The 'E' Type Forum

Jaguar E Type V12 - the cat that knows how to leap

A V12 roadster with the top down on a sunny day - does it get any better than that ?
One thought though - could Jag have extended the life of the E-Type , if they had developed say ,a 3 litre engine , or even carried on with the XK unit , instead of fitting that very thirsty V12 ?

Mark, wasn’t the E Type losing out on US sales due to new legislation on crash worthiness, emissions, etc. to have its life extended without major and expensive re-working? Sadly the V12 intro coincided with various conflicts driving fuel prices rapidly up as it was launched.

Geoff

Jaguar could have done several things but the fundamental bind they were in was that the E type was no longer selling. The V12 in full emissions form and a 2+2 was barely any quicker than the old 4.2 so a 3 litre engine wasn't going to get you anywhere.

Remember that they couldn't sell the last Series 3 E types even with the plaque signed by Lyons himself. They languished in the showrooms for months if not years unsold....... I remember, I saw one there at Charles Clark Walsall.

Jaguar had decided the sports coupe was the way forward in the form of the XJS. Initial sales were slow but it did better later.