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1971 Jaguar E Type V12 Series III

At around 7pm on Tuesday 14 March 1961, Jaguar’s PR department employee, Bob Berry, left Browns Lane, Coventry in a fixed head E-type, registered 9600 HP. Berry drove virtually flat out through the night, arriving in Geneva, where he drove to the local Jaguar distributor for a 20-minute wash and polish, before heading to the Parc des Eaux Vives for the public unveiling by Sir William Lyons. Surrounded by up to 200 members of the press, 9600 HP caused a sensation, and so did the price! At £2097 for the Roadster and £2196 for the FHC, it was considerably cheaper than similar performing cars from Ferrari, Aston Martin and Chevrolet, and was on a par with much slower cars from Porsche and AC. In fact, the E-type was initially sold at a cheaper price than the outgoing XK150.

Date of Manufacture: 21st October 1971

A new 5.3 L twelve-cylinder Jaguar V12 engine was introduced, with uprated brakes and standard power steering. The short wheelbase FHC body style was discontinued and the V12 was available only as a convertible and 2+2 coupé. The convertible used the longer-wheelbase 2+2 floorplan. The Series 3 is easily identifiable by the large cross-slatted front grille and flared wheel arches, and a badge on the rear that proclaims it to be a V12. Cars for the US market were fitted with large projecting rubber bumper over-riders (in 1973 these were only on the front), and in 1974 on both front and rear to meet local 5 mph (8 km/h) impact regulations, but those on European models were considerably smaller. US models also have side indicator repeaters on the front wings. There were also a very limited number of six-cylinder Series 3 E-Types built, and these were featured in the initial sales literature.

When leaving the factory the V12 open Two Seater and V12 2 ± 2 originally fitted Dunlop E70VR − 15 inch tyres on 15 × 6K wire or solid wheels.

 

 

Engine

V12, dohc

Bore & Stroke: 87mm x 106mm

Displacement: 3,781cc

Compression ratio: 9 to 1

Carburettors: 4

Power output: 265bhp at 6,000rpm

Transmission

RWD, 4-speed manual, synchromesh on top 3 ratios,

Borg-Warner automatic option

Performance

Maximum speed: 143mph

Acceleration: 0-60mph 6.8secs

O.F.C.: 15.2mpg

Wheels

Knock-on 15in wire wheels with Dunlop R15 93h tyres

Dimensions & Weight

Wheelbase: 8ft 9in

Track – Front: 4ft 6.4in

Track – rear: 4ft 5.4in

Overall length: 15ft 5.6in

Overall width: 5ft 6.1in

Overall height: 4ft 0.1in

Ground clearance: 5.5in

Kerb weight: 30cwt

Chassis

Steel moncoque with square tube sub frame at front,

Press steel sub frame at rear

Steering

Rack and pinion

Suspension

Front: Independent with torsion bars, wishbones, anti roll bar

Rear: Independent, double spring/shock units, transverse lower links,

Longitudinal radius arms

Production

Convertible: 7,990 2+2 Coupes: 7,297

Total all series III:  15,287

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