Great Expectations

By David Wallens

Grassroots Motorsports

Ever wonder if history’s most revered models live up to the hype? I have. Some older cars just seem better off when they’re in someone else’s garage. The Jaguar XKE doesn’t fall into that camp, and I recently spent some time with a nicely sorted one.

Wow, it pushes all of the buttons. It’s quick, poised, stylish, comfortable and oh so smooth. The shifter works well even by today’s standards, and that torsion bar front end really soaks up the bumps. And while low-profile tires might be all the rage, back then having a little extra sidewall helped keep NVH in check. Trust me, you want one.