Jaguar E-Type: The Definitive History (Foulis Motoring Book) [Hardcover]

Philip Porter (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0854295801 | ISBN-13: 978-0854295807 | Publication Date: August 10, 1997 | Edition: 1St Edition

This award-winning volume is the result of an unrivalled depth of research and presents a fascinating and comprehensive history of this great car. Porter describes the design, development, and launch of the E-Type, plus full details of competition cars and racing results. Contains various models and production changes with tabulated specifications. Foreword by Briggs Cunningham. Winner of the Thomas McKean Memorial Cup Award 1990.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E-type, here is an all-new updated edition of a classic book that was first published in 1989 and remained in print for 20 years. The E-type was, and still is, a uniquely charismatic and important British sports car – and this remarkable book provides the ultimate tribute to it. With lots of new information and illustrations, and presented with handsome new design in a larger format, this book is a ‘must-have’ for all E-type enthusiasts.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Philip Porter owns a collection of Jaguars, including five XKs and thr

Product Details

• Hardcover: 712 pages
• Publisher: Haynes Publishing; 1St Edition edition (August 10, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0854295801
• ISBN-13: 978-0854295807
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,301,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest of all works on the magnificent Jaguar E-type., July 6, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Jaguar E-Type: The Definitive History (Foulis Motoring Book) (Hardcover)

Rarely does a book's title reflect accurately on its contents, as does Phillip Porter's "Jaguar E-type, The definitive history". One's initial impression is of physical presence, for this is a massive work in all respects. Leafing through the book for the first time, one is immediately struck by a sense of awe that this could possibly represent the work of one man. There can be no doubt this is Porter's legacy, for which he laboured long and hard and gave much of himself.

The foreword is written by sportsman Briggs Cunningham, hinting that the car's racing heritage will figure prominently within. This is indeed the case, for fully a third of the content is dedicated to competition. The greater volume of the book, however, deals with the production car, against an historical timeline that begins with its evolution and conception and extends, rather than ends, with the E-type as it continues to exist today.

It is clear that Porter is unabashedly passionate about this greatest of all sportscars, but he masterfully avoids what could have been a eulogy and creates both a powerful reference work and an entertaining read. "The definitive history" brings together a multitude of colourful personalities and anecdotes and weaves these into a framework of facts, insights and specifications. There are literally hundreds of photographs and illustrations, some of which will be familiar to those who have read other books on the subject but the vast majority of which have never been published before.

History and objectivity are often mutually exclusive and if there can be fault found in this work it would be historian's soft disdain for cars which diverged from the pure lines of the Series 1 two-seaters. This, however, does nothing to detract from what is an otherwise magnificient accomplishment. There will be no other comprehensive histories written about the legendary Jaguar E-type, for none could possibly better this one.

Nick Saltarelli 1968 E-type OTS

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Massive tome, excruciatingly detailed.
, January 3, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Jaguar E Type: The Definitive History (Hardcover)

Phillip Porter's reference on the Jaguar E-Type that other authors cite as their source. This is a must read if you are at all interested in E-Types. Some of it may not be too flattering to Sir Wm Lyons or Jaguar but it tells the story as only an insider could. You will learn about the inspiration, design, developement, manufacture and end of production of the model

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive is the word, November 17, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Jaguar E Type: The Definitive History (Hardcover)

A massive effort. One of the most complete references ever to E-Type history. Hundreds of black and white and color illustrations. Insights into design, manufacturing, marketing and service. Production counts, export statistics, model specifications. This is not a repair book. It is a comprehensive history.