Actually, E1 only applies to the 98 1/2. The confusion come from the fact that the 99 and 00 use the same wheels as the E1. E1 means first evolution according to Ford. The cut off date between E0 and E1 is Febuary 1, 1998. (Ok, it was actually the first business day of February, I don't have a calendar handy, I think it may have been 2/2/98. There would not have been any E1's build in January.)
Also, the term E0 did not come from Ford. It is a term derived by the CEG to designate the early 98. On that same vain of thinking I guess you could call a 99 an E2 and a 00 an E3.
