From its launch in 1961, there was no shortage of demand for Jaguar’s dramatic new E-Type. This high-performance machine caught the imagination of enthusiasts around the world, not least in the North American market (where it was better known as the XKE), which would eventually account for the majority of E-Type sales. But of course, not everything in the early life of the E-Type was idyllic, despite the newcomer’s bulging order book.
Some production cars were criticised for not being as powerful as the carefully prepared examples tested by the world’s press, and there were complaints – particularly from the USA – that the E-Type had heavy steering, marginal brakes and heavy oil consumption. Many Americans also reckoned the E-Type (or XKE) needed to be roomier, despite it being an out-and-out sports car designed primarily for power, performance and driver thrills.
The good news is that Jaguar listened, embarking upon a series of upgrades and improvements while the car was still in its infancy. Some of these were quite minor but nonetheless
