Early Series 3's....

Stuart Exelby · Post by **Stuart Exelby** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 7:43 pm

Hi - does anyone know how many of the 4.2 litre Series 3's remain - I see on some of the websites that they say they are the rarest of all the E-Type's. Was there anything special about them other than the 6 cylinder engine - there doesn't seem to be much info about them - Anders' book doesn't really mention them or whether they had their own run of chassis numbers, for example....

christopher storey · Post by **christopher storey** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:24 pm

There may have been 3 , as I understand it, produced as factory mules, but I believe that all of them were "returned to produce" in factory parlance i.e. scrapped. Since then , I believe there have been 1 or 2 created from V12s because it was too difficult to repair the V12 for reasons that are well documented

Post by **Heuer** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 11:57 pm

Harry had one for sale a few years ago. I think there were 3 or 5 made and two 'escaped' into the wild. I have an article on them somewhere.

PeterCrespin · Post by **PeterCrespin** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:19 am

Yes, 2-3 still exist of the handful ever made. White or yellow I think one of them was. Came back to UK from US?

Simon P · Post by **Simon P** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:05 am

Here's one of them:

http://www.xkedata.com/cars/detail/?car=1S70001

Stuart Exelby · Post by **Stuart Exelby** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 8:37 pm

Ahh - fantastic Simon, thanks. I had looked for that very car - but on the "proper" chassis number rather than the one that is listed on the site - and it didn't come up on the search.

The reason for the question is that a friend of mine asked, having seen the car in a paint shop in the Midlands. So the car is very much still around - and being looked after if the new owner is treating her to a make-over!

Thanks again - I guess if more info is out there, it would be good to know, just for interests sake.

JPW · Post by **JPW** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 1:32 pm

I think I tripped over one of the other two:

I saw it late 2012 / early 2013, and was in a workshop in Hampshire.

If I recall correctly, it was RHD, and the exterior was a light green colour. It had been 'customised', with flared wheel arches (more than a standard Series 3), and Wolfrace type alloy wheels.

There may have been other mods, but the workshop manager pointed it out in passing, while we were chatting about other things. It looked well cared for, though.

Sorry that's not a more in depth, or helpful 'sighting', but it may serve to jog someone's memory?

Simon P · Post by **Simon P** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 3:11 pm

Andrew Morland's book - 'E-type Jaguar'- has a photo of one on p.84. It's silver with a grey interior, RHD with the UK number plate '1 HPA'.

DSJ's book - 'Jaguar E-type' - has a picture of one on p.108. It's a side-on B&W photo so all I can really say is that it's dark with a light interior and is RHD.

Interestingly the silver car has the flared arches whereas the dark car doesn't. They're both OTSs.

AussieEtype · Post by **AussieEtype** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 11:53 pm

Which would be considered the rarer and more collectable vehicle. The Series 3 with the OEM 6 cylinder 4.2 engine or the prototype Series 3s that were made up from modified Series 2 body shells and fitted with the V12?

I have never seen a 6 cylinder series 3 but locally there is one of the "X" Series 3 prototypes.

Garry

Stuart Exelby · Post by **Stuart Exelby** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 8:49 pm

Guys - thanks for all the replies - I let the chap know who told me about the car today (first opportunity after the Christmas break). Hopefully he will keep an eye on her - I think the paint shop is a regular haunt for him - so he may get some more info in time.

Thanks again - it's good to know these particularly special ones are still about.

BobbyG · Post by **BobbyG** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 11:39 am

There was a white 2plus2 series 3 4.2 sold at the Historic Brooklands auction early last year which I saw again at the Spring meeting in Dorking. It had an XK 4.2 engine and was a factory built car not a conversion. It was in every other respect a series 3.
Cheers Bob

Simon P · Post by **Simon P** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 12:27 pm

That'll be this one:

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/aucti ... -car).aspx

For a factory-produced UK-registered car, it's interesting to see that it's got a twin-Stromberg set-up.

EDIT: Link don't work :( It's Lot Number 248 on Page 5 of this one: http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/aucti ... 0/car.aspx

"Jaguar Cars produced four experimental E-Types in the Series III format, all with the 4.2 litre engines fitted. There were two righthand drive models; one roadster and one coup? and two lefthand drive models; one roadster and one coup?.

The righthand drive coup? on offer today is listed on the Jaguar heritage certificate as 'an Experimental project vehicle-project number ZX 537/35' and was fitted with a 4.2 litre engine. Not only is this a completely unique Jaguar E-type, it presents in splendid order throughout. Finished in Old English White with its original red leather trim, this matching numbers Jaguar was originally registered on 2nd February 1972 to Jaguar Cars Ltd and after 4 subsequent keepers, CHP678K underwent a total restoration in 1991 taking some four years to complete at a cost of over ?50,000. The restoration was carried out by Western Classics in Wiltshire and full photographic and documented evidence make up part of this outstanding car's history file. With virtually all the previous MoT test certificates available, the 50,348 miles is believed to be correct. Also included in the history file is a letter from Frank 'Lofty' England confirming the commissioning of the four Series III, six-cylinder, E-Types."

Simon P · Post by **Simon P** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 12:38 pm

And more on the same car here:

http://www.xkedata.com/cars/detail/?car=1S50106

Post by **Heuer** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 1:00 pm

And this is what JCNA have to say:

"6-CYLINDER SERIES 3 E-types per 1990 Jaguar Series 3 E-type JCNA AGM Seminar, page 2. The 6-cylinder Series 3 E-type is listed in the Jaguar catalog. However, it is believed that only six were produced, two of which were experimental cars. At least one 6-cylinder car survives in England and two were known to be in the United States. Chassis 1W700001, a FHC built in August of 1971 was last seen in New Jersey. These models are not covered in this guide, and because they are so rare (including authenticity documentation), it would be appropriate for these models to be entered in Special Division, Class 4, as authenticity, which is not judged in Special Division, would be impossible for the average JCNA Judge to know or Entrant to document."

Simon P · Post by **Simon P** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 1:22 pm

Also of interest to note is that the Brooklands car is the 106th RHD 2+2 produced, so it's not like the factory slotted in a 6-cylinder to create a 'mule' whilst they waited for the V12 to come on song. The fact that that particular car is described as one of two 'Experimental' cars and allotted a works experimental number suggests that the engine went in with a view to testing something.... but what?

Maybe we should refer to these cars as Series 2 1/2s :D

Gfhug · Post by **Gfhug** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 1:52 pm

Simon P wrote: Maybe we should refer to these cars as Series 2 1/2s :D

Simon, now who's being silly? The 1 1/2 was at least progress towards the ultimate, the S2. How can a 2 1/2 be progress?

Lowering head below parapet ready for incoming

AussieEtype · Post by **AussieEtype** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 11:32 pm

If you read that ad - it indicates that this white 4.2 Series 3 is a prototype/experimental car and not one of the very few production 4.2s. Remembering at that time the intention was to sell the 4.2 alongside the 5.3 but other than one or two examples none were produced. It would seem that the "experimental" series 3s in both V12 and 6 cylinder form are a little more common than "production" 6 cylinder Series 3 cars.

Garry

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