Greatest Ever Drivers Cars

[PAUL MORRIS]

Dear All,
I was reading the Classic & Sports Car of December & especially the suplement of Greatest Ever Drivers Cars. What do you think honestly of the ETYPE 6th position.
Paul

[PeterCrespin]

It's possibly a fair assessment depending which cars beat it and what their criteria were. The E-type was designed as a grand tourer not a sports car, though it is obviously very sporting.

When I get in the E-type after the D-type replica it feels a bit squidgy and soft. It has all new standard suspension at the front and is standard at the rear, just not that fresh. Compared to its peers it was doubtless superb and I love it to bits as it's so forgiving and easy to drive. But if the magazine was judging by hardcore feedback etc then an E-type might be too refined and 'rubberised' for their taste and suffer compared to more 'focused' machinery. But then you wouldn't necessarily want to go on a thousand mile trip in a bone-hard, highly-strung sports car.

[Heuer]

The Elan was voted into fourth place in that poll. Much like Pete's D-Type if I get into my Elan straight after the E-Type I kangaroo down the road, fluff every gear change and almost throw myself into the hedge on the first corner. The E-Type is indeed forgiving and easy to drive but the Elan is in a different league - so precise, so delicate. Pete's final statement has a resounding echo though: "But then you wouldn't necessarily want to go on a thousand mile trip in a bone-hard, highly-strung sports car."

[PAUL MORRIS]

What is fantastic is all the cars it did beat even much newer ones and I liked the conclusion on the Coupe :D

[Erikantwerp]

Here here on the coupe ..
Cheers
Erik

[MarkE]

What was the conclusion on the Coupe??!!

It's strange David, but I nearly went into the hedge the first time I drove the S1....I turned the wheel as I would in the Elan and went straight on!

Now I'm used to it, the car feels somehow like all the other Jags I've driven, and I've had a Jag as an everyday car for 20 years. More than any other car, Jaguars seem to become part of you, and driving them quickly is effortless. The E Type is certainly a fabulous car to drive, and I'm sure that I could go for hundreds of miles and get out the other end not feeling tired. I can't say the same for the Elan, although you do get used to the quick steering.

It must be very difficult to go from a modern to a pre-war sports car where the brake is where the accelerator should be!

[PAUL MORRIS]

Eric the Conclusion was simple the Coupe is the purest especially
the S1. In that magazine they often say it. Really you need both to enjoy year round.

[Heuer]

All they said about the FHC was: "... but surely the Coupe is the E-Type for the purist?" Merely posed the question rather than make an outright statement. They tested an S1 OTS.

Results were:

1. 911 RS
2. McLaren F1
3. Alfa 8C
4. Lotus Elan
5. Mini Cooper S
6. E-Type
7. Ferrari 250GT SWB
8. Caterham 7
9. Ferrari F40
10. Fraser Nash le Mans Replica

XKSS/D-Type was 17th, 993 was 20th.

Henry Pearman, Adrian Newey and Gordon Murray amongst a host of others waxed lyrical about the baby Elan. Peter Neumark, Chairman of CMC, stood up for the E-Type.

[MarkE]

I came across an advert for 'Eagle Sports Cars' in a 70s car magazine, when Henry was selling and 'restoring' Elans. Obviously more money in E Types!