In this video Maikel Lemke visits from Germany to test drive and inspect the ‘junk’ 1967 Jaguar E-Type for our west coast trip down to Monterey. At the shop we see a MG Midget with a BMW 1800cc cylinder head from SC components and a 1964 Jaguar E-Type under full restoration with a vintage Abarth Exhaust. It concludes with a BBQ where we reveal our forward facing ventilation system designed by Chris Moyse.
Sets of the ventilation system will be available on demand for S1 and S2 E-Types please e-mail richardmichaelowen@gmail.com to be included in the next wave.
This week we have the honor to be featured in Sampson Boat Co’s episode were we help Leo hot rivet the Gaff Saddle of Tally-Ho, a famous sailing cutter yacht that has been completely restored and documented on YouTube.
This document shows factory production data for the Jaguar E-type Series 1 model in both 3.8 and 4.2-litre configuration as well as Jaguar E-type Series 2 4.2-litre compiled by the author and Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. It includes details on first chassis numbers by year for right-hand drive (RHD) and left-hand drive (LHD) models, and is divided into open two-seater (OTS) and fixed-head coupes (FHC) and 2+2.
Many countries titled cars on date of import instead of date produced, including USA and Canada which were often one-year out. Many documents such as Certificate of Title, Vehicle Ownership or Registration Certificate can mismatch date of manufacture.
Furthermore the state of California added a J-Tag near the chassis tag and prefixed cars J62, J63, J64, J65, J67, J68, J69 depending on year of import. For example the above car could have been registered J651E31166 or J661E31166 in the state of California. French import cars had an additional tag mounted on the RHF firewall.
Each body type has an independent linear sequence which means the number indicated only specifies the production within a particular type. Using our example chassis tag above, car 1E31166 is the 1166th LHD FHC produced with the OTS having a separate sequence. With this system is is possible for many cars to share the same number with a different prefix.
To get an accurate Heritage Document on the production data of any Jaguar a formal request can be to be submitted to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust https://www.jaguarheritage.com/
Jaguar E-type Series 13.8 (15,496 produced)
3.8 Engine Number Prefixes:
First engines have prefix R starting from 1001
From February 1963 onwards RA prefix beginning from 1001
Stamping is found on the engine block near the oil filter adapter, in the valley on the cylinder head, flywheel and crankshaft.
Most cars were suffixed 9 for 9.0:1 compression and some rare 8.0 and 7.0 cars were produced.
3.8 Body Number Prefixes:
For the open two-seater (OTS) models, body numbers start with R.
For the fixed-head coupe (FHC), body numbers start with V.
Body numbers begin at 1001.
Early Cars can often have mismatched body numbers, tags and stampings that are close within the range
Early Cars have bonnet stamping on the RH bonnet side stiffener.
Body number was often hand written with a grease pen/crayon on the front engine firewall, middle or side of the bonnet, backside of the dashboard near the glovebox, under original upholstery like the boot cover, floor mats, interior trim
Body tags were riveted on various locations of the body before paint, including the RHF engine firewall, LHR interior trunk and behind the license plate.
3.8 Production Chassis Numbers:
Chassis number is stamped on the chassis tag also known as the commission plate and on the LH side of the engine subframe known as the picture frame near the top shock absorber mount
Total of 15,496 3.8 E-Types produced.
The following table lists the 3.8-litre starting chassis numbers for each model year:
Year
OTS RHD
OTS LHD
FHC RHD
FHC LHD
1961
850001
875001
860001
885001
1962
850328
876471
860134
885399
1963
850646
878863
861052
888035
1964
850808
880808
861434
889752
Last
850943
881886
861799
890872
Total Production
942
6885
1798
5871
The “Last” row shows the final chassis numbers produced in August 1964.
In January 1962, E-Type production had a major body revision including a new dished floor panel also known as a heel well that was a considerable upgrade. Floor assemblies changed from BD15171 to BD23141 and these cars came with longer clutch pedal, longer brake pedal and revised carpet to match. Around this same time the bonnet louvres becoming integral instead of a welded insert panel.
Earlier cars became known as Flat Floor with a total of 2616 flat floor cars with breakdown as as follows:
Flat Floor Production
OTS RHD
OTS LHD
FHC RHD
FHC LHD
Final Flat Floor
850357
876581
860175
885503
Total Flat Floor
357
1581
175
503
2,616 E-Types are flat floor, 19.8% of all six-cylinder E-Types.
Around May/June 1962 it is important to note that Jaguar completely revisited the component level body production for all cars to ramp up production. Many sub-assembles switched suppliers, such as Pressed Steel to Abbey Panels for the FHC rear hatch. This revision started with chassis 850527/860581/877356/886093.
This large production revision outlined a specific body structure that would not change in any major capacity until 1971 with the introduction of the LWB S3 V12 model. This mid-1962 change point is when the monocoque and engine subframes were sufficiently modified for strength and passenger comfort.
E-Type floors and sills were modified and most notably, twin dished recess panels were included in the rear bulkhead behind seats. These work in conjunction with modified seat tracks that allow 1.5 inches of extra legroom.
Along with the dished rear firewall, the lightweight Reynolds 531 bonnet subframe featured larger gussets and the floor section was also modified with new jacking points and sills.
During this period the FHC received entirely new rear bodywork including rear fenders, rear boot hatch, rear boot hatch glass, rear boot prop rod, tail panel, fuel filler flap and rear signal light bases. This had the negative effect of limiting the first 1,491 coupes, or 13.6% of total production to different rear boot hatch metalwork and glass. FHC bodywork changed around coupe 860478/886013:
Early FHC Body
RHD
LHD
Last Early FHC Body Made
860478
886013
Total Early FHC Body
478
1013
1491 cars or 13.6% of total six-cylinder coupe production featured Early rear bodywork.
Jaguar E-type Series 14.2 (22,916 produced)
4.2 Engine Number Prefixes:
Engine number prefix: 7E with numbers starting from 1001.
2+2 models start from 5000.
4.2 Body Number Prefixes 4E:
1001 for open two-seaters (OTS)
20001 for fixed-head coupes (FHC)
50001 for two-plus-two (2+2) models
4.2 Production Chassis Numbers:
same as 3.8 for location and type
Automatic 2+2 cars featured suffix BW for Borg Warner
Year
OTS RHD
OTS LHD
FHC RHD
FHC LHD
2+2 RHD
2 + 2 LHD
1964
1E/1001
1E/10001
1E/20001
1E/30001
1965
1E/1078
1E/10441
1E/20139
1E/30454
1E/50001
1E/75001
1966
1E/1435
1E/12348
1E/21155
1E/32474
No record
1E/75010
1967
1E/1705
1E/14472
1E/21473
1E/34072
1E/50676
1E/76986
1967 S1.5
1E/1864
1E/15980
1E/21584
1E/34583
1E/50975
1E/77709
1968 S1.5
1E/1995
1E/16653
1E/21744
1E/34984
1E/51117
1E/77860
Last
1E/2183
1E/18367
1E/21958
1E/35814
1E/51379
1E/79221
Total Production
1182
8366
1957
5813
1378
4220
S1.5 Production
320
2479
375
1565
404
1577
The “Last” row shows the final chassis numbers produced in July 1968. S1.5 series an unofficial series designation starting in January 1967 with slight changes from earlier Series 1 models, including first the open-headlight bonnet then step wise evolution to Series 2. S1.5 production are best estimates from Stew Cleave.
Jaguar E-type Series 24.2 (18,808 produced)
4.2 Series 2 Engine Number Prefixes:
Engine number prefix: 7R with numbers starting from 1001
2+2 models from 35001
later cars had no cylinder head stamping and instead only one number on the LHR of the engine block
USA delivery cars featured double stromberg carberutors one of three variations of secondary intake manifolds.
4.2 Series 2 Body Number Prefixes 4R:
1001 for open two-seaters (OTS)
20001 for fixed-head coupes (FHC)
35001 for two-plus-two (2+2) models
4.2 Series 2 Production Chassis Numbers:
Some late cars designated for the US market and marked as 1971 model year have a prefix 2R instead of 1R, these featured a revised evap system with charcoal canister C32827.
Year
OTS RHD
OTS LHD
FHC RHD
FHC LHD
2+2 RHD
2+2 LHD
1968
1R/1001
1R/7001
1R/20001
1R/25001
1R/35001
1R/40001
1969
1R/1075
1R/8126
1R/20127
1R/25601
1R/35119
1R/40799
1970
1R/1499
1R/12201
1R/20605
1R/27572
1R/35697
1R/43437
Last
1R/1776
1R/14853
1R/21071
1R/28786
1R/36041
1R/44287
Total Production
775
7852
1070
3785
1040
4286
The “Last” row shows the final chassis numbers produced in July-October 1970.
Sources & Further Information
Michael Mueller & Dr Thomas F. Haddock. (2017). Jaguar E-Type Six-Cylinder Originality Guide. Dalton Watson Fine Books.
Malcom McKay. (2021). Original Jaguar E-Type. Porter Press International
Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. (2012). First Chassis by Year Records.
Stew Cleave. (2006). JCNA Model Year ’68 E-Type Judges Guide. JCNA
Picture Frames were stamped after paint and damaged the paint.Chassis Tags were riveted to the chassis and often wayward in orientation. This is among the best preserved I have seen.Many original tags, like this one suffered from fuel stains and are often replacedSeries 2 engine numbers had white paint to aid in reading, this is the junk E-Type engine.Original Cylinder Head Stamping with original metallic gold paint.
In this video we do final dry assembly of a 1961 AC ACE-Bristol BEX1169 and a 1952 Jaguar XK120 FHC Chassis 679514. On the Ace we fit the grill, headlight rings, doors, hood, trunk then do a testdrive. XK120 work included rebuilding the Lucas C45PVS Generator then doing a first engine run.
Owen Automotive is excited to share the discovery and purchase of 1962 Jaguar E-Type FHC chassis 885307 from a barn in Surrey BC, CANADA. It has not been seen since long-term storage starting in 1976.
This is an important discovery for early E-Type Coupes as this is the the 307th LHD Coupe of only 500 with the early design features such as welded-in hood louvres and a flat floor.
Furthermore this car is fully matching numbers with its original and rebuilt engine, cylinder head and all the date-coded components including the starter, generator, distributor, hydraulic master cylinders, washer motor and wiper motor.
This car was purchased in 1968 from Montreal and subsequently spent its life on the west coast of BC with Guy W. Newman of Newtronics Industries Ltd. audio and video systems. At his time it was fitted with an Eight-Track stereo and likely seen at Honey Bear’s Disco on 571 Seymour St in Vancouver BC.
We have purchased it in a state of disassembly and engine rebuild which began in 1976. That leaves us with the task of continuing the work to reunite engine R2938 with car. At one point the owner stored his engine in the master bedroom which might explain the white paint and chrome hardware.