Jaguar Classic honors the sporting successes of the E-type with the ZP Special Collection, a limited-edition collection that includes seven exclusive pairs that pay homage to the tradition of this model, recalling the “ZP” project code that defined the first produced examples. These E-Types achieved racing success in a short time, with the first victories a few months after the model’s debut in 1961.
Jaguar heritage
Comprising a Roadster and Fixed Head Coupe, each pair of ZP Collection E-type cars are finished in colors inspired by the original cars, which have been fully restored by the experts at Jaguar Classic Works in Coventry. Both cars draw inspiration from the models identified, at the time, with the registration numbers “ECD 400” and “BUY 1”, driven by Graham Hill and Roy Salvadori in the 1960s respectively. ZP Collection E types feature details that pay homage to this iconic model’s sporting heritage, along with some engineering refinements that make them even more usable for customers. Throughout 2023, Jaguar’s SV Bespoke team will unveil a limited edition F-TYPE ZP inspired by the E-type ZP Collection. Fourteen of these sports cars, which will be powered by Jaguar’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, will be reserved for E-type ZP Collection customers, creating a once-in-a-lifetime celebratory quad.
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The unique Jaguar Classic cars celebrate an important part of the E-type’s history and take their name from seven original examples turned race cars. These cars made their racing debut in April 1961, just a month after the bright premiere of the E-Type at the Geneva Motor Show. Jaguar’s chief designer at the time, Claude Bailey, outlined the specifications for these seven Project ZP cars the day after the E-type’s triumphant launch in Geneva. Each car received modifications to the engine and improvements to some components such as the block and cylinder head, and to improve performance a close ratio gearbox was introduced. Just a month later, on April 15, 1961, the “ECD400” and “BUY1” won 1st and 3rd in the Oulton Park Trophy reserved for GT cars. This was the start of the E-type’s racing career and a continuation of Jaguar’s racing tradition, which began years earlier with iconic models such as the C-type and D-type. He was driving an “ECD 400” Type E in indigo blue which won at Oulton Park Graham Hill, while the “BUY 1”, a Pearl Gray example, was driven by Roy Salvadori who finished third. Then, on May 21, 1961, Salvadorans won at Crystal Palace. In total, between 1961 and 1964, the electronic types were very successful and achieved 24 podium finishes.
Each car has its own characteristics
The duo’s first car pays homage to Graham Hill’s Indigo Blue E-type coupe and roadster. Finished in Oulton Blue, a color variation inspired by the original color of the “ECD 400,” this model features a black soft-touch hood and an array of exterior details that celebrate Hill’s winning race car. The rounded sections on the hood and doors are finished in white, as is the outline within the front grille. The logo strip that runs across the grille and front sides has been removed, in keeping with the original racing version. However, unlike the original model, which was developed solely for motorsport without any regard for the finish, Jaguar Classic engineers wanted to achieve a perfect and flawless nose for the car, as a result of which the front end was meticulously reworked and polished by hand. 40 additional working hours. Chrome front and rear bumpers, while the wheels and wheel hubs feature the Jaguar Heritage emblem. To ensure a true 1961 look, the beechwood steering wheel was complemented by a host of other early E-Type features, including welded-on hood vents and lockable external hood latches. The latter features special ZP logos and is attached with a leather strap for hood retention. A selection of additional details reminiscent of the project can be found elsewhere in the vehicle, such as the fuel filler flap, leather exterior and soft top lid where the ZP logo appears, while the ZP and Jaguar logos at the rear define the unique nature of each vehicle. Also on the sides of the vehicle is graphic art featuring a Union Jack mounted in a silver shield, an E-type silhouette and an embossed Project ZP inscription. The interior features exclusive and original finishes such as Bridge of Weir and Hardura red leather upholstery, as well as a push-button golden horn. Jaguar Classic once again collaborated with master sculptor Johnny “King Nerd” Dowell on this project. On the center console are unique art panels, anodized, with some hand-engraved detailing. In particular, on the console of the E-type Oulton Blue Roadster there are inscriptions with the silhouette of the car and the Oulton Park track with the start-finish flag, in honor of Graham Hill’s first victory. As another ceremonial element of this success, half of a laurel wreath and Hill’s famous quote are engraved: “In racing, my car becomes a part of me, and I become a part of it.” The technical panels have been anodized to the same high quality standards applied to modern production models, to ensure a durable and consistent look.
Jaguar E-Type II
The second car in each pair pays homage to the Type E that Roy Salvadori drove at Crystal Palace in 1961, which followed on the heels of the success of the E-type at Oulton Park. While all of the original Project ZP cars were based on the coupe roadster, the “BUY 1”-inspired vehicle has been reimagined as a hardtop coupe, giving customers and collectors the option to have both models. Inspired by the original pearl gray, this model is finished in Crystal Gray, a name derived from the circuit where the Salvadorean took its first E-Type victory. Like the “ECD 400”-inspired Oulton Blue version, the hardtop coupe sports Crystal Gray White circular badging and roadster-like exterior detailing. Also on this version, the Jaguar badge strip that runs across the center grille and uppers is removed, as are the same chrome bumpers, welded hood vents, and unique road side graphic detailing. Created in collaboration with UK specialists Vaughtons in the “Jewellery Quarter” in Birmingham, the exterior decals mimic the look and design of the racing decals of the era. Inside, the BUY 1-inspired vehicle features Bridge of Weir Dark Navy leather with matching Hardura trim and a beech wood steering wheel, while the center console’s aluminum accents are gray anodized. Here we find the other half of the laurel wreath etched onto the console of the Oulton Blue car, while in this case the current track motif is an image of the Crystal Palace and the text has Roy Salvadori’s title “King of the Airfields” centered alongside the car’s silhouette.
Genuine greetings
Each vehicle is outfitted with a vintage helmet that includes motifs of those worn by Hill and Salvadori in racing. They are beautifully crafted by British expert Bill Ferro of Everoc, who has been making helmets since the 1950s. These original and faithful reproductions are a beautiful display object that can be worn and hand-adjusted for every type of client. The helmets are supplied with a bespoke leather case, made from the same leather as the interior and produced in-house by the expert craftsmen at Jaguar Classic. In addition to the helmet bag, these craftsmen also made a vehicle use and maintenance manual from the same material.
Classic Experience Works
Technically, the ZP Collection is based on the E-type Series 1 3.8 specification produced between 1961 and 1964. The 3.8-liter power unit, producing 265 horsepower, was equipped with an original 1961 alloy intercooler, clutch electrical. Fan cooled and electronic ignition for everyday use, plus a polished stainless steel exhaust system. This drive effortlessly combines the original authenticity of the past with modern usability and reliability. While each car has its own personality and unique heritage, both models feature a host of incremental improvements brought about by the Jaguar Classic Works team. These systems include the Jaguar Classic infotainment system with DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and navigation, to maximize in-car entertainment in line with 21st century standards. The most important mechanical improvement is the five-speed manual gearbox, which was developed specifically to provide a quieter and more comfortable ride. The system features all-speed synchromesh and helical gears and a reinforced die-cast aluminum housing for increased reliability and durability, with closer ratios for smoother shifting. While providing extra proportion, its clever design requires no modifications to the bodywork or other components. Maintaining the integrity of the car it comes from is of the utmost importance to the Jaguar Classic team; For this reason, the upgraded gearbox allows preserving the originality of the car body, as well as offering customers greater usability. Each car undergoes nearly 2,000 hours of work by the Jaguar Classic experts, whose meticulous and meticulous craftsmanship makes each example a masterpiece. Customers are provided with a specially designed car cover with the ZP logo and a special socket that can be placed in a special bag that is stored under the trunk floor.
