This Jaguar E-Type is an even longer-legged feline
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This Jaguar E-Type is an even longer-legged feline
Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Jaguar, UK, Specialty, Luxury
Paul Branstad loves the shape and purity of the Series 1 Jaguar E-Type, produced from 1961 to 1968, but appreciates the longer length of the Series 3 V12 model, which affords occupants a more comfortable space in which to enjoy long trips. So when Branstad brought his damaged left-hand-drive 1968 roadster from its home in the US to Classic Motor Cars in the UK for a restoration, he had a special request: restore his car, but make it a bit longer.
"This is something that we have never done before. Our client wanted the interior leg room of a Series 3 V12 E-Type but the aesthetics of a Series 1 car," says Nick Goldthorp, managing director of CMC.
For the restoration, CMC added 4.5 inches of length to the floor pan of Branstad's E-Type to create the extra legroom. Goldthorp relates, "The V12 was actually nine inches longer than a Series 1 but a lot of the additional room was behind the seats as storage and was not required on our project." That's because CMC also built a trailer out of two E-Type rear ends that attaches to a custom-made removable tow hitch.
The convertible top also was raised 1.25 inches in the up position for better head room, and the trunk floor was lowered to make room for a custom 20-gallon fuel tank and a wider spare wheel. The Jaguar was restored with equipment that never made it onto Series 1 cars, such as power steering, air-conditioning, and a five-speed manual gearbox, while the suspension and brakes also were upgraded to improve performance.
Branstad named his E-Type "Kaizen," after the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement that has been a guiding principle at Toyota since its founding days, and which has been imitated by Western auto manufacturers such as Porsche to great effect. Branstad says the name is appropriate because he believes Jaguar E-Type designer Malcolm Sayer would have approved of his car's improvements, which do maintain the car's essence, judging from the pictures.
We're happy to learn that Branstad commissioned the restoration because he intends to use the E-Type to travel in the US - we'll be keeping an eye out for the Kaizen E-Type and its unique trailer!
Be sure to check out the press release below and the photo gallery for more details on the build.Continue reading This Jaguar E-Type is an even longer-legged feline
This Jaguar E-Type is an even longer-legged feline originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Paul Branstad loves the shape and purity of the Series 1 Jaguar E-Type, produced from 1961 to 1968, but appreciates the longer length of the Series 3 V12 model, which affords occupants a more comfortable space in which to enjoy long trips. So when Branstad brought his damaged left-hand-drive 1968 roadster from its home in the US to Classic Motor Cars in the UK for a restoration, he had a special request: restore his car, but make it a bit longer.
"This is something that we have never done before. Our client wanted the interior leg room of a Series 3 V12 E-Type but the aesthetics of a Series 1 car," says Nick Goldthorp, managing director of CMC.
For the restoration, CMC added 4.5 inches of length to the floor pan of Branstad's E-Type to create the extra legroom. Goldthorp relates, "The V12 was actually nine inches longer than a Series 1 but a lot of the additional room was behind the seats as storage and was not required on our project." That's because CMC also built a trailer out of two E-Type rear ends that attaches to a custom-made removable tow hitch.
The convertible top also was raised 1.25 inches in the up position for better head room, and the trunk floor was lowered to make room for a custom 20-gallon fuel tank and a wider spare wheel. The Jaguar was restored with equipment that never made it onto Series 1 cars, such as power steering, air-conditioning, and a five-speed manual gearbox, while the suspension and brakes also were upgraded to improve performance.
Branstad named his E-Type "Kaizen," after the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement that has been a guiding principle at Toyota since its founding days, and which has been imitated by Western auto manufacturers such as Porsche to great effect. Branstad says the name is appropriate because he believes Jaguar E-Type designer Malcolm Sayer would have approved of his car's improvements, which do maintain the car's essence, judging from the pictures.
We're happy to learn that Branstad commissioned the restoration because he intends to use the E-Type to travel in the US - we'll be keeping an eye out for the Kaizen E-Type and its unique trailer!
Be sure to check out the press release below and the photo gallery for more details on the build.Continue reading This Jaguar E-Type is an even longer-legged feline
This Jaguar E-Type is an even longer-legged feline originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
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