A CAR trader specialising in Jaguar E-Types have taken what they describe as “the best car ever made” and given it a bespoke update that is fit for the modern world. The company, Evolution, have been restoring E-types for over 12 years and have used new technology to improve this 60s car while retaining its classic exterior body. Alex Cluderay, who works for Evolution, said: “This really is a car forever for the future. We’ve engineered, redesigned and fixed their problems.”
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00:00It's the look, it's the feel. We love the Series 1 E-Type. Any modifications we've done
00:08are in keeping with the original designs. You can see the quality, you can see the work
00:13that's gone into this. This really is a car forever for the future. Elegant, iconic and
00:20classic.
00:21A sleek British classic. Described by Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car ever made.
00:36It's the look, it's the feel. We love the Series 1 E-Type. But what happens when you
00:42approach 60s beauty with modern tech? If they'd have had the technology available to them
00:48at the time when they first created the E-Type, they would have tried to create something
00:52like this. I don't think they could have done it as well, but that's just our personal opinion
00:57on that. This is the Evolution E-Type, an updated take on a Jaguar masterpiece. Elegant,
01:07iconic and classic. This is our Jaguar E-Type Series 1 fixed head coupe. This is the first
01:16of its kind from us. You can see the immaculate paintwork, you can see the lines on the body
01:22look just fabulous. There's something different here. Right now we're looking at the heart
01:27of the vehicle and it's the original 3.8 XK engine. This is a 1964 restoration vehicle.
01:35You can see the quality, you can see the work that's gone into this. You can see all the
01:38different things, different bits that we've manufactured ourselves. You can see all the
01:42stainless steel we've used inside. What you can't see on this side is stainless steel
01:46exhaust manifolds, which prevent the rusting. This really is a car forever for the future
01:52because it's made out of materials that won't let you down in five, six, seven years' time.
01:58This particular engine puts out around 300 brake horsepower. It's a 3.8 engine, but it
02:03is high torque because it's been stroked and bored out, so it really behaves more like
02:07a 4.2. But any modifications we've done are in keeping with the original designs.
02:12And it's on the road that you'll most appreciate those modifications.
02:19This model does have electric power steering. It's got air conditioning and it drives well,
02:25it handles well, it brakes well. Most people who've driven a Series 1 E-Type have a few
02:33complaints over the handling or the braking. Anything you can think of, we've engineered,
02:40redesigned and fixed the problems.
02:43And the guys at Evolution are ready to build your very own version of the E-Type, providing
02:49you're prepared to part with the best part of half a million dollars.
02:53The hardest bit is getting the immediate body work right. All these sheets are laser cut.
02:58This has to be done precisely because obviously this is the foundation of the car. If you
03:02get it wrong at this stage, you've got untold problems later on.
03:06And creating such a beauty is no easy task.
03:09With the outer shell, this is all hand wheeled, hand beaten panels. Probably the most important
03:14bit, getting that iconic look.
03:16And once these vehicles are ready to hit the road, there's one job that everybody loves.
03:23The test drive.
03:24It's like a dream job really, getting to drive one of these cars. People just stop and stare.
03:28It's definitely a head turner. I've had to go on an original E-Type before and there
03:32is a massive comparison. Driving an original one, it's like an antique really. My favourite
03:38part of the car is the engine sound.
03:40And it's not just the changes under the hood that make a big difference.
03:44It's a full leather interior, where the original ones would tend to be vinyl. When you get
03:50in one of these, you can just smell petrol and leather, how it's supposed to be really.
03:54And you can expect to see more of these cars out on the road soon, because for a company
04:00that dare to improve on perfection, business is booming.