The Jaguar E-Type (XK-E for the North American market) is a sports car, based on the D-Type racing car, produced in England (Coventry) from 1961 to 1974 (3 series). It was sold as a 2-door roadster, a coupe and a 2+2 coupe with rear-wheel drive and a front-middle mounted engine. Its sleek looks, advanced technology, high performance and competitive pricing made it an icon. In total, just over 72,000 examples were produced.
The first series was launched in March 1961 and was produced until 1968. It was flooded for export and therefore domestic sales did not start until 4 months later. Initially the car was powered by a 3.8-litre I6 engine, but in 1964 the capacity was increased to 4.2-litres. This 4.2-litre version had a power output of 265 hp (198 kW) and allowed the car to reach a speed of 241 km/h (150 mph). The engines were mated to a 4-speed manual transmission, but a 3-speed automatic transmission for the 2+2 model was also available from 1966. In total, more than 38,000 examples of the Series 1 were produced.
Series 1 remains one of the purest expressions of the E-Type. It combined a long bonnet, low silhouette, independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, while the XK inline-six evolved from 3.8 litres to 4.2 litres during the production run.
CCK Quick Specs
Jaguar E-Type Series 1
