Jaguar Owners Club

The top Jaguar E-Type specialist Eagle celebrates three important milestones in its history: this year, the company whose own heritage has developed alongside that of arguably the most famous British sportscar of all time, the Jaguar E-Type, is 35 years old; the model for which Eagle is most famous, the Eagle E-Type, is a quarter of a century; and the Eagle Speedster, first of the Special Editions, has been crafted for a decade With perfection as the ultimate goal for every single E-Type rebuild commission that the British company has undertaken, Eagle was born in 1984 to redefine the concept of restoration but also, in time, created its own legend by developing bespoke E-Types. The Eagle E-Type is infused with Eagle’s unique obsession for detail, cleverly weaving modern upgrades into the fabric of original E-Types, each built to blend perfectly with its individual owner’s vision. In the process of restoring, rebuilding and reliving the E-Type dream, in fittingly British rural surroundings and combining tradition with sophisticated technology, the company has also gained and nurtured passionate and knowledgeable clients, whose aspirations are equal to their expectations. This symbiotic relationship pushed Eagle’s E-Types into further raising the bar: “we received a request for something even more exclusive, an individual design and engineering feat still paying homage to the original legend, resulting in the first of the Eagle E-Type Special Editions, the Eagle Speedster (n.1),” says Technical Director Paul Brace. In the words of Jeremy Clarkson (BBC Top Gear), “the most beautiful car I have ever seen” was born. The Speedster is another important milestone in the history of Eagle and celebrates its tenth birthday this year. Predictably, Goodwood was chosen for the triple celebration. Owners of commissioned Eagle E-types from all over the globe and other special guests were invited to a three-day feat of sunshine and a triumph of Eagle display, from Eagle E-Types to Speedsters, Low Drag GTs and the latest variation, the Eagle Spyder GT. “It had to be Goodwood,” muses Eagle founder and E-Type rally-winner Henry Pearman; “There isn’t another venue to compete with a place which is so steeped in racing and automotive tradition. We very much feel we belong to the heritage of Jaguar and its E-Type, as we carefully handle precious pieces of the marque’s history and bring them back to life. Our customers are part of the same Eagle family, and enjoy a special connection, which was most evident at the anniversary celebrations. Thirty-five years of exclusive achievements were honoured with those who share our commitment and passion.” “The E-Type” publication catches the spirit of the celebrations perfectly: “Eagle have taken the E-type narrative to another level and kept that great story alive, adding another few chapters. With an inspired combination of fine engineering and stunning design, they have evolved and expanded the E-type range for the modern age. Cleverly, they have shown respect for the originals …. but pushed the boundaries while avoiding conflicting with the heritage. One instinctively feels Bill Heynes, Bob Knight and Malcolm Sayer would have been thrilled to know their creations were being treated with such loving respect and evolved with sensitivity, integrity and style.”