A Review of the Jaguar sports car, which covers development, important features and technical data for each model in the range from SS100 to E-Type.
In this article, I offer a nostalgic look at the Jaguar sports car, one of the elite group of classic cars, which was produced between 1936-1974.
In 1922 the Swallow sidecar Company created. The initial goal was to produce a motorcycle side cars, and then move the cars, such as Austin 7 Swallow.
In 1935 the name was changed to Jaguar cars and improved range of cars named SS Jaguars.
The Jaguar SS100
The first real Jaguar sports car was Jaguar SS100, built between 1936-1940. The "100" refers to the fact that it was capable of more than 100 mph, something almost unheard of at the time.
After WW2, twin overhead cam, straight 6-cylinder Jaguar XK engine was created.
The Jaguar XK120
In 1948 it was decided to add a new machine to a sports car. The Jaguar XK120 sports car with the XK engine was talked about in 1948 London Motor Show.
The XK120 was a two-seater convertible, first with aluminum panels. The "120" referred to this model a top speed of 120 mph.
In 1950, an all-steel version became the norm. A fixed-head coupe variant appeared in 1951, as well as drop head coupe in 1953. It used a 3.4 liter XK engine with aluminum cylinder heads, compression ratio of 8: 1, and two SU carburettors.
In 1949, a prototype XK120 achieved an average speed of 133 mph on the Belgian motorway.
By 1954, when the production of these Jaguar cars finished, convert bles 7631, 2678 fixed head coupes, and 1769 drop head coupes were built.
The Jaguar C-Type
1951 was C-Type Jaguar sports car introduced. It was also designated XK120-C, where "C", competition. It was essentially a racing car.
It incorporated with aerodynamically designed aluminum body built of lightweight tubular space frame chassis. The running gear was the XK120.
That layer 3.4 liter XK engine had compression ratio increased to 9: 1, but it held two SU Carburettors.
The engine in the second C-models were equipped with high lift camshafts and two SU were replaced by three two Choke Webber carburettors.
A total of 53 C-Types built. It was built for racing and in 1951 and 1953, won the Le Mans 24-hour race.
The Jaguar D-Type
In 1954, Jaguar Cars introduced the D-Type Jaguar sports car.
As subsequent versions of the C-type, it is used in a 3.4 liter XK engine with three two Choke Webber carburettors.
The structure, however, was well ahead of its time. It is used shell shaped structure with aluminum body panels and aluminum hose under the frame. This produced little resistance, aerodynamic profile.
The D-Type Jaguar cars were designed for competition:
In 1954, a D-Type won the Sebring 12 hour race
It won the 1955 and 1956 Le Mans 24-hour race
In 1957 Le Mans, D-Types took five of the top six places - this was the peak of racing history
The Jaguar XK140
In 1954 the XK120 Jaguar XK140 replaced by sports car.
There were minor style changes in the new car. It was available as a two-seater convertible, fixed head coupe and drop head coupe.
The standard engine was a 3.4 liter XK, with special equipment modifications used XK120. The power increased to 190 hp.
The XK 3.4-liter engine, with C-Type head (SE model), as used in the XK120 and developing 210 hp, was available as an accessory.
The Jaguar XK150
In 1957, the XK140 Jaguar XK150 sports car replaced. Like its predecessors, it was available as a two-seater convertible, fixed head coupe and drop head coupe.
A fast was to distinguish between the two Jaguar cars, XK140 and XK150, was that the latter used a one-piece windscreen, while the former used a split screen.
Both suspension and chassis was as the XK140 and was steering Rack and pinion steering.
The base engine was XK140 unit, a C-type head, producing 190 hp. However, commonly 3.4 SE unit with C-Type head and larger exhaust valves, producing 210 hp.
In 1958, 3.4 "S" engine appears, producing 250 hp.
In 1960, 3.4 liter engine bored out to 3.8 liters, producing 220 hp. The 3.8 "S" form, it developed 265 hp.
When the output of the XK150 ended 1960, 2265 convert notables, 4445 fixed head coupes, and 2672 drop head coupes these fabulous Jaguar cars had been built.
The Jaguar E-Type
In 1961 enigmatic E-Type Jaguar sports car launched.
The Series 1 E-Type was powered by 3.8-liter, triple SU carburetted engine used in XK150S.
In 1964, the 3.8 liter engine increased to 4.2 liters. The power and top speed of both Jaguar cars was the same, although the torque was increased.
All of the 1967 Series 1 was easily recognized by the glass-covered headlights her. It was available as a two-seater convertible or fixed head coupe. A 2 + 2 version of the fixed head coupe was available in 1966.
It was a transition series Jaguar cars built from 1967-1968, between Series 1 and Series 2 E-Types. This was referred to as Series 1.5.
By 1968, 15 498 Series 1 3.8, 1 4.2 16 195 Series, and 6726 Series 1.5 Jaguar cars were built.
In 1969, the Series 2 E-Type Jaguar sports car introduced. It was easy to distinguish from the Series 1 with open headlights, and wrap-around rear bumper.
Once again, it was available as a two-seater convertible, fixed head coupe, and 2 + 2 variants. It was powered by the 4.2 liter XK engine equipped with three SU carburettors.
By 1971, the 4855 fixed head coupes, convertibles bles 8628 and 5326 2 + 2 variant of the Jaguar cars were built.
In 1971, the Series 3 E-Type Jaguar launched. It was available as a two-seater convertible and 2 + 2 version, the fixed head coupe variants were discontinued.
The Series 3 was powered by a new 5.3-liter, V-12 cylinder, double overhead cam, XK engine. It is easy to identify with a separate grill and fishtail exhaust.
I like the 3 Series was the most desirable of all E-types produced by Jaguar Cars.
By 1974, 7990 and 7297 convertible 2 + 2 were built.
This marked the end of the E-Type Jaguar sports car.
Maybe this stroll down memory lane may have missed, or at least highlight, possibly question:
"What Jaguar Sports Car Is Your Favourite?"
However, should this question still remains unanswered, I will be reviewing in some detail in future articles in this website, a whole range of Jaguar sports cars that were featured in the memorable era spanning 1936-1974.
In this article, I offer a nostalgic look at the Jaguar sports car, one of the elite group of classic cars, which was produced between 1936-1974.
In 1922 the Swallow sidecar Company created. The initial goal was to produce a motorcycle side cars, and then move the cars, such as Austin 7 Swallow.
In 1935 the name was changed to Jaguar cars and improved range of cars named SS Jaguars.
The Jaguar SS100
The first real Jaguar sports car was Jaguar SS100, built between 1936-1940. The "100" refers to the fact that it was capable of more than 100 mph, something almost unheard of at the time.
After WW2, twin overhead cam, straight 6-cylinder Jaguar XK engine was created.
The Jaguar XK120
In 1948 it was decided to add a new machine to a sports car. The Jaguar XK120 sports car with the XK engine was talked about in 1948 London Motor Show.
The XK120 was a two-seater convertible, first with aluminum panels. The "120" referred to this model a top speed of 120 mph.
In 1950, an all-steel version became the norm. A fixed-head coupe variant appeared in 1951, as well as drop head coupe in 1953. It used a 3.4 liter XK engine with aluminum cylinder heads, compression ratio of 8: 1, and two SU carburettors.
In 1949, a prototype XK120 achieved an average speed of 133 mph on the Belgian motorway.
By 1954, when the production of these Jaguar cars finished, convert bles 7631, 2678 fixed head coupes, and 1769 drop head coupes were built.
The Jaguar C-Type
1951 was C-Type Jaguar sports car introduced. It was also designated XK120-C, where "C", competition. It was essentially a racing car.
It incorporated with aerodynamically designed aluminum body built of lightweight tubular space frame chassis. The running gear was the XK120.
That layer 3.4 liter XK engine had compression ratio increased to 9: 1, but it held two SU Carburettors.
The engine in the second C-models were equipped with high lift camshafts and two SU were replaced by three two Choke Webber carburettors.
A total of 53 C-Types built. It was built for racing and in 1951 and 1953, won the Le Mans 24-hour race.
The Jaguar D-Type
In 1954, Jaguar Cars introduced the D-Type Jaguar sports car.
As subsequent versions of the C-type, it is used in a 3.4 liter XK engine with three two Choke Webber carburettors.
The structure, however, was well ahead of its time. It is used shell shaped structure with aluminum body panels and aluminum hose under the frame. This produced little resistance, aerodynamic profile.
The D-Type Jaguar cars were designed for competition:
In 1954, a D-Type won the Sebring 12 hour race
It won the 1955 and 1956 Le Mans 24-hour race
In 1957 Le Mans, D-Types took five of the top six places - this was the peak of racing history
The Jaguar XK140
In 1954 the XK120 Jaguar XK140 replaced by sports car.
There were minor style changes in the new car. It was available as a two-seater convertible, fixed head coupe and drop head coupe.
The standard engine was a 3.4 liter XK, with special equipment modifications used XK120. The power increased to 190 hp.
The XK 3.4-liter engine, with C-Type head (SE model), as used in the XK120 and developing 210 hp, was available as an accessory.
The Jaguar XK150
In 1957, the XK140 Jaguar XK150 sports car replaced. Like its predecessors, it was available as a two-seater convertible, fixed head coupe and drop head coupe.
A fast was to distinguish between the two Jaguar cars, XK140 and XK150, was that the latter used a one-piece windscreen, while the former used a split screen.
Both suspension and chassis was as the XK140 and was steering Rack and pinion steering.
The base engine was XK140 unit, a C-type head, producing 190 hp. However, commonly 3.4 SE unit with C-Type head and larger exhaust valves, producing 210 hp.
In 1958, 3.4 "S" engine appears, producing 250 hp.
In 1960, 3.4 liter engine bored out to 3.8 liters, producing 220 hp. The 3.8 "S" form, it developed 265 hp.
When the output of the XK150 ended 1960, 2265 convert notables, 4445 fixed head coupes, and 2672 drop head coupes these fabulous Jaguar cars had been built.
The Jaguar E-Type
In 1961 enigmatic E-Type Jaguar sports car launched.
The Series 1 E-Type was powered by 3.8-liter, triple SU carburetted engine used in XK150S.
In 1964, the 3.8 liter engine increased to 4.2 liters. The power and top speed of both Jaguar cars was the same, although the torque was increased.
All of the 1967 Series 1 was easily recognized by the glass-covered headlights her. It was available as a two-seater convertible or fixed head coupe. A 2 + 2 version of the fixed head coupe was available in 1966.
It was a transition series Jaguar cars built from 1967-1968, between Series 1 and Series 2 E-Types. This was referred to as Series 1.5.
By 1968, 15 498 Series 1 3.8, 1 4.2 16 195 Series, and 6726 Series 1.5 Jaguar cars were built.
In 1969, the Series 2 E-Type Jaguar sports car introduced. It was easy to distinguish from the Series 1 with open headlights, and wrap-around rear bumper.
Once again, it was available as a two-seater convertible, fixed head coupe, and 2 + 2 variants. It was powered by the 4.2 liter XK engine equipped with three SU carburettors.
By 1971, the 4855 fixed head coupes, convertibles bles 8628 and 5326 2 + 2 variant of the Jaguar cars were built.
In 1971, the Series 3 E-Type Jaguar launched. It was available as a two-seater convertible and 2 + 2 version, the fixed head coupe variants were discontinued.
The Series 3 was powered by a new 5.3-liter, V-12 cylinder, double overhead cam, XK engine. It is easy to identify with a separate grill and fishtail exhaust.
I like the 3 Series was the most desirable of all E-types produced by Jaguar Cars.
By 1974, 7990 and 7297 convertible 2 + 2 were built.
This marked the end of the E-Type Jaguar sports car.
Maybe this stroll down memory lane may have missed, or at least highlight, possibly question:
"What Jaguar Sports Car Is Your Favourite?"
However, should this question still remains unanswered, I will be reviewing in some detail in future articles in this website, a whole range of Jaguar sports cars that were featured in the memorable era spanning 1936-1974.
