The Complete Book of Jaguar & E-Type Factory And Private Competition Cars 2 Book Set

Take an exhilarating ride through Jaguar production history, from the original SS to the I-PACE EV, with narratives, photos, and spec tables for each.

In 1935, a pair of motorcycle enthusiasts in Coventry, England—William Lyons and William Walmsley—established a firm called the Swallow Sidecar Company. Soon, they pivoted to automobiles, launching a sporting saloon (i.e., sedan) called the Jaguar SS. The decision set in motion the company that would create Britain’s most beloved line of high-performance automobiles.

The Complete Book of Jaguar, 2nd Edition, tells the whole story with:

• A thorough profile for every production model, presented in chronological order
• Spec tables highlighting key technical and performance specifications and their changes across each model
• Narratives by distinguished motoring historian Nigel Thorley discussing the innovations and technology featured in each model
• Color photography of new and restored examples
• Historical black-and-white imagery
• A new chapter covering Jaguar’s commitment to an alt-fuel future with extensive up-to-date coverage of the hybrid E-PACE and F-PACE SUVs and the I-PACE EV

As you turn the pages, follow Jaguar’s trajectory to becoming one of the world’s most celebrated automakers. In England’s bleak postwar years, the company was a shining star—first with its XK120, followed by the XK140 and XK150. Sporting sedans like the Mark 2 and Mark X set the bar for luxury four-door transport in the ’50s and ’60s. Then Jaguar stunned the world in 1961 with the achingly beautiful E-Type, a genuine 150 mph sports car. Though Jaguar lost its way periodically in the modern era, it has bounded back stronger than ever in the twenty-first century with a strong lineup that includes the new F-Type sports car.

The Complete Book of Jaguar, 2nd Edition, is the essential and most current guide to one of the truly iconic marques in the history of sports and luxury automobiles.

Filled with photos and data-packed spec charts, Motorbooks’ Complete Book series presents automotive and motorcycle enthusiasts with authoritative histories celebrating their favorite vehicles. Some other subjects in the series include Corvette, Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, Ducati, BMW Motorcycles, Dodge and Plymouth Muscle Cars, and Volkswagen GTI.  

Also available from the series:The Complete Book of Ford Mustang, The Complete Book of BMW Motorcycles, The Complete Book of Corvette, The Complete Book of Porsche 911, The Complete Book of Dodge and Plymouth Muscle Cars, The Complete Book of Chevrolet Camaro, The Complete Book of Classic Ford Tractors, The Complete Book of Classic John Deere Tractors, and The Complete Book of Classic Volkswagens.

The racing E-type Jaguar emerged from the ambition of both the racing fraternity and Jaguar enthusiasts who wanted to take this iconic British sports car onto the track to see what it would do. With official (and sometimes unofficial) help from the factory, the E-type was continually developed and modified from almost the first week that the first production car left the factory. Recognized the world over, this beautiful aerodynamic car remains as popular today as it was in the 1960s. Jaguar E-type in Competition features period photographs and stories from the E-type’s early racing days, describes how the cars evolved, and gives details of the lightweights, semi-lightweights, and factory specials, the Le Mans cars, the Modsports era, and the replica lightweight racing phenomena. The detailed appendices include lists of cars and drivers, book and magazine references. As the only book in its field to cover every aspect of the E-type’s competitive history from 1961 until the present day, the author redresses the balance to detail the 95% of cars usually overlooked. The reader will find hundreds of previously unseen photographs and new information, providing an invaluable source of material for anyone interested in this incredible sports car. Jaguar E-type in Competition takes a detailed look at the racing E-type: an exciting and important aspect of Jaguar’s history, but one that has often been overlooked and poorly documented.

• Dedicated solely to the Jaguar racing E-types • Over 400 photographs and pictures – most previously unpublished • Over 450 racing E-types identified and listed, including car registration numbers • All competition exploits recorded including the modsports era • Commentary and photographs of factory lightweights, specials and the Le Mans cars • Photographic comparison of cars then and now • Includes drivers list • Chapter on originality, traceability and values • Detailed bibliography and list of relevant magazine articles • Extensive first hand experience of 50 years involvement with Jaguar E-type racing

Models Covered:

JAGUAR E-TYPE RACING CARS FROM 1961 TO 1975 AND THEIR EXPLOITS UP TO THE PRESENT DAY. SERIES 1, FHC AND DHC, 3.8 AND 4.2 MODELS SERIES 2, FHC AND DHC, 4.2 MODELS SERIES 3, FHC AND DHC, 5.3 MODELS LIGHTWEIGHT AND SEMI-LIGHTWEIGHT MODELS