Folks-
I've seen a few messages about Jaguars here recently, and everyone seems
to want to know how to spot the various XK-E variations, so here's a quick
guide.
First of all, the car is called the
'E' Type [note single quotes and lack of hyphen]
by the "in" crowd, and it come in numerous flavors. The primary
delineation in the trade is by "Series," and they are very easy to spot if
you know what to look for.
Like many manufacturers of that period, Jaguar phased-in various changes,
so it is possible to find an interim example with some minor features of
one Series combined with other features from another Series; the Series 1.5
cars are the best (or perhaps most notorious) example of this.
The major breakdowns are:
Series 1: Primary spotting feature: Covered headlights.
The rear featured small taillights above the rear bumper. Early cars
(produced 1961-1964) were 3.8 litres, later cars (1964-1967) were 4.2
litres. 4.2 litre cars have "4.2" badge on rear deck. The "2+2"
(introduced in 1966) came only in 4.2 litres. The very earliest cars had
external bonnet catches operated with a removable T-handle like those on
Triumph TR-2 and early TR-3 cars, but these cars are quite rare. The open
2-seater and fixed-head coupe shared a wheelbase of 8'0"; the longer 2+2
had a wheelbase of 8'9". All were fitted with triple SU carburettors.
The introduction of the 4.2 litre engine also meant the introduction of an
all-synchro gearbox, as well as a change-over to negative-earth electrics
with an alternator rather than a generator.
Top speed, 150 MPH, 0-60 in 6.9 seconds (early 3.8 FHC; open cars and
later cars were slower).
Naturally, the Series 1 cars only became known as "Series 1" after the
fact ...
Series 1.5: Primary spotting features: Uncovered headlights in large
chrome bezel and small taillights above rear bumpers.
All are 4.2 litre cars with dual Stromberg carburettors. Details like the
dashboard switches, brake system, exterior lights, even the bumpers,
changed almost constantly in this 1967-68 production run, as various
changes to meet the US's "1968" vehicle laws were implemented. Same
wheelbase scheme as Series 1.
Top speed, 145 MPH, 0-60 in 7.2 seconds (FHC; open cars and 2+2
cars were slower, automatic 2+2 much more so.)
Series 2: Primary spotting features: Uncovered headlights and large
taillights under the rear bumper.
Again, all 4.2 litre cars, produced through September, 1970. The 2+2
finally lost the "giraffe carrier" look when the base of the windscreen
was moved forward to the front of the scuttle for Series 2. The more
normally proportioned windscreen on the 2+2 also meant two wipers, rather
than the standard three used on all previous 'E' Types. The open 2-seater
and FHC kept their traditional rooflines, triple windscreen wipers and 8'
wheelbases, with the 2+2 still riding on an 8'9" wheelbase. Series 2 cars
were produced from October, 1968, through September, 1970.
Top speed, 143 MPH, 0-60 in 7.2 seconds (FHC, open cars and 2+2
cars were slower, automatic 2+2 very much so.)
Series 3: Primary spotting features: Fender flares.
Still has uncovered headlights and large taillights under the rear bumper,
but now has an actual grille, and the introduction of flared fenders means
the Series 3 cars look much wider than earlier, more "tubular" cars. 5.3
litre V-12 engine. FHC discontinued, open 2-seater lengthened; both the
open 2-seater and 2+2 now have two windscreen wipers and ride on 8'9"
wheelbases. Produced from March, 1971 through September 1973 (2+2) or
February 1975 (open 2-seater.)
Top speed, 146 MPH, 0-60 in 6.4 seconds (open 2-seater, 2+2 cars were
slower, automatics very much so.)
US-market Series 3 cars frequently have pressed steel wheels, although
wire wheels were available. The earlier Series cars usually have wire
wheels, though pressed steel wheels were an option from Series 2 onward.
The wire wheel spinners lost their "ears" in March 1969.
Prior to the Series 3 cars, only the longer 2+2 bodyshell had room for an
automatic transmission; all the open 2-seaters and FHCs had four-speeds.
None had overdrive.
There were several very short production runs of "works special" cars, with
aluminium bodies, special aerodynamic shaping, and such as that. The
aluminium "Lightweight 'E' type" production run, for example, spanned
March, 1963, to January, 1964, but resulted in only 12 cars; these cars
were destined for the racetrack and chances are you'll never see one on the
street. The 3.8 litre Lightweight E had a dry-sump lubrication system,
fuel injection, a special "wide angle" cylinder head, five-speed gearbox,
and a 175 MPH top speed when geared for long tracks. Geared for shorter
tracks, a 0-60 time of 4.0 seconds was possible.
Good Jaguar spotting ....
-Shel
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