Helm has announced the second in their series of Jaguar E-type Series 1 launches as they unveiled their Roadster this week. Working closely with Bill Amberg to produce sumptuous bespoke leather interiors, the aim is to preserve the art of the E-type for the next generation, whilst elevating the driving experience by building a car that is at the pinnacle of contemporary luxury.
Helm is the culmination of a lifetime’s work for restoration specialist Chedeen Battick, who boasts over a decade’s worth of experience restoring E-types.
“I wanted to create the ultimate E-type,” Battick said. “Remaining sensitive to its history, but ensuring the drive, build and performance is as good as it can possibly be, using the finest materials and British craftsmanship combined with the finest standards of modern engineering, instilling a feeling of love, care and attention to detail within each component.”
By utilising everything from 3D printing, LCD displays and parking sensor technology, soft-close doors and bespoke inertia seatbelts to upgrades in paint and metalwork as well as the quality of materials throughout, Helm has produced what they believe is the ultimate E-type.
Pictured here is car number two in a strictly limited edition of just 20 – each one requiring a build time of over 6,000 man-hours.
A classic, crafted interior to match
Working with Bill Amberg Studio to design the leather interiors as well as a pair of unique, made-to-measure weekend bags has been a genuine meeting of minds.
“Bill is a real car enthusiast,” says Chedeen. “He has a passionate opinion on what a classic car should look like, so this project has been a developing partnership. Bill’s aesthetic: luxury but understated, modern but classic, demonstrating the expertise of traditional British craftwork, perfectly matches our own at Helm.”
For his part, Amberg was enthused by the shared vision of updating a classic design with sensitivity and flair.
“Usually with a renovation project, you’re dealing with a flashy upgrade or a faithful recreation of what it looked like when it first came out on the factory floor,” says Amberg. “The idea was to create an interior for how the E-type could have been if the same attention was paid to the inside detailing, in order to match the iconic shape of the exterior. We’re trying to produce something that reflects the spirit of the car.”
Amberg was keen to introduce classic English racing detail in the leatherwork, using a combination of the finest suede and leathers previously used only in luxury residential interiors, playing up the textural differences between the two materials. The use of vegetable-tanned black leather adds a feel of discreet luxury and was created alongside the chassis build, with constant checks to ensure the bespoke design fits seamlessly.
The Roadster comes complete with its own set of purpose-built Bill Amberg luggage, too. ‘We thought it would be much better to have a more casual, spur-of-the-moment travel bag,’ Amberg explains. Made from soft, lightweight black Italian calf skin, the pair of bags are held neatly in place with handmade leather straps: the ultimate in weekend escapism.
