ECD Automotive Design has created a one-off E-Type GTO with a rebuilt Series III V12 producing over 400 horsepowerThe restomod combines Series I exterior styling with modern amenities including Bluetooth, heated seats, and USB chargingFinished in metallic British Racing Green with brown leather interior, it's called the Bridgewater Commission for a private client Right, here's something that proves the Americans occasionally get British sports cars absolutely right: ECD Automotive Design in Florida has taken a Jaguar E-Type - arguably the most beautiful car ever made - and improved it without destroying everything that made it special in the first place. This is no small achievement, considering how many people have tried to "modernize" classic cars and created automotive abominations that would make Enzo Ferrari spin in his grave fast enough to power a small Italian village. The E-Type GTO isn't just another restomod where someone's bolted modern components onto a classic chassis and hoped for the best. This is proper engineering combined with genuine understanding of what made the original E-Type special. ECD has taken the soul of Jaguar's masterpiece - that spine-tingling V12 engine - and made it better, more powerful, and more reliable, while keeping everything that made people fall in love with the E-Type in 1961. What's particularly brilliant about this approach is that ECD hasn't tried to turn the E-Type into something it was never meant to be. They haven't stuffed it full of unnecessary electronics, given it the ride height of a Land Rover, or tried to make it practical for modern family life. Instead, they've simply made it the best possible version of itself, which is exactly what restomods should do but rarely achieve. Jaguar E-Type GTO: V12 engine and performance upgrades The heart of this automotive masterpiece is a rebuilt Series III V12 engine from Team CJ in Austin, Texas, which has been thoroughly modernized by ECD with new fuel injection and cooling systems. The result is over 400 horsepower from Jaguar's magnificent V12, which is roughly double what the original engine produced when it was new. Think about that for a moment - they've taken one of the world's great engines and made it twice as powerful while presumably making it more reliable than it ever was from the factory. The V12 is mounted in a custom cradle that integrates seamlessly with the Series II chassis, proving that proper engineering can solve problems that lesser restorers simply ignore. This isn't a case of cramming an incompatible engine into an unsuitable chassis; it's a thoughtful integration that maintains the car's original character while dramatically improving its performance capabilities. The power reaches the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission, because ECD understands that automatic gearboxes belong in luxury saloons, not sports cars that were designed when driving was still considered a skill rather than a chore. The combination of 400+ horsepower and manual transmission means this E-Type can deliver the sort of performance that would have seemed impossible when the original was designed. Stopping all that additional power are six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes hiding behind 15-inch custom Turrino wheels. The brake setup represents a massive improvement over the original E-Type's stopping ability, which was notoriously inadequate for the car's performance capabilities. ECD has also fitted fully adjustable ride height and damping, allowing owners to fine-tune the car's behavior for different driving conditions. Jaguar E-Type GTO: interior modernization and classic styling What makes this restomod particularly clever is how ECD has hidden modern amenities behind a thoroughly convincing vintage cabin. The interior looks exactly like a proper 1960s British sports car should - covered in toggle switches, physical controls, and the sort of purposeful simplicity that modern cars have completely abandoned. The Spinneybeck Lucente Hercules leather seats, brushed aluminum dashboard, and Moal Bomber gauges create an environment that's both authentic and luxurious. But underneath this convincing vintage appearance lurks thoroughly modern convenience. The car features Bluetooth connectivity, heated seats, USB charging, automatic headlights, and power locks. It's the sort of seamless integration that allows you to enjoy classic car aesthetics without suffering classic car inconveniences. You can drive this E-Type daily without constantly worrying about whether it will start, overheat, or leave you stranded with electrical problems. The metallic British Racing Green paint is absolutely perfect - the only appropriate color for a British sports car that takes itself seriously. Combined with the rich brown leather interior and yellow fog lights, it creates a color scheme that's both classic and contemporary. The functional louvers and bullet mirrors add authentic period details that enhance rather than compromise the original design. ECD has even built a custom removable hardtop, transforming the open-top grand tourer into a proper coupe when weather conditions demand it. This attention to practical usability shows that the car was designed to be driven rather than simply admired, which is exactly what the original E-Type was meant for before it became a collector's piece. The fact that this particular car is a one-off commission called the Bridgewater Commission makes it even more special. This isn't a production restomod where corners are cut for profitability; it's a bespoke creation built to one client's exact specifications. The level of attention to detail and quality of execution reflects the unlimited budget and uncompromising standards that only custom builds can achieve. ECD's reputation for quality restomods extends beyond just E-Types to include Mustangs and Land Rover Defenders, but this particular car represents the pinnacle of their capabilities. It's proof that American companies can understand and improve British classics without losing the essential character that made them special in the first place. For anyone who's ever owned or driven an original E-Type, this restomod represents the car they always wished Jaguar had built - reliable, powerful, beautiful, and modern enough to use every day without compromise. It's the sort of automotive perfection that combines the best of classic design with contemporary engineering excellence. The E-Type GTO proves that restomods don't have to choose between authenticity and improvement. When done properly, they can enhance everything that made the original special while eliminating the frustrations that made classic car ownership a test of patience rather than a source of joy. This is how you honor automotive history - not by preserving it unchanged, but by making it better while respecting everything that made it great in the first place.
