The V12 is my favourite E-type. It's proportions, in my eye are fantastic.The stance and the bulges along with wider tyres. The earlier models always looked a little under-fed in the tyre department.
The Series 1 got narrow wheels/tires in part to help it achieve its advertised top end, less aerodynamic drag. Back in the early '70s I had a Series 1.5 that had wire wheels that needed rebuilt/trueing, it was actually pretty economical to convert it to Minilite mags on knockoff (on) hubs. I went with 6 inch rims but could've gone to 7s for a couple dollars more. In hindsight... Fast forward to the early '90s and I bought an '84 XJS, a beauty, well kept, teal color that had had a very good respray, kept that a couple years. Last May I bought a '16 F-Type 3.0 S 6mt coupe, it has every option, a very nice car. In early February I added an '06 XJ8 VDP 4.2 LWB. Beautiful cruiser, 80,000 miles, converted to coil-overs when it was in Canada. I'm an old man, 77, but I have to say that women really like that XJ8, several have approached me to say how much they like it. A crumpet collector car. There's a lesson there for the younger men.
Something is wrong here. There is no way you are "properly bunched up" in that S3 E-Type, or your passenger has his "knees around his ears." Those cars have tons more room in them than a S1/2. My 6'5" buddy rides in the passenger seat of my '74 S3 without putting the seat track back all the way, and at 6'0" and over 200 Lbs, I have all sorts of room! And the larger parcel shelf comes in handy. The S3 is the best classic going in terms of being a great compromise between a GT and sports car, especially with the manual 4-speed and poly bushings fitted to the suspension. My S3 also has upgraded torsion bars, and it handles like a knife. I can easily smoke any standard S1 in handling and power, and the longer wheelbase gives a far superior highway ride, which is much appreciated on long drives.
The XJS is probably the one, having been designed with that engine in mind, although the E-Type V12 would be a good weekend driver. That said, compliments to all involved with the E-Type V12. They gave it a go creating a car you're talking about 50 years later, nothing too wrong with that.
No, I like them. I saw a late convertible, in beige just yesterday - and it looked great! Much as I love the XJS (probably my all time favourite Jag), I can understand the shock when it was launched.
My father owned a V12 2+2 from new, in a pastel shade of pink, but only kept it for about eighteen months, as it was too compromised as a GT car. He traded it for a new series 2 XJ12, also in pastel pink!
Love my 1973 roadster, my favorite of all e types. get the suspension set up properly and it drives great. I have fitted SU carbs and a tuned exhaust plus a 2.88 diff which transformed it
I'd be interested to hear more about that Nick, I have a '71, unmodified as yet, although I have got a 2.88 diff ready for it at the back of the garage, a tip off from someone I met at a show, but it's a new idea to everyone else I've spoken to....
I bought a low mileage 2 owner car and have spent the last two years doing various mods to improve driveability and reiability. here is a list of what i have done 1. SU carb conversion this has made the car perform better and was a no brainer as the origibnal carbs needed a full rebuild 2. Modern oil filter conversion 3. modern alternator which charges far better than the original 4. high rorque starter motor 4. Uprated torsion bars from Rob Beere engineering5. Uprated height adjustable rear shocks and uprated springs fromRob Beere I have raised the ride height about an inch all roaund which means I dont catch the exhaust 6. Exhaust from Classic Fabrications gives a better gas flow 7, The diff - I had my original rebuilt and still wasnt pleased with it. I found a great guy that just does Jag diffs and got him to supply a 2.88 which gives relaxed 80-90 mph cruising. I had thought about getting a Getrag 5 speed box but am glad I have done it the way I did@@SPC22
I have a S3 roadster (also primrose) and it isn’t as pretty as an S1 with covered headlamps but I cannot agree with some of the negative comments on here. It’s fast, handles really well if set up properly and well maintained , is really comfortable for a 2-seat roadster of the early 70’s and that V12 is glorious. Mine is an automatic too. It has bags of torque so you don’t have to change down but I can always drop it into 2nd on the lever, and I do. It is an old car, don’t judge the box by modern standards. Brakes are good, steering is light but precise and it’ll whisk you down to Le Mans Classic as well today as it would have in ‘73. £50 to 60k for a good one in this difficult market. Maybe £30 to 40k less than an S1. As for the XJS, I have had those too but the S3 E type is definitely more sporty despite being more GT-ish than the S1, it isn’t as GT-ish as the XJS which doesn’t pretend to be a sports car at all. The XJS is also more refined, which is nice but it’s less visceral. I’ll take the S3 (and an S1 for the weekend).
I don't mind the S3 in the convertible guise but it's a real munter as a FHC having adapted the 2+2 body. I do like that the wheels fill out the arches a lot better on the S3 though.
Having the fortune to be able to choose between a Princess or a XJS, I think I would have the XJS over an E Type, although the V12 is my favourite E Type.
I drove a series 1 and I hated it, it was like driving a tractor and the manual box was awful. It put me off E Types completely. Nice to look at but that's about it.
Je roule de puis près de 14 ans avec une S2 FHC, 4,2L , 3 carbs, boite 5, un vrai bonheur, pour ce qui concerne la série 3, c'est une affaire de goût, sans environnement de mécanicien compétent et un bon portefeuille, passez votre chemin!
As a Jaguar fan of the time I could never bring myself to like the XJS much as I wanted to. If you think the Series 3 E was compromised by the requirements of the American market what, objectively, do you think about the effects of that market on the XJS? It could, from some of the early design sketches, etc have been a good looking car but the end product?? The XJ12C was by contrast a great looking car. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Ha‼️ I have both. My S3 E is silver gray, and my XJ-S is that brilliant red. I also have a primrose 1970 S2 E Coupe with sunroof and modified engine with three SU carbs. The last named is the best performer..
Flared arches meant it was now trying too hard, and along with the now 'open' headlights, longer wheelbase, rear light clusters, and 'Banana Splits' face, it had drifted too far from the original
I never understood why the E-type was so lauded for its looks. I always found it to be ill proportioned and narrow tracked. Ferrari and Lambourghini's of that era were far better looking. However in terms of performance per pound, nothing touched the Jaguar, they were almost too cheap. There was scope to charge more to generate the higher profits needed to fund a better E-type than the eventual series 3.
I’m afraid I’m with you here. I adore the E-Type but the series 3 was too compromised, not anywhere near as pretty as the series 1 and just a bit too Americanised for my tastes. I’ve had a couple of XJS’s and they were both brilliant and gorgeous. The XJS wins my vote 👏
I owned 2 sixes and 2 twelves. You are both crazy. The twelve was a major improvement over all sixes in every way. The 6 was too short, and the 12 was perfect, but unfortunately everything built by Jaguar is nothing but a total piece of junk from end to end. I had a 67’, 70’, 72’ and 73’. When I purchased when nearly new, I would not pay that little bit to have again today. I will never own a car that you need a rollback to follow you around to get home. The 12 Rolls-Royce’s I own and have own are just barely reliable enough to pass. I enjoyed the deTomaso Pantera’s and Ferrari cars much better, and extremely reliable. Just never buy newer than when Enzo Ferrari passed. I would never consider any of these ridiculous excuses for a car a Ferrari. Lamborghini, only the Miura SV and Countach SV or 5000. The rest are junk.
Did I forget to mention that all the early Series 3's I saw were always parked with the hoods up. Just as unreliable as those V8 Aston Matins. Just not as ugly. At least Maserati kept a six for a while longer thou way out my league. Till Citroen screwed them.
As said, series 3 is a deformed E made to an American market that thought Corvette's and Mustangs were sports cars. The XJ has to be the ugliest Jag ever made. Oh, did I forget the MK X boats.
Not a massive fan. The V12 is a lovely engine and the Series 3 E Type is still a good looking car (though not a stunner like the Series 1 imo) but agree its too compromised. At least this example had the manual gearbox rather than the dreadful 3 speed auto which strangled the V12 though most auto boxes from this era are crap.
I’ve owned both the series 3 e type and the XJS. Both are superb to drive, but the XJS is so ugly. It looks like 3 people designed it while they weren’t talking to each other!
I owned 2 sixes, and 2 twelves from age 15, to early twenties, then Pantera’s and then only Ferrari. This person narrating this video didn’t say one accurate thing regarding the difference between the series one and two, versus the three! I won’t get started with that because this video was definitely not one bit accurate. The twelves were a major improvement over all sixes. If he owned four like I have, he would know that. Unfortunately all Jaguars are a total nightmare to own. Again, I won’t even begin to list the many things wrong with all of them. I will tell you this. The Pantera’s were ten times better than any Jaguars, and would blow all off of the road. As well they handled many times better, and were extremely reliable. The only problem I had was the distributor was located in front of the engine low and behind the cabin which with heavy rain would cause the distributor to get a little wet. Easy fix for only $5. Go to a Hardware or Auto Parts Store and purchase a spray can of clear sealant. Spray the distributor very thoroughly, and end of problem!! Only purchase the ‘71 to mid ‘72. The mid ‘72 lost much power for US cars because of emission standards like all US Cars. After so many years, they in original form are becoming very valuable. Ferrari I owned was a great car, but not an everyday car like the Pantera. I am currently adding a F355 and a genuine Daytona Spyder to my collection. Expensive to maintain, but I could care less as the Daytona is headed in original Spyder form to be worth tens of millions.
0:59... you're out of y0ur bloke UK minds. No one wants a 6-cylinder over the 12-cylinder. This IS the pinnacle of the XKE. Those 60's models look ugly like the cars on the Speedracer cartoon. V12 for the win...
Throttled by American emissions regulations, really lads? That's a stinker! Now I should of been an yank myself as I ditched my mx5 fir a V8 Lexus and much prefer it. I'm in a decidedly small minority I know but the Mazda didn't do anything for me, my current convertible has way more power, is more comfortable and even has a decent horn!
Not at all. For a great marque that was born out of the D-type and powered by the legendary XK 150 engine.. The V 12 with its automatic gearbox ... its made for America.@@ClassicsWorldUK
The V12 is my favourite E-type. It's proportions, in my eye are fantastic.The stance and the bulges along with wider tyres. The earlier models always looked a little under-fed in the tyre department.
Totally agree.
The argument it is different to the series 1 is true, but nobody ever says that about a 911 and how that has changed over the years.
The Series 1 got narrow wheels/tires in part to help it achieve its advertised top end, less aerodynamic drag. Back in the early '70s I had a Series 1.5 that had wire wheels that needed rebuilt/trueing, it was actually pretty economical to convert it to Minilite mags on knockoff (on) hubs. I went with 6 inch rims but could've gone to 7s for a couple dollars more. In hindsight...
Fast forward to the early '90s and I bought an '84 XJS, a beauty, well kept, teal color that had had a very good respray, kept that a couple years. Last May I bought a '16 F-Type 3.0 S 6mt coupe, it has every option, a very nice car. In early February I added an '06 XJ8 VDP 4.2 LWB. Beautiful cruiser, 80,000 miles, converted to coil-overs when it was in Canada. I'm an old man, 77, but I have to say that women really like that XJ8, several have approached me to say how much they like it. A crumpet collector car. There's a lesson there for the younger men.
Something is wrong here. There is no way you are "properly bunched up" in that S3 E-Type, or your passenger has his "knees around his ears." Those cars have tons more room in them than a S1/2. My 6'5" buddy rides in the passenger seat of my '74 S3 without putting the seat track back all the way, and at 6'0" and over 200 Lbs, I have all sorts of room! And the larger parcel shelf comes in handy. The S3 is the best classic going in terms of being a great compromise between a GT and sports car, especially with the manual 4-speed and poly bushings fitted to the suspension. My S3 also has upgraded torsion bars, and it handles like a knife. I can easily smoke any standard S1 in handling and power, and the longer wheelbase gives a far superior highway ride, which is much appreciated on long drives.
I love the series III. It looks fantastic and it wouldn’t cross my mind to call it “ruined” or “misjudged”
The XJS is probably the one, having been designed with that engine in mind, although the E-Type V12 would be a good weekend driver. That said, compliments to all involved with the E-Type V12. They gave it a go creating a car you're talking about 50 years later, nothing too wrong with that.
Absolutely, not a bad starting point!
A white XJ-S like Simon Templar had in The Return Of The Saint. Though my budget only stretches to the Corgi model... 😁👍
No, I like them. I saw a late convertible, in beige just yesterday - and it looked great! Much as I love the XJS (probably my all time favourite Jag), I can understand the shock when it was launched.
My father owned an E-Type 2+2 in period and I loved being driven to school in it, so I always hankered after the V12.
I live in Australia and owned a series 3 2+2. Great on the highway in a straight line but hopeless on twisty roads and over heated in traffic.
The Series 1 E-Type set the bar so high that nobody, not even Jaguar themselves could better it. And I absolutely HATE the rear lights on a Series 3.
My father owned a V12 2+2 from new, in a pastel shade of pink, but only kept it for about eighteen months, as it was too compromised as a GT car. He traded it for a new series 2 XJ12, also in pastel pink!
Love my 1973 roadster, my favorite of all e types. get the suspension set up properly and it drives great. I have fitted SU carbs and a tuned exhaust plus a 2.88 diff which transformed it
I'd be interested to hear more about that Nick, I have a '71, unmodified as yet, although I have got a 2.88 diff ready for it at the back of the garage, a tip off from someone I met at a show, but it's a new idea to everyone else I've spoken to....
I bought a low mileage 2 owner car and have spent the last two years doing various mods to improve driveability and reiability. here is a list of what i have done 1. SU carb conversion this has made the car perform better and was a no brainer as the origibnal carbs needed a full rebuild 2. Modern oil filter conversion 3. modern alternator which charges far better than the original 4. high rorque starter motor 4. Uprated torsion bars from Rob Beere engineering5. Uprated height adjustable rear shocks and uprated springs fromRob Beere I have raised the ride height about an inch all roaund which means I dont catch the exhaust 6. Exhaust from Classic Fabrications gives a better gas flow 7, The diff - I had my original rebuilt and still wasnt pleased with it. I found a great guy that just does Jag diffs and got him to supply a 2.88 which gives relaxed 80-90 mph cruising. I had thought about getting a Getrag 5 speed box but am glad I have done it the way I did@@SPC22
I have a S3 roadster (also primrose) and it isn’t as pretty as an S1 with covered headlamps but I cannot agree with some of the negative comments on here. It’s fast, handles really well if set up properly and well maintained , is really comfortable for a 2-seat roadster of the early 70’s and that V12 is glorious. Mine is an automatic too. It has bags of torque so you don’t have to change down but I can always drop it into 2nd on the lever, and I do. It is an old car, don’t judge the box by modern standards. Brakes are good, steering is light but precise and it’ll whisk you down to Le Mans Classic as well today as it would have in ‘73. £50 to 60k for a good one in this difficult market. Maybe £30 to 40k less than an S1. As for the XJS, I have had those too but the S3 E type is definitely more sporty despite being more GT-ish than the S1, it isn’t as GT-ish as the XJS which doesn’t pretend to be a sports car at all. The XJS is also more refined, which is nice but it’s less visceral. I’ll take the S3 (and an S1 for the weekend).
I reckon the ground clearance is amazing. More than current SUV.
I love the looks of an E Type all day long but my favorite model is a 911 … Now that’s a driver’s car !
The black sheep? I would consider the 2+2 being that. The V12 roadster manual is lovely in its own right. Good episode though!
I don't mind the S3 in the convertible guise but it's a real munter as a FHC having adapted the 2+2 body. I do like that the wheels fill out the arches a lot better on the S3 though.
Having the fortune to be able to choose between a Princess or a XJS, I think I would have the XJS over an E Type, although the V12 is my favourite E Type.
I drove a series 1 and I hated it, it was like driving a tractor and the manual box was awful. It put me off E Types completely. Nice to look at but that's about it.
I remember thinking exactly the same when I drove a 3.8 E Type.
@@iancross4631Glad it's not just me. 👍
Not to mention the ludicrous price tag and the ridiculous price to to restore these rust buckets.
Je roule de puis près de 14 ans avec une S2 FHC, 4,2L , 3 carbs, boite 5, un vrai bonheur, pour ce qui concerne la série 3, c'est une affaire de goût, sans environnement de mécanicien compétent et un bon portefeuille, passez votre chemin!
I liked the series 3, looked better with steel wheels
Agreed!
A great car in arguably it's worst guise, or a much maligned model with the best spec..? I can't believe it, but I'm picking the XJ-S. 🤯
Good man! -Joe
I love the e-type but I can't sit in series 1 and 2 so for me it was a no-brainer if I wanted an e-type it had to be a s3
A XJS convertible would be my pick. Having driven a XJS coupe l found head room was very limited.
As a Jaguar fan of the time I could never bring myself to like the XJS much as I wanted to. If you think the Series 3 E was compromised by the requirements of the American market what, objectively, do you think about the effects of that market on the XJS? It could, from some of the early design sketches, etc have been a good looking car but the end product??
The XJ12C was by contrast a great looking car.
Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The icon was absolutely not ruined... an appropriate finale to the E series.
I’m like the Captain…love the machine more than flying…
I love the Series III... just sit in one and you'll see.
Ha‼️ I have both. My S3 E is silver gray, and my XJ-S is that brilliant red. I also have a primrose 1970 S2 E Coupe with sunroof and modified engine with three SU carbs. The last named is the best performer..
I love the e type but it's the xjs for me
My understanding is that the e type was a bit of a test bed for the engine before they put it into their XJ
Flared arches meant it was now trying too hard, and along with the now 'open' headlights, longer wheelbase, rear light clusters, and 'Banana Splits' face, it had drifted too far from the original
I’ll stick with my Series 1 Roadster thankyou very much. Mind you I am looking for a Series 2 2 + 2 now I am getting on a bit
it is the purest car and a fabulous thing
I own multiple jags I can assure you the 12 is a maintenance headache
I never understood why the E-type was so lauded for its looks. I always found it to be ill proportioned and narrow tracked. Ferrari and Lambourghini's of that era were far better looking.
However in terms of performance per pound, nothing touched the Jaguar, they were almost too cheap. There was scope to charge more to generate the higher profits needed to fund a better E-type than the eventual series 3.
Did they make the 2+2 Coupe with a V12? I still want a 2+2 if i can find a red one in great shape.
Sure did. I owned a 1972 Series III V12 2+2 coupe. Glorious machine to drive, but high maintenance.
Favorite version. End of story.
The roadster didn't look too bad in the series 3 but the coupe jus tlooked really ugly.
@@alancrisp1582 not for everyone,mate,not for everyone..😏
@@alancrisp1582 I do really like the Series 1 and 2 though in coupe and roadster form just not the series 3 coupe.
I’m afraid I’m with you here. I adore the E-Type but the series 3 was too compromised, not anywhere near as pretty as the series 1 and just a bit too Americanised for my tastes. I’ve had a couple of XJS’s and they were both brilliant and gorgeous. The XJS wins my vote 👏
Another good video ⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍👍👏👏👏👏
I owned 2 sixes and 2 twelves. You are both crazy. The twelve was a major improvement over all sixes in every way. The 6 was too short, and the 12 was perfect, but unfortunately everything built by Jaguar is nothing but a total piece of junk from end to end. I had a 67’, 70’, 72’ and 73’. When I purchased when nearly new, I would not pay that little bit to have again today. I will never own a car that you need a rollback to follow you around to get home. The 12 Rolls-Royce’s I own and have own are just barely reliable enough to pass. I enjoyed the deTomaso Pantera’s and Ferrari cars much better, and extremely reliable. Just never buy newer than when Enzo Ferrari passed. I would never consider any of these ridiculous excuses for a car a Ferrari. Lamborghini, only the Miura SV and Countach SV or 5000. The rest are junk.
Definitely E-Type, always E-Type
It’s very pretty
E type
Did I forget to mention that all the early Series 3's I saw were always parked with the hoods up. Just as unreliable as those V8 Aston Matins. Just not as ugly. At least Maserati kept a six for a while longer thou way out my league. Till Citroen screwed them.
I like them.
As said, series 3 is a deformed E made to an American market that thought Corvette's and Mustangs were sports cars. The XJ has to be the ugliest Jag ever made. Oh, did I forget the MK X boats.
Not a massive fan. The V12 is a lovely engine and the Series 3 E Type is still a good looking car (though not a stunner like the Series 1 imo) but agree its too compromised. At least this example had the manual gearbox rather than the dreadful 3 speed auto which strangled the V12 though most auto boxes from this era are crap.
I definitely thing the manual is the one to have
Id take the mk3 e type i cant see a good thing about the xjs styling whatsoever
e type every time
I’ve owned both the series 3 e type and the XJS. Both are superb to drive, but the XJS is so ugly. It looks like 3 people designed it while they weren’t talking to each other!
The 1989 XJS convertible is a nice car!
The V12 was ugly and the v12 drops valve seats
I owned 2 sixes, and 2 twelves from age 15, to early twenties, then Pantera’s and then only Ferrari. This person narrating this video didn’t say one accurate thing regarding the difference between the series one and two, versus the three! I won’t get started with that because this video was definitely not one bit accurate. The twelves were a major improvement over all sixes. If he owned four like I have, he would know that. Unfortunately all Jaguars are a total nightmare to own. Again, I won’t even begin to list the many things wrong with all of them. I will tell you this. The Pantera’s were ten times better than any Jaguars, and would blow all off of the road. As well they handled many times better, and were extremely reliable. The only problem I had was the distributor was located in front of the engine low and behind the cabin which with heavy rain would cause the distributor to get a little wet. Easy fix for only $5. Go to a Hardware or Auto Parts Store and purchase a spray can of clear sealant. Spray the distributor very thoroughly, and end of problem!! Only purchase the ‘71 to mid ‘72. The mid ‘72 lost much power for US cars because of emission standards like all US Cars. After so many years, they in original form are becoming very valuable. Ferrari I owned was a great car, but not an everyday car like the Pantera. I am currently adding a F355 and a genuine Daytona Spyder to my collection. Expensive to maintain, but I could care less as the Daytona is headed in original Spyder form to be worth tens of millions.
0:59... you're out of y0ur bloke UK minds. No one wants a 6-cylinder over the 12-cylinder. This IS the pinnacle of the XKE. Those 60's models look ugly like the cars on the Speedracer cartoon. V12 for the win...
I'd choose the XJ-S
Throttled by American emissions regulations, really lads? That's a stinker! Now I should of been an yank myself as I ditched my mx5 fir a V8 Lexus and much prefer it. I'm in a decidedly small minority I know but the Mazda didn't do anything for me, my current convertible has way more power, is more comfortable and even has a decent horn!
The worst E type
Not a fan, Stephen?
Not at all. For a great marque that was born out of the D-type and powered by the legendary XK 150 engine.. The V 12 with its automatic gearbox ... its made for America.@@ClassicsWorldUK
The manual V12 is a fabulous drive. I am guessing you havent tried one. The engine is an absolute gem
@@stephenhobbs1052
Personally, i dislike the design of any E Type. It's looks like a boat on wheels.😆😆
@@alancrisp1582 nah.i don't think so) oh, i also dislike the design of Alfa Romeo Spider from 60's to 93'.Looks like a boat on wheels too))😆😆
You prefer Lada?