When the  etype jaguar buids first made its debut in Geneva in 1961 it was instantly lauded as one of the most beautiful cars ever created. Over the decades that followed it has inspired many a dream car purchase and a lot of people have found themselves in possession of an XKE. However if you’re thinking about buying one of these iconic cars it’s important that you approach the decision with educated caution. If you do that, you’ll know exactly what to look for and will avoid any costly surprises down the line.

The Jaguar E-Type’s Impact on Automotive Design and Engineering

Fortunately for those who want to buy an E-Type and don’t have the cash for an original there are plenty of well maintained examples to choose from. And as the market for these classics has grown in recent years so too have prices. So what should you be looking out for if you’re in the market for an XKE?

It is important to remember that the 3.8 L engine on an E-Type was not designed for emissions control in North America. In order to compete in smog ridden places like Los Angeles the cars had to have the emissions controlled to a level that would be acceptable by the regulators.

To overcome that issue Jaguar brought in the engineers from the aeronautical department who developed a simple yet effective solution. Using knowledge gained from designing disc brakes for aeroplanes the company adapted their technology into a system that could be used in the E-Type’s V12 and keep it running reliably at high rpm.