Jay Leno Brings Back The 1967 Jaguar E-Type With Stunning Restoration
Few restomods earn genuine praise from Jay Leno, a man who has seen just about everything on four wheels. But when David Lane of Fastlane Rod Shop — a builder better known for wild hot rods — showed up with a 1967 Jaguar E-Type, even Leno had to admit this one was something special. Rather than swapping engines or chasing horsepower, Lane took the opposite approach: subtle refinements, period-correct details, and an obsessive respect for what Jaguar originally intended. The result is a coupe that feels as though it just rolled out of Coventry, only finished to a higher standard.
Jay Leno Takes A Spin In A Flawlessly Restored 1967 Jaguar E-Type
From the moment Leno fires it up, you can tell he’s smitten. The straight-six under the hood is the original 4.2-liter Jaguar motor, rebuilt by Vintage Jag Works in Idaho. Lane added a handful of sensible modern touches — an aluminum radiator and upgraded cooling fans to keep temperatures in check — but otherwise everything stays true to the original. The engine runs cool, smooth, and sounds properly old-school: exactly what you want from a classic Jaguar.
Visually, the E-Type keeps its timeless look but with cleaner execution throughout. The silver-blue paint, dark blue interior, and glass-covered headlights all match period Jaguar offerings. Lane welded and reshaped the bumpers to sit flush against the body, deleted the awkward rubber spacers, and smoothed out the fuel filler door for a cleaner line. The wire wheels are Dunlop racing-style units with slightly wider rears, lending the car a subtle performance stance without compromising its identity. Inside, Lane added details that feel like what Jaguar’s own designers would have done had the accountants stayed out of it: polished gauge bezels, domed glass faces, and rally-style stopwatches mounted on the dash.
Smooth, Fast, And Still Very Much A Jaguar
Out on the road, the E-Type feels effortlessly composed. The 3.07 rear gear ratio is tuned for relaxed highway cruising, and the all-synchro gearbox — a genuine selling point when the car was new in 1967 — adds a surprisingly modern feel to this ’60s icon. Lane stiffened the front torsion bars slightly and fitted adjustable suspension components, keeping the ride comfortable while adding a more controlled edge. As Leno jokes, the steering wheel still feels a touch delicate and the tires will flat-spot if the car sits too long, but that’s all part of the charm.
Both men agree this represents peak Jaguar: the early Series 1 cars with their covered headlights, toggle switches, and unmistakable long-nose silhouette. Well-sorted examples have commanded well over $200,000 at auction, and this one makes the case clearly. Lane, once a committed custom builder, admits he has come to love originality over wild modification. As he puts it, this old Jaguar simply needed to be finished the right way.
Leno sums it up best at the end: it’s a Jaguar built right the second time. Faithful, clean, and ready to be driven exactly as it deserves.
Source: Jay Leno’s Garage
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