2024 Jaguar E-Type? Production of automotive icon restarted, with a catch

The Jaguar E-Type is regarded as one of the most beautiful cars ever made, and the British brand has restarted production – albeit briefly – of its classic convertible.

More than 50 years after the last E-Type rolled off the production line in June 1974, Jaguar has made what will be the final two examples of the two-door icon for a well-heeled client in Southeast Asia.

Named the Series I Jaguar Classic E‑Type Commemorative, the two cars were inspired by the last 50 examples of the E-Type Commemorative Edition from 1974, which signalled the end of the model that was launched in 1961.

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Jaguar Classic – the bespoke division of the carmaker – claims the hand-built E-Types were assembled across more than 2000 hours by its in-house experts, with elements of the pre-production and final-generation models throughout.

Both examples are finished in colours from the 1974 catalogue – Signet Green and Opal Black – with hand-woven and stitched Bridge of Weir tan leather seats found in each, teamed with black and tan leather trim trim.

There are little easter eggs inside the cabin which nod to the model’s heritage, such as an anodised aluminium centre console bearing a unique engraving of a period Series I E‑Type blueprint, sourced from within the archives.

Jaguar also enlisted the help of England’s oldest manufacturing jeweller, Deakin & Francis, to include further details in mother of pearl, hallmarked solid silver and 18ct gold.

This included the steering wheel horn push being finished in silver with an 18ct Growler badge and mother of pearl inlay. The gear knob is also a sterling silver gear knob with a mother of pearl and 18ct gold Growler (the front-facing Jaguar logo).

Instrument panel switches are finished in knurled silver with a hallmarked silver bezel, with the key cover also being finished in silver with matching mother of pearl and 18ct gold.

Other interior additions include a Bluetooth-equipped radio and heated windscreen, bringing the E-Type into the modern age.

The front badge bar is also finished in silver with guilloche mother of pearl and an 18ct gold Growler icon, while enamelled sterling silver was used for the rear badging.

Under the bonnet, the E-Types are both powered by the ‘XK’ 3.8-litre straight-six engine which was found in early examples, however Jaguar Classic has updated them with electronic fuel injection replacing the older carburettors.

Drive continues to be sent to the rear wheels, but now through a five-speed manual transmission rather than the period-correct four-speed.

It’s not known what the new owner paid for this exclusive pair of E-Types, but their injection of cash comes at a time where Jaguar is at a crossroads.

The brand’s final combustion-engine sports car, a V8-powered F-Type convertible, rolled off the production line exactly 50 years after the last E-Type, ending its 11-year production run during which 87,731 examples were built.

In June, Automotive News Europe reported JLR (formerly known as Jaguar Land Rover) confirmed only the F-Pace SUV will remain in production past 2024, essentially becoming the only model in its entire lineup until its first new electric vehicle (EV) launches in 2025.

Production of the XE, XF, E-Pace and electric I-Pace will reportedly wrap up before the end of 2024.

While an electric concept car is due later this year, Jaguar’s managing director Rawdon Glover admitted to Top Gear the wait for the brand’s relaunch with exclusively high-end EVs has been annoying.

“It’s been hugely frustrating – saying we’re going all EV then ‘nothing’,” Mr Glover told Top Gear. “Jaguar is at a crossroads.

“Then-JLR CEO Thierry Bolloré said at the time [the plan to go all-electric was announced] that Jaguar had a choice to elevate itself out of the premium space [into being a super-luxury brand] and that choice has since been validated.

“We decided on this structure in 2021, but cars don’t appear overnight.

“We need to take [the brand] back to when we made beautiful desirable cars, not in huge numbers and not having huge numbers [of models] in the portfolio.

“Until recently we were up to six or seven models.”

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