Description
By: Philip Porter .
Description
Rarely, if ever, has a car had a greater impact than the Jaguar E-type. Not only did the E-type's arrival in 1961 make a huge impression on the motoring world, but it also influenced the culture of a complete generation by becoming a potent emblem of the swinging sixties. Now, over 50 years on from its launch, the E-type remains one of the most recognised and revered of all classic cars, with a massive following of passionate owners and enthusiasts all over the world.
Published to mark the E-type's 50th anniversary, this is a completely new version of the most important book ever written about the car. Originally published in 1989 and described by Autosport at the time as - 'a book to match the car', Jaguar E-type:
The Definitive History by Philip Porter was widely acclaimed by both press and public, and remained in print for 20 years, albeit showing its age in later years. So it is that a complete overhaul of the book has been carried out — new information, new photographs and new design.
The most notable aspect of this 688-page book is the formidable depth of research behind it. In the years preceding publication of the original edition, the author conducted over 150 interviews with significant E-type people, many of whom are sadly now deceased. Memories come from Jaguar personnel such as 'Lofty' England, Bill Heynes and Norman Dewis, significant E-type racing figures such as Jackie Stewart, Roy Salvadori and Bob Tullius, and many, many more. Their recollections supplement the fine detail gathered from a range of historical records, including innumerable confidential Jaguar documents.
New information that has emerged since original publication has been added throughout the book, with special focus on the E-type's design and development, the exploits of the 'Lightweight' competition versions, and the origins of the V12-engined Series III. No stone has been left unturned in the author's quest to make a great book even better.
Complementing the words is a magnificent collection of period illustrations, including several hundred additions to those in the original edition. Besides the photographs, now reproduced in colour where possible, many pertinent documents — test logs, memos, engineering drawings, press releases — are shown.
The E-type is a fine car that deserves a fine book. Here is that book: the definitive history of the car and the people behind it.
