a blast in it at all!

If I’d just ordered a car for half a million if want to be the first person other than the the makers to have a go in it

So true! Yeah, hats off to the owner. Can you imagine how much you would be looking forward to delivery of a car like this? It's like a work of art.

[L1ttl3dud3]

Eagle speedster is £500 K and this is £400k, eagle speedster is an entire new body plus all the extra stuff including a bespoke windscreen etc, mecahnical mods between the two cars would seem to be on a par cost wise, looks a fraction expensive. Speedster is the best looking car ever as well.Jensen restomod is 200K. Still its very Lush but £400k.......

[s m]

Owlwood said:

s m said:

I’m surprised he let some randomer go out for a blast in it at all!

If I’d just ordered a car for half a million if want to be the first person other than the the makers to have a go in it

So true! Yeah, hats off to the owner. Can you imagine how much you would be looking forward to delivery of a car like this? It's like a work of art.

Yep, I can’t see what the owner gets out of letting a journo razz round in his expensive car he’s not taken delivery of yet. I bet a fair few people just in the queue for a new GR86 wouldn’t be saying yes if the dealer rang them and said ……” excuse me Mr X, your new car has arrived, do you mind if we lend it out to a random motoring journo for an afternoon as he’s not experienced driving one ….. ??? “..