Frankenstein Jaguar E-Type Blends Type I Beauty With A Big Displacement Surprise

This one-off commission is powered by an original Jaguar V12, is built on an original E-Type chassis, and rolls all three ‘Series’ iterations, plus the race-spec D-Type, into its design.This one-off commission is powered by an original Jaguar V12, is built on an original E-Type chassis, and rolls all three ‘Series’ iterations, plus the race-spec D-Type, into its design.

Handcrafted in the UK and assembled in the United States, the Jaguar E-Type GTO – or ‘Grand Touring Open’ – is the latest restomod project from ECD Auto, which specializes in re-producing “British heritage with modern performance,” and has previously rolled out restomod examples of the Land Rover Defender and the classic Range Rover. A one-of-one model, the GTO was built for a private client and dubbed ‘The Bridgewater Commission,'. It pays tribute not only to Jaguar’s motorsport heritage but also the “spirit of 1960s-era homologation specials” a la Aston Martin’s ‘Continuation’ series, and even Jaguar Classic’s E-Type restoration program.

“This is the Jaguar GTO that never was - but always should have been. The Bridgewater Commission challenged us to look beyond restoration and build something entirely original. We weren’t just honoring Jaguar’s history - we were evolving it.” - ECD Automotive Design Co-Founder and CEO, Scott Wallace

Fashioned from hand-formed from aluminum panels by “heritage metal craftsmen” in Coventry, UK, and finished in typically Jaguar British Racing Green, the bodywork is heavily inspired by the Series I E-Type – hence that famously long hood with functional louvers and bullet mirrors – albeit one accentuated by characteristics of the racing D-Type, such as the high rear stance and the custom removable hard top.

Back in the United States, the completed body is mounted on a “custom-configured” chassis, originally sourced from the Series II E-Type, now with a fully adjustable ride height and damping. Completing the E-Type trifecta, a 5.3-liter V12, sourced from a Series III model, but rebuilt and retuned by ‘Team CJ’ from Texas, powers the GTO. Add-ons like ECD-developed fuel injectors and a modern cooling system mean the Series III’s original 272 horsepower has now been hiked to “over 400 horsepower.” A custom twin-pipe exhaust ensures that the 1960s soundtrack will resonate for miles as well. ECD does not specify it, but it also looks like the Series III’s original four-speed manual has been upgraded to a five-speed for the GTO.

The bespoke package rides on custom, 15-inch ‘Turrino’ wire wheels, clad with Pirelli blackwall tires. Behind these, new six-piston calipers (four-piston on the rear) have been sourced from Fosseway Performance for added stopping power.

Like the exterior design, the cabin is fittingly retro, albeit with some contemporary touches. The seams on the [deep breath] Spinneybeck Lucente Hercules leather GTS Classic Car Seats (phew!) have been hand-stitched, while the brushed aluminum dash features a “vintage-look” radio, Moal Bomber gauges, and an array of toggle switches echoing the original E-Type. In a neat touch, said switches control “modern conveniences” like Bluetooth, air conditioning, power locks, and automatic headlamps (there’s even a couple of USB ports hidden in there).

Price? God knows. But given how much of a collector’s item both the E-Type and D-Types are today, we imagine it will be suitably ruinous!