Paint and trim match the Geneva cars, hence the six fixed-heads are all grey (Jaguar has named it “Flat Out Grey”) with black leather interior, and all the convertibles are green (“Drop Everything Green”) with green leather cabin. The body colours won’t be available for any other Jaguars.
Anniversary specials normally get logos and plaques and the E-types are no different, but there’s something else that each car gets which is definitely special. It is a stainless-steel centre console engraved by the artist Johnny ‘King Nerd’ Dowell with a stylised impression of the route from Coventry to Geneva that each car took in 1961. The fixed-head had been driven by Jag PR man and former racer Bob Berry and the convertible by Jaguar’s test driver Norman Dewis, and the engraving is a subtle nod at both men’s efforts.
In keeping with a brief to make the new-old E-types as usable as possible, mods in the cabin include an infotainment system with built-in satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity. The biggest change under the bonnet is to ditch the four-speed gearbox for an all-synchro five-speeder. Other mechanical changes are limited to stainless-steel exhaust system, electronic ignition and a cooling upgrade.