E Type compared with Daimler Dart SP250

[Alty Ian]

Just watched a restoration programme about the Daimler SP250 which was launched just before the E Type and became Jaguar's problem when they bought Daimler in 1960. I know quite a lot about them having been a DLOC member with a Lanchester. Only 2654 SP's were built and despite serious upgrades the car was really a failure. Good point was the engine and it lovely noise.

But if you compare the SP and the E Type, you can see why it failed, although well loved by its owners, the car (without upgrades) had dreadful steering, brakes, roadholding and wasnt the prettiest car ever built was it. I didnt know it was voted ugliest car of the NY Motor show in 1959. Quirky would be a good description.

I suppose comparing it with other early 60's sports cars would be fairer but it just shows what a fabulous car the e type is by comparison and Jaguar gave up in 1964, not coincidentally when the E Type 4.2 came out.

[christopher storey]

It was never in the same league as an E or indeed the XK150 which was really its contemporary. A fairer comparison would be the Austin Healey 3000, and there it would fare better, with rather better acceleration and top speed , similar roadholding and steering capabilities , and ride comfort ( or lack thereof ) . If it had had a rather more conventional front , and the B and C series improvements from the start, maybe it would have sold better