Should the Classic Jaguar E-Type Be Redesigned as a Sports Car?
Chip Foose updates the quintessential E-Type coupe in a new video…but should we just leave the iconic Jaguar as it is?
Hagerty has a great video series on YouTube entitled “Chip Foose Draws a Car.” We get to see the noted designer, fabricator, and man behind Foose Design do his reinterpretation of a vehicle. And when we saw he was going to add his flavor to the classic Series 1 Jaguar E-Type, we were curious to see how this might work.
Foose is a diehard gearhead, known to many for his work on Overhaulin’. And while Foose’s work is inspired and exceptional, it isn’t exactly what we think of for the iconic Jaguar. His designs and builds include a lot of muscle, might, and metal.
And we aren’t opposed to that in general. But…the Series 1 E-Type? Isn’t it a bit like giving The Statue of Liberty a makeover?
To be fair, Foose is the man for the job. He recently took on a 1974 E-Type roadster build, and the end result was quite a hit at lat year’s SEMA show. Although some people (cough, us, cough) were not loving the choice to go with an LS-swap over the 5.3L Jaguar V12.
For the video, Foose says he was inspired to make the coupe as beautiful as the convertible. To that end he wants to drop the car a little, modify the body, windshield, side glass, and height. He also wants this one-off E-Type to have a bit of hot rod to it.
But any concerns we have that this was going into a super-modded, high-po custom build direction are soon addressed. Foose is all about the E-Type’s legacy and history.
“Simplicity is elegance,” Foose says, as he sketches. He is keen to show that Jaguar’s strength is in its simplicity, its ability to be fully designed–not over-designed. “[Jaguar E-Type] is an elegant timeless design because of the fact that it is so simple. That being said, he does put his mark on it.
It is fascinating to watch Foose work. His eye is precise and he seems to edit and update effortlessly as his concept comes to fruition. His has the innate understanding of the lithe character and purposeful lines that define the car.
At the end, it is a design that is sure to split opinions. His concept sees the E-Type as a more modern car, with a lot of cues from sports cars. Is it beautiful? Absolutely. Clean and sexy. And if Jaguar released it as a special edition tomorrow–we’d go weak in the knees. But, is it still the classic E-Type? No.
We love Foose’s work, but we can’t help feel a little underwhelmed. It has lost its identity, taken away the very particular Jaguar bite. Additionally, the influence of American car design in undeniable. We’re just not sure if Detroit and Coventry truly mesh well for the era.
Overall, we would say it is a fascinating study in design. But the purist in us says if it ain’t broke….
Photo: Chip Foose Designs
What do you think? Let us know at Jaguar Forums now!
