Owen Automotive Canada

Jaguar E-Type Chassis, Body, Engine Numbers 1961-1971 by Richard Michael Owen

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.

Because many countries titled cars on date of import instead of date produced, many titles list an incorrect date. 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 would have been registered J651E31166 from the state of California. French import cars had an additional tag mounted on the RHF firewall.

Each of 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.

Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 (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 have bonnet stamping on the RH side stiffener and often slightly mismatched
  • 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 type

In early 1962, E-Type production had a major body revision including a new dished floor making the earlier cars designated as Flat Floor. Total of 1616 flat floor cars with breakdown as as follows

Jaguar E-type Series 1 4.2 (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

Jaguar E-type Series 2 4.2 (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.
• 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.

• 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