“This is the Jaguar GTO that never was — but always should have been,” said Scott Wallace, ECD Co-Founder and CEO. “The Bridgewater Commission challenged us to look beyond restoration and build something entirely original. We weren’t just honoring Jaguar’s history — we were evolving it.” ECD Automotive Design’s latest Jaguar E-Type is an open-top grand tourer rebuilt, practically from the ground up, inspired by the homologated street cars spawned from race cars of the 1960s.
This Jaguar Restomod Was Born At Home
ECD says the body of this E-Type GTO, which it calls the Bridgewater Commission, was formed in Coventry, Jaguar’s home turf, by metal craftsman drawing inspiration from both the original E-Type and the company’s D-Type racer. The bodywork was taken to Florida for completion, which included fitting a custom Series 2 E-Type chassis with a rebuilt Jaguar V12. Here, ECD uses modern fuel injection and a modern cooling system, with output at “more than” 400 horsepower.
Other details include 15-inch basket-weave wheels and fully adjustable coilover suspension, a new steering rack, and updated 6-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers. There’s also a custom removable hardtop, though forgoing that is probably the better choice given the powerplant.
The ECD E-Type’s Interior Is Perfection
Similarly, the work inside is about as good as it gets. The E-Type’s interior is trimmed in hand-stitched leather, and a brushed aluminum dash features updated gauges and some old-school touches, like toggle switches and crank windows. There are, as expected, some modern changes too. The car features Bluetooth audio, as well as USB ports for charging devices and heated seats. There are even power locks and automatic headlights.
TopSpeed’s Take
ECD’s one-off commissions are incredibly cool. The shop doesn’t just stick to one brand, either. We’ve seen several restomods from the marque, including old off-roaders and classic Mustangs. Where so many choose simply to specialize in one, ECD tends to offer a slew of classic car restoration options, and the work is always top-notch.
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