1969 Jaguar XKE E-Type

Sir William Lyons presented the E-Type in 1961 as his road-going successor to the racing D-Type. These vehicles had a long bonnet, curvaceous fenders, and pouting mouth. The design was the work of Malcolm Sayer, a legendary aerodynamicist, who was one of the first to apply the principles of aerodynamics to mass-production motorcar design.

The E-Type (or XK-E as it would be known in the United States), introduced at the March 1961 Geneva Auto Show, received rave reviews. The 1961 E-Type featured a double overhead cam engine, fully independent rear suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes (inboard at the rear, something usually found only on race cars). Clearly, the company's racing pedigree had found its way into a proper GT car.

The first series of the Jaguar XJ-E suffered from early teething problems including brake fade, overheating, and restrictive foot space. The 4.2-engined Series I and II cars addressed many of these complaints with larger brakes, improved cooling, and improved interior room. The second series (introduced in 1968) also brought important safety improvements which helped them comply with growing U.S. safety rules. They had larger tail lamps and open-style headlamps. Emissions were reduced thanks, in part, to two Zenith carburetors replacing the triple-carb arrangement. Externally, the radiator air intake increased substantially in size, and larger, full-width bumpers provided compliance with U.S. low-speed impact requirements.

Braking was improved the deletion of the Kelsey-Hayes bellows-type servo and replaced by a Lockheed vacuum booster. The large Girling disc brakes utilized three-piston calipers at the front and two-piston units at the rear. Another mechanical change was to the well-proven 4.2-liter six-cylinder engine, which received a higher-capacity water pump to help adapt better to warmer climates. The aluminum dash panels and center consoles were now covered in black leather. The seats became more accommodating and comfortable. Reclining seats with adjustable headrests were now standard.

Clearly, there were changes made to the car, all with retaining the style and beauty of the original XK-E. the only external distinguishing feature of the 4.2 E-Type was the badge on the trunk lid.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2011