| Production | |
|---|---|
| Model Year: | 1961 |
The Jaguar E-type Series 1 Coupe, launched in 1961, remains one of the most iconic and celebrated classic sports cars from the British marque. Renowned for its stunning design and outstanding performance for its era, the E-type Series 1 combined beauty with advanced engineering. This coupe model featured sleek, aerodynamic bodywork, with a long bonnet and a compact cabin layout, epitomizing 1960s sports car aesthetics. The Series 1 was known not only for its elegance but also for its relatively lightweight construction and superior handling.
Measuring approximately 4,450 millimeters (175.2 inches) in length, the Jaguar E-type coupe maintained a low and wide stance to optimize road presence and stability. Its width was around 1,640 millimeters (64.6 inches), and it stood about 1,220 millimeters (48 inches) tall, giving it a low profile that enhanced its sporty character and reduced aerodynamic drag. This size positioned the E-type comfortably within the grand tourer and sports coupe segment, balancing agility and passenger comfort.
Under the hood, the Series 1 models typically came with a 3.8-liter inline-six engine, delivering robust performance that matched its striking looks. Aside from its size, the Jaguar E-type Series 1 was admired for its innovative features such as disc brakes and independent rear suspension, which were advanced for the early 1960s.
As a classic car collector’s gem today, the Jaguar E-type Series 1 coupe symbolizes a perfect blend of style, performance, and engineering excellence from its period. Its moderate dimensions and timeless design continue to inspire car enthusiasts and make it a benchmark for comparing classic sports car sizes and characteristics.
Discover the standout features that make the 1961 Jaguar E-type a leader in its class
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The Jaguar E-type Series 1 Coupe, produced in 1961, features an elegant and elongated design with a length of approximately 4,450 mm (175.2 inches), a width of 1,650 mm (64.9 inches) excluding mirrors, and a height of around 1,260 mm (49.6 inches). These dimensions contributed to its sleek and aerodynamic profile, making it a standout classic sports car of its era. The compact height helps lower the car’s center of gravity, enhancing its driving dynamics, while the length is a hallmark of its graceful, flowing lines.
The Jaguar E-type Series 1 Coupe typically weighs around 1,300 kg (2,866 lbs). This relatively low curb weight for a grand tourer in the early 1960s greatly contributed to its nimble handling and impressive acceleration capabilities. The lightweight chassis and aluminum components in some versions allowed for better power-to-weight ratio, enhancing performance. Coupled with its powerful 3.8-liter or later 4.2-liter inline-six engines, the car could accelerate swiftly while maintaining smooth, comfortable cruising characteristics.
The original Jaguar E-type Series 1 Coupe came fitted with 15-inch wire-spoked wheels, which were typical of the period and contributed to the car’s classic British sports car appearance. The tires generally measured around 6.00 x 15 inches. These wheels were designed to balance sporty handling with ride comfort, accommodating the car’s sporty suspension setup and offering an authentic vintage driving experience.
The Jaguar E-type Series 1 Coupe is designed as a two-seater sports car with a compact yet driver-focused interior. While specific cabin dimensions are not frequently detailed, the cockpit offers sufficient headroom and legroom for two adults, thanks to its low-profile roofline and streamlined design. The intimate seating arrangement emphasizes a sporty, driver-centric experience, with luxurious touches and instrumentation suited for an enthusiast. The car does not accommodate rear passengers, emphasizing performance over seating capacity.
Yes, the Jaguar E-type Series 1 Coupe generally fits into a standard modern garage comfortably. With a length of about 4,450 mm (175.2 inches), width of 1,650 mm (64.9 inches), and height of 1,260 mm (49.6 inches), it is smaller and lower than many contemporary vehicles. Most standard garages have dimensions sufficient to house vehicles up to approximately 5,000 mm (197 inches) in length and 2,500 mm (98 inches) in width, making the E-type no problem to store. However, its low height requires attention to garage door clearances and potential obstacles like low-hanging garage fixtures.
The Jaguar E-type Series 1 Coupe was significantly larger and more streamlined than its predecessor, the Jaguar XK150. The E-type measures approximately 4,450 mm (175.2 inches) in length compared to the XK150’s 4,310 mm (169.7 inches). Width-wise, the E-type is narrower at around 1,650 mm (64.9 inches) versus the XK150’s roughly 1,680 mm (66.1 inches), but it is notably lower in height, contributing to its aerodynamic silhouette. The E-type’s design emphasized performance and elegance, pushing the boundaries of sports car styling and engineering established by the XK series.
Compared to similar classic sports cars of the early 1960s, such as the Aston Martin DB4 and the Ferrari 250 GT, the Jaguar E-type Series 1 Coupe holds its own in terms of compact elegance and aerodynamic proportions. It is generally similar in length and width to the Aston Martin DB4 (around 4,470 mm long and 1,700 mm wide) but is lower in height. The Ferrari 250 GT tends to be slightly smaller overall but shares the emphasis on sleek body lines. The E-type’s dimensions enable a balance of high-speed stability and nimble handling, placing it among the sportier and emotionally earned designs of the period.
The Jaguar E-type Series 1 Coupe’s trunk, while modest in size given the sportscar profile, was functional enough to accommodate luggage suitable for touring. The boot space measures roughly around 200 liters (7 cubic feet), which can fit a couple of medium-sized bags. The trunk is accessible via a rear-hinged hatch, allowing easier loading despite the low roofline. While not designed for heavy cargo, the trunk capacity meets the needs of a grand tourer, balancing sleek styling with practical storage for weekend trips or road rallies.
The Jaguar E-type Series 1 Coupe features an approximate ground clearance of 140 to 160 mm (5.5 to 6.3 inches), which reflects a balance between sporty, low-slung styling and practical drivability on roads of the 1960s. The suspension setup, which includes independent front suspension and a live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, provided a firm but compliant ride suited to spirited driving. This relatively low ground clearance ensures improved handling and aerodynamics but requires cautious driving over speed bumps and uneven surfaces.
The Jaguar E-type Series 1 Coupe's exterior dimensions contributed to its instantly recognizable and iconic appearance. Its long bonnet (hood), measuring about two-thirds of the car’s overall length, emphasized power and performance. The narrow width combined with a sharply tapered rear and low roofline (1,260 mm or 49.6 inches) delivered a sleek, aerodynamic silhouette. This juxtaposition of length, narrow width, and low height gave the car a pronounced 'cigar' shape. The design was revolutionary at the time, influencing generations of sports cars with its perfect proportions and timeless aesthetics.
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