With the E-Type of 1961, Jaguar was back in a big way. Essentially a spiritual successor to the legendary XK120 of the 1940s and ‘50s, the E-Type had everything going for it: looks, performance and price.
Since then, much has changed for the brand. The malaise of the 1970s, the reliability woes of the ‘80s and the reheated design language of the ‘90s all placed a burden on the Big Cat.
Then, at the 2000 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Jaguar unveiled the F-Type Concept to the world. And by God was it a stunner. The lines were simple yet provocative; the interior refreshingly Spartan and functional for a concept car.
It was a design that was both modern yet unmistakably a Jaguar. For years, whenever rumours of an E-Type successor were bandied about, it was 2000’s F-Type concept that was cited as the proof.
Instead, the XK8 – not a bad car but already four years old at the time – was left to struggle on for another six years before being mercifully replaced with the XK in 2006.
And as good as the XK is, there’s still a lot of Jaguar fans out there left pining for the F-Type. It’s just sad that nothing ever came of it. Check out our gallery below of this brilliant one-off concept.
By Tristan Hankins
PHOTO GALLERY
