FIRST DRIVE
We revisit a famous E-Type, now modernised with fuel injection and green fuel
THE WORLD of classic cars tends to be broadly split between two major camps: the picnic hamper and polishing cloth brigade in one corner and the ‘use it and enjoy it’ contingent in the other. Thankfully, the Jaguar scene – despite the high value of many of the cars today – seems to tend towards the latter, taking its example from Jaguar’s own heritage collection, the cars from which are often seen out and about being driven in anger.
Another familiar sight on the classic Jaguar scene is SNG Barratt’s E-Type ‘50EE’ which with its signature hardtop and Connolly Green paint has become something of a trademark for the company. Acquired back in 2011 to mark the car’s 50th anniversary, the ’65 series 1 roadster was originally intended to become a showcase for SNG Barratt’s E-Type parts and can often be seen at major events with the bonnet up and wheels off, to illustrate just how much of the componentry on these cars can be supplied brand new by the company.
It’s no show queen though and as SNG Barratt’s Head technician for product design and development, Peter Stant explains, the famous car is a veteran of literally hundreds of full-throttle runs up the nearby Shelsley Walsh hillclimb course. As indeed is Peter, who has been in the passenger seat for nearly 300 of those runs, many of which must have been a white-knuckle ride. The car has also evolved over time in its role as a test bed for the development of new products as more and moreremanufactured parts are added to the firm’s E-Type catalogue and has recently been treated to the most radical of its upgrades in the interests of embracing the hope which synthetic fuel represents for the world of old cars in a society heading rapidly down the blind alley of electrification. At which point I should probably admit that my own daily driver is indeed a modern EV and very nice it is too – surprisingly fast for a mid-range family car, nicely put together and generally very remanufactured parts are added to the firm’s E-Type catalogue and has recently been treated to the most radical of its upgrades in the interests of embracing the hope which synthetic fuel represents for the world of old cars in a society heading rapidly down the blind alley of electrification. At which point I should probably admit that my own daily driver is indeed a modern EV and very nice it is too – surprisingly fast for a mid-range family car, nicely put together and generally very competent... but in the way a nice washing machine is competent, in that it doesn’t trouble you to think beyond pressing a few controls and letting it do its own thing. Which is why for those of us drawn to older cars by a love of their mechanical engineering and the thrill of mastering a recalcitrant Moss box, tri
