Firm Cooking up 400hp E-Type Restomod

A classic Jaguar specialist is working on a restomod of a Series 3 Jaguar E-Type 2+2 hardtop, which will produce around 400hp and incorporate Series 1 styling cues.

Nottingham-based P&K Thornton Restorations is working with a client to make modifications that they say, will vastly improve it from its factory setup.

The main enhancements to the car are increasing the size of the V12 engine from 5.3 to 6.0 litres as well as installing a modern fuel injection system to replace the Stromberg carburettors. The engine’s power output will increase from 272hp to around 400, mated to a modern 5-speed manual gearbox will replace the old 4-speed unit.

“We’re trying to achieve what Jaguar couldn’t because of the regulations at the time,” said Ciprian Nistorica (Chip), Managing Director of P&K Thornton. “The Series 3 was designed and engineered with American regulations in mind – they sold 4-times as many left-hand drive cars than they did right-hand drive. It was regarded as the least attractive out of all the E-Types, and because of exhaust emissions and from a pedestrian point of view, Jaguar had to make a lot of changes from earlier models.”

The Jaguar E-Type was the British marque’s most famous sports car, and was produced between 1961-1975. Production began with the most desirable model to enthusiasts, the Series 1 produced until 1967, before being followed by the Series 2 in 1968 which was then replaced by the softer, less sporty Series 3 in 1971, debuting Jaguar’s new V12 engine to replace the XK straight six.

The body has been stripped and lightened, and the bonnet, doors, and boot lid are made in-house and are crafted in aluminium, saving a total of 150kg from the car’s original quoted weight of 1,511kg. The car will feature covered front headlights like the Series 1 as well as the front and rear bumpers, grille, and rear taillights from the earlier model. The rear wheel arches have also been modified to accommodate wider wheels and tyres; the overall design enhancements are inspired by the E-Type Lightweight racers of the early 1960s.

The car is currently in progress as a bare metal shell and are preparing it for paint – Chip reports the painting process of the car will take up to two months. The team look to get it presented to the client by the end of the year. When asked whether the modifications will be available to other customers, Chip responded “we want to market our brand and to make each client’s car unique, and we want to work with them to match their dreams and make them come true,” suggesting that each car a customer wants to be restomodded will be built by the firm to their own individual tastes.