1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5

There are many distinguishing features of Jaguar’s big cat XKE. Disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering and independent front and rear suspension, just to name a few. It was a big jump from the XK150, but all you had to do was to look at the three times in a row Le Mans winning D-Type to see where the evolution came from. Jaguar’s new sports car took the motoring world by storm.

Jaguar utilized racing design principles developed in the D-Type, such as having the front subframe—which carried the engine, front suspension, and bonnet—attached directly to the body tub. This race-inspired setup saved a great deal of weight compared to the then-conventional use of a ladder frame chassis.

The early Series 1 cars came in two flavors, the 3.8-liter cars built from 1961 to 1964 and the 4.2 from 1965 to 1967. However, for a brief moment, there was a Series 1.25. It was identical to the Series 1, but it sported uncovered headlights.

Then came the next step, the Series 1.5. The XKE remained visually pretty much the same, albeit with open headlights, but  U.S. emission regulations saw the Jag’s triple SUs replaced by twin Zenith-Stromberg carburetors. This dropped horsepower from a stated 265 down to 246 and torque went down from 283 to 263. There were a few other supposed safety changes, such as the toggle switches were replaced with rocker switches (because maybe you could put your eye out!) Also, no more push button starter, at least the two eared knock offs that James Bond put to such good use on his Aston Martin were still there.

But nit-picking aside, the Series 1.5 is still a fine bit of kit. You have a 2866-lb car with 50/50 weight distribution, ample horsepower with drop dead styling…it’s a no-brainer.

Getting into an E-Type coupe is worth the trouble, the door is as small as it is on the roadster, but you now have to deal with the roof. Once ensconced, in the E’s driver seat you can’t imagine being anywhere else. You have a delicate wood-rimmed steering wheel in front of the two main Smiths gauges for speed and RPMs, while to their right on the center portion of the dash are the ones for battery, oil, clock, water, and fuel. Below the later are 10 safety-first rocker switches to control lights and the like.

Turn the key and the 4.2-liter straight six fires up with a proper big cat growl. Shifting into first gear is a sharp positive action and each gear change that follows is quick and precise.

On the road, you feel like you are following that long hood into every turn, with input from the steering wheel. That delicate feeling steering wheel feels so fragile in your hands, but when you realize it is not going to splinter away in your grip, you grab hold a bit tighter and push the Jag a bit harder, that’s when you start to feel the race breed heritage. The E-Type just seems to move through the air differently than other cars. It moves in a sensuous way like its namesake animal.

The E-Type is a very visceral machine, it is unapologetically analog. It doesn’t help you with computers and electronics. It’s you, the car, and the road. You put the effort in and the E-Type rewards you many times over. It smells, it sounds, and it feels truly British. And being British can bring up a host of faults, but when it’s right, it’s really right and not much could beat it.

Automotive legend has it that upon first laying eyes on it, Enzo Ferrari declared, “Jaguar’s E-Type is the most beautiful car in the world.” Whether it’s true or not, few would argue with the statement. But the XKE is not just a pretty face, it backs up its good looks with stellar performance.

SPECIFICATIONS

VALUATION