One of the most recognizable British cars of all time, any Jaguar E-Type still draws plenty of looks wherever it goes. The time to get in on the E-Type affordably passed some time ago, but Jaguar now plans to "resurrect" the model with the E-Type Reborn program: Jaguar will find a handful of E-Types and bring them back to the factory for a complete restoration according to original factory specs. This Jaguar Classic program kicks off this spring with a pilot batch of 10 cars. The factory will keep as many of the vehicles' parts as possible and manufacture reverse-engineered body panels as needed for the vehicles that it plans to restore, using original parts throughout.

"The launch of E-Type Reborn is a hugely exciting development for Jaguar Classic," said Tim Hannig, director of Jaguar Land Rover Classic "The E-Type is the most iconic sports car of all time, so we are delighted to be able to give new life to expertly selected examples for discerning customers around the world to own and enjoy. The resources and information available to Jaguar Classic’s expert technicians are unrivaled, which results in the most authentic E-Type restorations possible."

E-Type Reborn will follow a similar restoration program launched earlier by sister marque Land Rover for its Land Rover Series I and Range Rover Classic models. The E-Types that Jaguar Classic restores will be offered to regular customers after the launch of the program at Techno Classic Essen this April, giving Jaguar enthusiasts the opportunity to purchase an original E-Type as it would have left the factory more than 50 years ago.

For those unfamiliar, the original Jaguar E-Type debuted in 1961, using the lessons learned from the Jaguar D-Type race car to create a potent, road-going version that was driver-friendly yet still exotic. Sold as the XK-E in North America, the model revamped the marque's image overnight - prior to the E-Type, Jaguar was better known for large, ponderous sedans and slightly stuffy convertibles that enjoyed limited buyer appeal in the U.S.