British Classic Cars- Jaguar E-type

"The most beautiful car ever made."- Enzo Ferrari

Yes, you heard correctly... the founder of the Ferrari motor company described the Jaguar E-type as the most beautiful car ever made.  If you are a car person (or even if you are not) you have probably looked at a Ferrari and realized that you were looking at something incredible.  So for the founder of this Italian company to look at a British car and utter those words, the Jag must also be something incredible.

The Jaguar E-type (known as the XK-E in the States) was first seen in 1961.  As mentioned in my previous posts, the 1960's was a great decade for cars.  The stunning Aston Martin DB5 came from this decade and so did the TR-6.  In a similar way, the E-type is a lot like the Aston.  The bodies of both cars are streamlined and curvy, giving off a smooth and sultry vibe.  The E-type would make for the perfect Bond car.  That's exactly what the producers of the first Bond films thought as well.  However, Jaguar were selling so many E-types that they could not afford to let three cars go for use in the films.  In turn, Aston Martin jumped at the chance to promote their new DB5 and the rest is (as they say) history.

Now back to the Jag.  Here are some facts about the E-type:

- 3.8 litre V6 (in 1964, this was increased to 4.2 litre)
- The early models lacked syncromesh in the first gear (this was known as the Moss gearbox); this was changed when the switch was made to the 4.2 litre engine
- There were only a few true hardtops made and they are extremely hard to find today
- The most common setup was the roadster with a soft top
- Jaguar did make a 2+2 (two seats in front + two seats in the back), but the car is most commonly found as a roadster with just two seats
- Top speed= 149.1 mph
- 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds

Jaguar E-type Speedster

The Jaguar E-type Series 1 was made from 1961-1968.  The Series 2 was made between 1969 and 1971.  Series 3 picked up where Series 2 left off and Jaguar stopped producing E-types in 1975.  The E-type did very well to last as long as it did.  Fourteen years is a long time and the body-style did not change during that time.  That is quite remarkable.  Think about what the Honda Civic looks like today compared to the Honda Civic of fourteen years ago.  Car design must change and adapt in order to accommodate public taste, but the E-type remained the same.  Jaguar kept the "most beautiful car ever built" unchanged in order to preserve the heritage.  Jaguar realized that you shouldn't fix something that isn't broken.  That is something that I wish other car companies would realize today (Subaru with their WRX, for instance).
 

A racing version of the E-type

Like all of the cars that I have written about (and will continue to write about), I love this car.  I love its "British-ness."  I love how it looks from all angles.  I love that it was almost a Bond car.  I love that the creator of the Ferrari motor company found the E-type to be the most beautiful car ever built.  This is huge.  Under Enzo Ferrari, the famous Italian motor company would go on to create: the Ferrari 275, the Ferrari Daytona, the Ferrari 308, and the F40 (just to name a few).  This guy obviously knew what makes a great car.  To this day, when one thinks of the term "sports car," Ferrari is usually the first name that comes to mind.  Now when you think of sports cars, you can think of the E-type.  When the E-type was built, the Ferrari Daytona was just a sketch and an idea.  It is also interesting to compare the E-type with some of the Ferrari's of the late 1960's and 1970's.  There are definitely some similarities.

In closing, I must say that I have not been fortunate to have personal experience with this car.  I have seen plenty on the road, but I have never been in one.  This is another one of those posts in which I sound like I know what I am talking about, but I really do not know.  However, I once had a vivid dream about this car. 
  
I am cruising down the PCH in a 1965 British racing green Jaguar E-type.  I look to my left and the sun is setting over the sparkling blue water.  The sky is a wash of orange, red, and purple and the water reflects its fiery brilliance.   The wind is blowing in my hair as I press on the accelerator and prepare for the shift into fourth gear.  Easing up off the accelerator, I engage the clutch and the syncromesh takes me into top gear.  I feel a surge of speed as I put my foot to the floor and the engine cranks out 5,000 RPM.  I reach 100 mph and continue to increase speed.  This is where this car belongs.  Top gear.  Top down.  The engine tone reaches an epic climax at 140 mph and I ease up on the accelerator.  I could go faster, by why spoil the view and the sunset.  The thin line that is my mouth eases into a smile.  I am free.  There is no school or work to worry about.  No deadlines or bills.  There is only peace.  I drive off into the sunset with the wind in my air and the seemingly endless highway ahead.

That's quite a vivid dream, especially considering that I have never been in one of these cars.  But that is exactly what a car like this can do.  Give a petrolhead a couple of glances at one of these and I guarantee that his/her imagination will take care of the rest.  Mine did.  I have never had a driving dream that was as real as this one.  But I think that it is fitting that the E-type would provide me with the most vivid of driving dreams.  After all, it is the "most beautiful car ever built."

Goodnight and "let's be careful out there."


           

How many great weekends am I allowed to have?

Since moving to California I have been blessed to experience many great weekends.  Before moving, I feared that weekends would be a constant reminder of how far away I live from the people that I love.  That has not been the case at all.  I have been blessed by a visit from my Mum and a visit from my Dad.  I have been visited twice by Julie and I have spent some time with my uncle as well.  I have kept busy by recording, jamming and hanging out with some really great friends.  It has made the adjustment so much easier.

On the weekend of November 11-14, Julie gave me the greatest gift of all by flying me home.  The weekend was perfect.  I arrived at DFW airport around 11:00 on Thursday night.  Julie picked me up and took me back to her house, so that we could hang out with her parents.  It felt great to be back in Texas.  On Friday, my Mum and Dad took the day off of work so that we could go down to Waco to see William.  It was awesome to have the entire family back together again!  We went to Vitek's so that I could get a Gut Pak and it was excellent.  Great barbecue is tough to find in California.  We spent the afternoon together on campus and then left before William had band rehearsal.  It also happened to be Sibling Day at Baylor.  How crazy is that?  They must have known that I was coming.

Friday night started at the McKee household.  Julie came over for dinner and then we went out for frozen yogurt.  Afterward, Julie and I chilled at her house for a while and she let me borrow a TCU jacket for the game on Saturday!

On Saturday, we went to the TCU v. SDSU game.  It was the last game to be played at the Amon G. Carter stadium as it is now (they are renovating in December).  I was able to attend the game because Julie's season ticket buddy couldn't go.  The game was actually pretty intense and a close call for TCU.  I really enjoyed being at the game with Julie and I am glad that I was able to go.  That evening, Julie cooked me dinner (I helped) and it was great!  We made margaritas and Mexican lasagna.  Julie is such a good chef.

 
On Sunday, I went to church and got the opportunity to lead worship.  At first, it was a little strange to be up on stage, but I settled right back in as if I had never left.  It was such a blessing to be able to take part in worship.  Sunday afternoon came and went too quickly.  Julie stayed for lunch and dinner (with a nap in between) and then she took me to the airport.

  
It was so wonderful to see my family and my church family again.  It was rejuvenating to be home.  I don't know if I will ever be able to thank Julie for bringing me home.  And it was very providential how everything fell into place.  I didn't have class/rehearsal on Friday, so I got to spend a long weekend at home.  It was Sibling Day at Baylor (something William didn't know about until the week before).  I was able to go to a TCU football game for free because Julie's friend was out of town.  I got to lead worship at my church because everyone was out of town on a youth retreat.

There are so many things that came together to give me one of the best weekends of my life.  I cannot thank Julie enough and I certainly cannot thank God enough for the wonderful time that I was able to spend with my family.

I would like to conclude this post with lyrics penned by the hymn-writer, John Newton.  I love the lyrics and the message to this hymn.  The Lord does provide for His followers.

Though troubles assail and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail and foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The scripture assures us, the Lord will provide

The birds without barn or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn to trust for our bread:
His saints, what is fitting, shall ne'er be denied,
So long as it's written, the Lord will provide

We may, like the ships, by tempest be tossed
On perilous deeps, but cannot be lost.
Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide,
The promise engages, the Lord will provide.

His call we obey, like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way, but faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers we have a good Guide,
And trust in all dangers, the Lord will provide

When Satan appears to stop up our path,
And fill us with fears, we triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart-cheering promise, the Lord will provide

He tells us we're weak, our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek we ne'er shall obtain,
But when such suggestions our spirits have plied,
This answers all questions, the Lord will provide

No strength of our own, or goodness we claim,
Yet since we have known the Savior's great name;
In this our strong tower for safety we hide,
The Lord is our power, the Lord will provide

When life sinks apace and death is in view,
This word of his grace shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting the Lord will provide