favourite sports car, the Series 1 E-Type had its
first pubic airing in the UK.
At the time I was a young schoolboy busy
blagging as many brochures as I could for my
collection and thought the E-type coupé displayed
on Jaguar’s stand had been beamed down from
another planet. Here was a 3.8-litre 150mph
track inspired supercar that instantly made every
other mass-produced British-built sports car of the
period, such as the Austin-Healey and MGA, look
old fashioned and frumpy. Move on over half a
century – gosh, was it really that long ago – and in
my book an early E-Type, whether it’s a coupé or
roadster, has a far sleeker profile than the chunky-
looking Series 3. The reason for this is because
the V-12 powered Series 3 E-Type was based on
a version of the taller two-plus-two’s monocoque,
a profile that seems to be at odds with William
Lyons’ and Malcolm Sayer’s original design. Series
3 E-Types have a much taller windscreen when
compared to an early drophead; a feature that
in my opinion completely ruins the E-type’s finely
sculptured profile.
However, it’s not enough to score points in
just harping on about the early E-Type’s good
looks. Six-cylinder powered E-types are more
responsive to drive and a well-sorted 4.2-litre
XK engine will deliver more than enough power
to put a smile on even a card-carrying doubter’s
face. While the overlapping burbling noise
escaping from the Series Three’s purposeful
line-up of tail pipes nestling beneath the rear
number plate is music to the ears, the majority
of this gorgeously smooth V12 engine is hidden
from sight by a tangle of fuel lines and cables
and looks a complete mess, despite there being
enough power on tap to tow a battleship.
Open the bonnet on a show condition 3.8 or
4.2-litre E-Type and the view is dominated by the
trade mark alloy cam covers on top of the car’s
XK straight six complemented by line up of three
fuel-hungry SU carburettors. With its huge shark-like
forward hinged bonnet raised out of the way, an
early E-Type’s engine bay could pass for modern
art, as could the layout of the car’s independent
rear suspension, part of which can be seen while
studying the back of the car. In my book, early
E-types, whether in coupé or roadster format, tend
to drive as well as they look and so it’s the Series
1, 1½ and 2 E-types that deserve to take the
crown in my book.
The Facts
1965 Jaguar E-type S1 coupé
Engine: 4235cc DOHC inline-six
Max power: 265bhp at 5400rpm
Max speed: 156mph
0-60mph: 7.6sec
Economy: 17.1mpg
E-Type Series 3
Paul Wager, Editor-In-Chief
The key to finding the appeal of the Series 3
is not so much to compare it with the early
56 Classic Car Mart Spring 2016