The Girl in the Red E-type

Among the hundreds of immaculately‑restored Jaguar E‑type cars driving around the Monterey Peninsula during the Pebble Beach ‘weekend’, one stood out just a little more than the rest.

It was a gorgeous Carmen Red 1965 E‑type Series 1 coupe with delightful 22‑year‑old Los Angeles student Toni Avery behind the wheel.

Toni and her father Ron had been invited by Jaguar to be part of the Pebble Beach 50^th Anniversary E‑type celebrations, displaying their prized Jaguar at key events during the weekend.

It was Toni, in fact, who did most of the driving duties; giving Jaguar‑invited media rides in the car along Carmel’s famous 17‑mile Drive, taking the car to Jaguar’s Thursday night kick‑off party and, on Saturday (Aug. 20), powering it around the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca track in a parade of E‑type vehicles.

“It’s such a special car to drive. Although it’s 46 years old, it feels very modern in the way it performs and handles. Sitting behind that wood steering wheel and looking out over that amazing hood, you really feel part of the car,” says Toni.

Toni’s father bought the E‑type in 2002 and she helped him work on it. “It was mostly cleaning and polishing.” Toni added.

One day while Ron was out driving, a SUV ploughed into the Jaguar demolishing most of the front end. He decided there and then that the E‑type should have a complete restoration. Six years later, it was back and better than new.

Since then the Jaguar has won numerous car show awards and has been the subject of a host of magazine articles.

“E‑type cars have a special place in our family. My father grew‑up with E‑type cars – my grandfather owned a 1963 3.8 coupe and then a 1965 4.2 coupe. Now I’m sharing that experience with my father,” explains Toni.