Jaguar's XK sports models had been a phenomenal success. Svelte and powerful, the 1948 XK120 received an enthusiastic welcome in Europe and the United States, for while it was expensive, priced like a Buick, it had no competition in its market niche. Its dual overhead cam six was unparalleled, and its modern styling unrivaled by any other British sports car. Successor models XK 140 and XK 150 perpetuated the legend, but by the late 1950s they were looking dated, though their engineering and performance still excelled. In 1958, Jaguar technical director William Heynes and designer Malcolm Sayer convinced their boss, Sir William Lyons, that a new production sports model was needed. Thus was born the E-Type, one of Jaguar's longest-running and most revered models.

Aside from the engine and transmission, the production E-Type was all new. It combined a multi-tube front chassis with a monocoque center section. Front suspension was similar to the XK 150's wishbones and torsion b