Classic Jaguar E-Types Offered As EVs

In a massive complex in central Florida a pair of classic 1960’s Jaguar E-Type sports cars is being converted to EVs. There will be others. Who would do such a thing to a vehicle Enzo Ferrari once called the “most beautiful car in the world.”

The answer is E.C.D. Automotive Design which specializes in updating and customizing classic Land Rover vehicles, especially the original Defender and Range Rover. Based in a recently expanded production and planning facility in Kissimmee, Fla. with a logistics center in the U.K. E.C.D.’s triad of founders who describe themselves as “petrol heads,” decided to expand its offerings to the sleek Jaguar E-Type sports car after considering others such as the Aston Martin DB4 and DB5.

The Jaguar E-Type was produced between 1961 and 1974.

“It’s an icon in itself and felt right to sit along the Defender in our lineup,” said E.C.D. Co-founder Tom Humble in an interview with Forbes.com. “We got some good early feedback from clients as well that got Defenders or ordered Defenders. We kind of tested the market a little bit with them.”

Aside from the positive feedback from existing clients, co-founder Scott Wallace said a big part of the decision also came down to “It’s more of a passion as to what excites us.”

E.C.D. plans to offer customization of the Jaguar E-Type roadster or coupe with a choice of a 450 horsepower General Motors LT1 performance drivetrain with automatic transmission or a classic V-12 drivetrain for customers who prefer internal combustion powertrains.

But the big leap is offering to customize the sports car as a battery electric vehicle. E.C.D.’s third co-founder, Elliot Humble says the company has a “root” with a Tesla electric motor based on its experience electrifying classic Land Rover models, but “we’re also looking at different options to see if we can get it more powerful, more efficient. It’s very different, a two-wheel sports car versus a Land Rover so we’ve got to make sure we’ve got everything is right before go ahead and build it. I think we’ll probably do another round of 3-D scanning on the E-Type here in the U.S. when we’ve got the first one stripped out and ready.”

One of the challenges in making the conversion is preserving the style and spirit of the E-Type’s respected styling. But Elliot Humble says the task is not as difficult as it might first appear because “we still run a 12 volt system in addition to the 400 volt, sort of, power plant. So all of your original switch gears, if you wanted, you could keep the Jag identical on the inside. It really comes down to what the customers want. If somebody really wanted an electric with a gear box we could do that.”

The cars will receive an upgraded suspension, brakes, steering, steering racks—basically everything will be upgraded from original, according to Elliot Humble, “but we’ll plan on keeping as much originality as we can apart from the drive trains when we’re able to.”

Of course since the starting price for the upgraded Jaguars is $299,995 E.C.D’s deep-pocketed clients can pretty much request all sorts of other features, but so far they’ve “surprised us by restraining themselves and stayed very much as the vehicle was intended,” said Tom Humble.

The most requested upgraded so far have been high-quality leathers, heated and cooled seats and Bluetooth connectivity, he said.

Right now E.C.D. has about 10 orders for customized and upgraded Jaguar E-Type cars with the split at seven EVs, one with the GM powertrain and one client requesting the original V-12 according to Tom Humble. The company expects to complete 10 to 12 restored E-Types a year in its recently completed 100,000 square foot facility in Kissimmee, Fla. near Orlando. E.C.D. also opened a new logistics center in the U.K.

In the expansive Florida headquarters and production center dubbed the “Rover Dome” E.C.D. Expects to complete customization and upgrading of 100 vehicles a year by streamlining two production lines into a “push-forward” arrangement. The Rover Dome also includes a customer showroom and large vehicle storage area Scott Wallace says eliminates wasting up to 16 hours a day moving vehicles as had occurred in the previous facility.

“I think we just built a facility that allows for more production efficiency and a much better environment,” said Wallace.

While E.C.D. continues to enjoy a steady stream of orders for customized Land Rover Defenders and Range Rovers, the founders are clearly enthused about the initial interest in the company doing its magic on the Jaguar E-Type sports cars.

As noted by Elliot Humble, E.C.D. is upgrading, customizing and modernizing the Jaguar E-Type, even as a battery-power EV, while paying respect to its original style and beauty, just as the company has done with classic Land Rovers.

“It feels like a Jaguar E-type and that’s part of the charm,” said Elliot Humble. “Like the Defender, you could put in a Jeep chassis, Jeep steering and Jeep suspension but then it’s going to feel like a Jeep, and what’s the fun in driving another Jeep?”