Cars like this are just not made anymore. Of course they’re not. This Car was made and designed when the Automotive Industry was in its infancy, especially with Sports Cars. Obviously we have refined the experience since. Some would argue greatly that we need cars like this to come back. But I’m here to tell them that this is pretty much impossible. Car design and engineering has come such a long way since that we can never go back. But that’s what’s great about the fact that these Cars can still exist, be maintained, and be Driven.
I’ve seen many E-Types in the flesh before. At Car Events, Car Shows, and all other Car in-person type things. But I’ve never been offered the chance to Drive one and I’ve never known anybody who owns one. But when you work in the Automotive Industry and are around Car People, at some point you are going to run into someone or cross paths with someone that might just own something you might enjoy getting the chance to experience for yourself.
I work at the Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles as a Driving Coach. I’m only a part-time coach there but I’ve been there since July of 2017. So I’m not exactly new to the facility and I’ve had the opportunity to work with many different waves of other coaches that have come through there. I’m also an ex-Marine, and I also have happened to work on the power plant to the F/A-18 Hornet as my MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). So of course when there also happens to be an ex-Marine F/A-18 Pilot that is also another Coach at PECLA, we might just have a few things to talk about. This one just happened to own a Jaguar E-Type. In our conversations he mentioned that he would possibly be looking to have someone work on the front suspension and adjust the torsion bars. Luckily I can help with such a project.
Having someone show you their own personal Car and tell you the stories of how it got to that point where you are standing there looking at it adds this other little element that completely changes the feeling like when you are just standing there at some Car Show staring at a car, and you have absolutely know idea who owns it or what the deal is with the car. It’s why I’ve enjoyed a bunch of the Jay Leno’s Garage videos where he explains the stories of his own personal cars that he’s owned for many years. It just adds this other element to the Driving Experience.
Yup, I said it “Driving Experience”. My life revolves around it. Sometimes to me it sounds so cliched. But it’s the main thing I’m looking for. I crave the Experience of Driving and Operating any machine. Add a personal story to that machine that’s told to me before I Drive it, and it’s better than any movie you could possibly remake. You get to live it. And living my life is how I’m looking to spend my life.
What struck me most about the E-Type at first was how the volume of the car is mostly in the nose. The interior size was merely an after thought. But for me being 5’8” 180 lbs, I fit in anything. The door is just there to create a small gap in the body for you to climb through to get behind the wheel. The wheel in this one. A wood rimmed, well worn, patina covered gem. So thin you think it might slice your hand open. Well, it probably would if given the chance. The controls and gauges were very airplane like. But not in the sense of “Hey look at me I’m styled like an airplane!”. I was perfectly comfortable in the Driver’s seat. I could easily grab the gear lever which seemed to have miles of play just like most old gearboxes do. The two gauges in front of me, speedo and tach, were not exactly centered and just a little off to the left. I have a feeling the amount of space really dictated that. The pedals were close, I should have had my Vans Slip-On Driving shoes on but unfortunately I had my Solomon Trail Hiking shoes. Doesn't matter, you just Drive it the best way you can for the opportunity being given to you to Drive it.
There’s a process in getting Cars like this ready to Drive. You have to warm them up, this E-Type has a manual choke, so you gotta do that. Some times I miss this process of getting a car ready. But it’s only convenient when you have the time. Other than that, it’s nice in this day and age just to be able to get in a car and go.
This car had the 4.2L inline 6-cylinder. It felt plenty powerful. Good torque. The steering was precise and I could place the car where I wanted, when I wanted to on the road. The brakes were even more than adequate. I got to Drive the car on Santiago Canyon Road and the surrounding area near Cook’s Corner. It took the corners with ease and was enjoyable to run those ribbons of tarmac with. Over-head cam engines love revs and this one seems to feel right at home between 3,500 and 4,500 rpms. Or you could just cruise. It’s not in anyway fast, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s just about how it Drives.
A couple days before I was introduced to the new Cayman GTS 4.0. There’s something about meaty naturally aspirated torque that only an engine like this can give you. For European sports cars there’s something about an engine this size. They fill the power band with torque instead of spike the power band with torque and I think that adds a certain characteristic that a Turbo engine won’t give you. Neither is either good or bad, just what I feel is the major difference. I love it all and I love how it’s all still available to us.
This car had the 4.2L inline 6-cylinder. It felt plenty powerful. Good torque. The steering was precise and I could place the car where I wanted, when I wanted to on the road. The brakes were even more than adequate. I got to Drive the car on Santiago Canyon Road and the surrounding area near Cook’s Corner. It took the corners with ease and was enjoyable to run those ribbons of tarmac with. Over-head cam engines love revs and this one seems to feel right at home between 3,500 and 4,500 rpms. Or you could just cruise. It’s not in anyway fast, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s just about how it Drives.
A couple days before I was introduced to the new Cayman GTS 4.0. There’s something about meaty naturally aspirated torque that only an engine like this can give you. For European sports cars there’s something about an engine this size. They fill the power band with torque instead of spike the power band with torque and I think that adds a certain characteristic that a Turbo engine won’t give you. Neither is either good or bad, just what I feel is the major difference. I love it all and I love how it’s all still available to us.