How to keep an icon alive

How to keep an icon alive

Classic cars are an integral part of keeping automotive history alive. It allows owners to experience things they couldn't decades ago and celebrates landmark engineering of bygone eras, when cars were designed to captivate a brand's character and, in many ways, provide a driving experience unrivalled by modern engineering.

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For many, the Jaguar E-Type is the be-all and end-all for classics and is widely considered the prettiest car ever made. To ensure a car with such historic prowess retains its character decades later, Jaguar is taking a step in a direction which very few have embarked on before, at least from a manufacturer, as it is now offering a wide array of official parts to keep the E-Type's blood pumping.

This new aftersales offering isn’t specific to only one iteration of the E-Type and covers the Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3 along with the 3.8-litre and 4.2-litre models. The Jaguar Classic experts have gone to great lengths to ensure that new part specifications are perfectly compatible with the original car. To ensure the finished product meets the standards required for such a highly sought-after classic, the original blueprints along with the latest in 3D scanning and CAD modelling have been used to create new tooling and components to the best of their ability.

These new parts and pieces are made from mild steel, a common compound used on the original car, painted with e-coat to remove any concerns of corrosion, and all of which come with a 2-year warranty in Europe and the UK. As for us, well, we will likely receive a 1-year warranty on these products, which is a concern for very few South African motorists.

As for what Jaguar now offers for the E-Type, well, 30 new body panels are included, as well as a selection of parts which include floors and sills, front-frame assemblies, cross-member assemblies and a number of integral parts. This ensures that every E-Type owner has the option to restore their car back to showroom-ready condition. But these parts will likely come with a rather hefty premium as opposed to the backyard sourcing alternatives.

This is an encouraging prospect from Jaguar and one which more brands should draw inspiration from. Having brand-focused assistance is a major benefit when restoring a real icon, and it's clear that Jaguar cares for the past. By preserving these icons, future generations will be able to appreciate the golden age of motoring without any modern electronic nannies or assists.

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