Test-Driving The ECD Automotive Design Series II Jaguar E-Type
Among the most gorgeous sports cars ever produced is the Jaguar E-Type convertible. Its sleek, slender figure has been a top inspiration in automotive design since its debut in 1961, and fully encompasses everything enthusiasts love about sports car driving.
Today, acquiring and maintaining a pristine example requires an immense amount of devotion, and even then, its old-car driving experience may not live up to one's expectations for even occasional weekend duty. For those who want the experience of the original, yet with a host of modern luxury and performance upgrades, Florida-based ECD Automotive Design has them covered. I recently had the chance to take one of its Series II Jaguar E-Type-based GTO commissions for a spin around Malibu, California, and walked away simply mesmerized. Here's how this $599,000 creation is a sensational motoring experience.
The first thing to know about ECD's GTO is, it's not entirely original. Scratch that, it's very unoriginal, but in the best way possible. The brand-new body is hand-formed by a small shop in the United Kingdom and then sent to the company's headquarters in Kissimmee, Florida. There, fresh subframes are fitted, as well as entirely new and upgraded suspension components, featuring Gaz adjustable dampers, sportier sway bars, Fossway multi-piston brake calipers with drilled and slotted rotors, and an adjustable coilover-type spring setup. The subframes themselves are actually based on the Series III E-Type generation due to their improved rigidity and durability. Finally, a quick-ratio new steering rack is bolted up to give it sharper, more responsive steering over anything originally fitted on an old Jag.
This particular commission, dubbed the Connecticut commission by ECD, is sprayed in a gorgeously glossy metallic British Racing Green shade, because why would any discerning enthusiast select anything else?
While many of ECD's builds feature a General Motors LT-based V8 engine and recalibrated 10-speed automatic gearbox, the Connecticut commission is special. An original Jaguar V12 was fitted, but not before being thoroughly rebuilt with every hot-rodded component available, including a billet stroker crankshaft, more aggressive camshafts, lightweight pistons, a good deal of porting and polishing done to the intake and exhaust ports, and modern fuel injection. The end result is a 6.8-liter masterpiece that produces 450 horsepower, and it isn't cheap: ticking the box for unit adds over $60,000 to the bill.
Bolted up to its output shaft is a five-speed Tremec T5 gearbox, followed by a rebuilt and upgraded limited-slip differential from a Series III E-Type. Finally, it's kept cool with an upgraded aluminum radiator, and the exhaust system is entirely hand-built from port to plate.
The remainder of the ECD GTO's finely crafted fare is what brings it up to its asking price. While exterior touches are scarce, the grille, lighting, headlight trim, and exterior handles all nicely complement the sleek body without impeding it.
Inside, there's Lucente Hercules single-tone tan leather throughout, including on the GTO's comfortable (and heated) seating. A chic signature ECD center dash panel offers modern convenience yet styled in a manner that replicates the original Series I E-Type. Fine brass toggle switches, beautifully machined gauges, and a Series I-style push-button start up the opulence even further, and to contrast the rich warm tones, certain panels are painted in the same British Racing Green shade as the body.
Before climbing into the GTO's Mazda Miata-sized stature, I'd had driving older sports cars on my mind, especially after piloting a '90s BMW M3 on track just a couple of days prior. This freshly re-imagined Jag is worlds apart from that old German brute, but was similar in the sense of feeling wonderfully light and responsive, and utilizing hydraulic fluid to power its steering.
The massive V12 fired up instantly and idled down to an almost V8-muscle-car-like burble. Snicking its shifter into first gear felt wonderfully mechanical, and the clutch was quite forgiving, allowing for a smooth take-off onto Pacific Coast Highway. While the GTO's tiny dimensions didn't quite befit my tall stature, the seat was tremendously comfortable, and steering was light-yet-responsive. Ride quality was immensely good—it felt amply sporty, yet dealt with shoddy road features and undulations quite well. Finally, while steering feel was muted due to the system's period-correct steering box design, response and ratio were bang-on.
Once the engine was warmed up and with enough empty pavement ahead of me, I downshifted to second gear, stomped on the throttle, and wound out the mighty 6.8-liter V12 to redline. In a word, it was heaven. The way this mechanical masterpiece confidently and linearly pulled up the rev band felt so good, and the accompanying, bass-filled howl was unlike anything I'd ever heard before. I've driven modern Aston Martins and Lamborghinis with 12 cylinders at their disposal, but this was different. Its beautiful wall of sound was truly something to behold, and, lucky me, I got to pass through a handful of tunnels on my way to my destination. Because its power came on so beautifully smooth and linear, 450 horses didn't feel in any way scary, despite the GTO's short wheelbase and featherlight curb weight. This thing had drivability and thrill—two traits that are often at odds in old sports car fare—in spades.
Between its masterfully outfitted chassis, ravenous engine, gorgeous hand-formed body work, and top-tier interior, the ECD Auto Design Series II Jaguar E-Type GTO is a very special little sports car. After pouring over this example's many intricate details and taking it for a rip, I can confidently affirm that it's among the most unique sports car formulas ever that I've ever experienced, and will never cease to make its occupants grin as wide as its brawny engine's torque band.
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