Enzo Ferrari was no idiot. Not just because he built one of the most iconic automotive marques on the planet but also because he recognized great design. Case in point, the Jaguar E-Type, to which he referred as “the most beautiful car in the world.” Gaze upon one today, against even the likes of the modern Ferrari Roma or the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, and the E-Type still reigns supreme, even after 60 years. Brand new boutique British carmaker Helm just partnered with leathermaker Bill Amberg to restore the classic E-Type Series 1 Coupe for its 60th anniversary (March 1961, to be exact). After 3,800 hours of work on every E-Type they restore, Helm hands it over to Amberg to give it the kind of leather treatment a Bentley Flying Spur would trip over itself for. The Jag gets acres of suede and semi-aniline leather finishes inside, including the dash, center console, steering wheel, door panels, rear hatch lining, cargo area, and even the toggle switches. It also gets fitted with four of Amberg’s ‘Rocket’ leather luggage that 007 would literally kill for. 21st-century touches like a new climate system, LED lighting, and Bluetooth audio have been added to the bespoke E-Type to make it operate the way a modern car should. Only 20 will be made, and each customer can request custom work to the Jaguar, as if it needed anything more.
Series 1 Jaguar E-Type by Helm and Bill Amberg
