1967 Jaguar XKE E-Type

First introduced at the Geneva Auto Show in 1961, the E-Type incorporated technical brilliance and advanced design. It was a direct evolution and road-going version of the Jaguar D-Type race car that was a three-time winner of LeMans. The brainchild of Malcolm Sayer—formerly a designer for the Bristol Airplane Company during World War II—principles of aerodynamic low drag was applied to its slippery shape. Likewise, the monocoque method of construction was aircraft-inspired. The overall mechanical architecture included a 4-wheel independent suspension, a dual overhead cam inline 6-cylinder engine, rack-and-pinion steering, and 4-wheel disc brakes. The Series 1 E-Type was produced from 1961-67. The 1965-1967 versions brought several welcomed improvements including the fully synchromesh 4-speed gearbox that replaced the crash first-gear style, the enlarged 4.2-liter engine (versus the previous 3.8-liter), and an alternator that replaced the old generator.

The Jaguar XKE E-Type was available as a convertible or coupe and in 1966, an enlarged 2+2 coupe was introduced. In 1967, the XKE received only minor updates and changes. Power was from a 4.2-liter twin-cam six-cylinder engine offering 265 horsepower. A four-speed manual gearbox was standard and an option dual-range Borg-Warner automatic was available.

The XK-E rested on a 96-inch wheelbase platform while the 2+2 Coupe was nine inches longer, measuring 105 inches. Pricing for the Roadster began at $5,380 while the coupe cost an additional $200. The Coupe 2+2 sold for $5,870 which was nearly the same price as its stablemate, the 420 Sedan.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2017