Initially released as an upgraded version of Jaguar’s classic two seat roadster, the Jaguar XKE Series 2 was refined several times during its lengthy production run. Early changes included a wrap-around back bumper, larger front indicator lights, repositioned tail lights so they sit below the bumper and a bold new open-headlights design. Later upgrades introduced upgraded brakes, an improved cooling system and a twin electric radiator fan.

While many welcomed these innovations to Jaguar’s venerable XKE line, they were not without their detractors. Some complained that the extra components took the edge off their beloved roadster, making it a slower albeit more refined ride. These complaints did not take into account that auto safety and emissions regulations in the U.S. were changing at the time, and small overseas manufacturers like Jaguar were struggling to update their production lines to keep up.

The Jaguar XKE Series 2 was created as a high performance road-legal vehicle in the tradition of Jaguar’s venerable XK 120 line from the 1940s. The Series 2 was an overnight sensation – the car won rave reviews for its outstanding performance, sleek design and cutting-edge (for its time) technical specifications.

Another driving force behind the Jaguar XKE Series 2′s popularity was the car’s impressive performance in the race track. Even though it was designed as a road legal speedster, the Series 2 surprised everyone by coming first in nearly every race it took part in. This built but the Series 2′s legendary reputation as a highly desirable street legal roadster that could also hold its own on the race track.

The entire XKE line was perhaps Jaguar’s finest example of combining style and performance in a mass-produced supercar. Even though the design was altered many times, the futuristic monocoque body and rounded chassis was retained through all its iterations and is instantly recognizable to this day as the iconic sports-car look for 60s and 70s. The Jaguar XKE Series 2, for the lucky few who could afford to own one, was the ultimate street-legal sports car money could buy. Even common grievances like the cabin being too small or the car having air flow problems were eventually addressed by later models in the XKE line.

Heralded as one of the most stunning cars ever made, the Jaguar XKE combined beauty and brawn to reach a very impressive 240 km/h. Sleek lines and a powerful engine gave the Jaguar XKE a refined pedigree, unmatched by competing cars at the time. This is made even more amazing considering that the sticker price of this car is half of that of its competitors.

Fresh from victories by C Types and D Types at Le Mans, the engineers at Jaguar’s head plan in Coventry used the knowledge gained from the race track into the design and manufacture of production machines. The engineers decided to completely overhaul the aging XK 150 line while retaining the superb XK engine. These were the seeds of the XKE line, which combined the best technology and design of the era with raw horsepower to create what is arguably the greatest road legal car ever created. Although the XKE was intended primarily as a road going car, it soon proved its mettle on the raceways of Europe and America.

The first XKE models made its appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, amid tight security and secrecy. The car has the same powerful six cylinder 3.8 litre engine as found in the XK, with dual overhead camshafts that could do a whopping 265hp. For the first two years the XKE came as a two seat coupe and a convertible, with newer configurations released in the future. The mid 60s saw the XKE undergo several changes such as the enlargement of the engine to 4.2 litres, triple SU carburettors and a high-tech all-synchromesh gearbox. Brakes were upgraded and more comfortable seats added.

‘66 saw the arrival of the Jaguar XKE 2+2 models with a longer wheelbase for added stability and a higher roofline for more interior space. The following year saw headlamp covers removed and the engine tweaked to meet strict new US Federal emissions regulations. Other minor cosmetic changes included the rounded polished camshaft covers being replaced by black ribbed covers to give the car a more industrial look.

After meeting US Federal emissions specifications, the engineers at Jaguar had to send the beloved car back to the drawing board this time to make changes demanded by the new US Federal road safety regulations. Among the changes that came out of this were rearranged headlamps, wrap around bumpers. and the enlargement of front and rear taillights.

Although they were costly and unpopular, Jaguar management back in Coventry knew that such changes were necessary to continue the success they’ve been enjoying in America. As a concession to Federal safety standards, the engine’s power was reduced and a larger motor intake with twin electric fans attached to the radiator were installed to improve engine cooling. The braking mechanism was also overhauled in the name of safety and the original toggle switches replaced by safer rocker switches.

1971 saw the introduction of the Jaguar XKE Series 3 with a 5.3 litre V12 engine. In addition to the bigger engine the Series 3 also had a larger wheelbase for added stability. Other changes include a chrome grill on the engine hood mouth and a wider track. Power steering also had to be added to handle the increased weight from the large V12 engine. The flared wheel arches give the Series 3 its unique look.

The Jaguar XKE Series 3 sported a larger radiator inlet concealed by an attractive grill. It also saw the addition of wider tires and smaller wheel arches. While the chassis retained Jaguar’s distinctive hood bulge, it was purely ornamental as the new V-12 engine did not require it.

Jaguar management had hoped that the brand new XKE Series 3 V-12 would give the company a much needed boost. By the start of the 1970′s the Jaguar’s flagship XKE series was growing long in the tooth and was being outshined by cars from rival manufacturers. The blame was laid squarely on the feet of powerful new vehicle safety and emission legislation in the US. These new laws forced Jaguar to reconfigure the XKE Series 2 engines into something that was much less powerful. The company hoped to overcome this limitation in the XKE Series 3 by developing a better, more emissions compliant engine from the ground up.

Unfortunately, despite a fever pitch of interest at the car’s introduction, the XKE Series 3′s sales figures were something of a let-down for Jaguar. While the 60′s had been dominated by Jaguar’s iconic XKE line, the 1970s would not be so kind to the British automaker.

In hindsight it is easy to see how Jaguar was as a victim of the times. Boutique car companies like Jaguar relied on a small team of passionate and talented engineers, mechanics and craftsmen to build their vehicles. While this system worked well to produce small numbers of high-performance cars, it was not practical in the rapidly changing economic climate of the 1970s.

Many luxury car makers at the time found that producing limited runs of super-cars was not commercially viable any more. Changing emissions regulations and new vehicle safety laws standards that factories had to be upgraded, and the production lines needed to be streamlined. The supply chains for car makers such as Jaguar had to be completely overhauled and modernized to keep up with the growing demands of the marketplace. In short, Jaguar had to quickly adapt to mass production techniques for their factories or risk going out of business.

The XKE Series 3′s powerful new engine V-12 engine that wowed everyone at the auto shows and racetracks was now forced to include anti smog technology that lowered performance. The car’s iconic sleek lines were ruined by the inclusion of compulsory new safety lights and extra bumpers. Needless to say, these forced modifications to the original design helped reduce the XKE Series 3′s desirability in the luxury car market.

The Jaguar XKE Series 3 V-12 was a good car that came out at the worst possible time. Tightening government regulations, clogged motorways in America and Europe, and the economic realities of manufacturing and marketing cars in the 1970′s meant that the XKE Series 3 never really had a chance to live up to its potential.

The Jaguar XKE is, to this day, acclaimed as one of the most beautiful examples of top notch automotive design. More than just a pretty face, the XKE could reach an impressive 240 km/h without breaking a sweat. The Jaguar XKE had something other sports cars of that era lacked – it was the perfect combination of brawn and beauty.

The origin of the XKE lies with Jaguar’s C-Type and D-Type race cars. After the successes of the C-Types and D-Types at the race-track, the team at Jaguar decided to bring the high performance engineering of their race-cars to production line vehicles. Early XKE designs involved completely overhauling the XK 150 design while keeping the engine. The resulting XKE line was a formidable combination of cutting edge (for the time) technology and raw power. While primarily designed as a road legal vehicle, the XKE blew away the competition in GT competitions in Europe, America and Australia.

Initially appearing in 1961 at the Geneva Motor Show, the first XKE models came with a beefy six cylinder 3.8 liter engine with dual overhead camshafts capable of churning out 265hp. Early XKE models were available as a convertible or a two seat coupe, with other variations coming out later. The first major changes to the line were introduced a few years later with the inclusion of a larger 4.2 liter engine, triple SU carburetors, an all-synchromesh gearbox, improved brakes and improved seats.

Jaguar wasn’t done with tinkering with their beloved XKE line – 1966 saw the debut of a new Jaguar XKE 2+2 model, with added stability to the wheelbase and more roomy interiors. Other minor refinements included the removal of headlamp covers and black ribbed camshaft covers replacing the rounded polished ones.

During the latter half of the 1960s Jaguar had a hard time keeping their XKE line up to spec with strict new safety and emissions regulations in the US. The XKE design had to be completely retooled to meet these new road safety and emissions standards. The result of this was an XKE with altered headlamps, extra bumpers that wrapped around the chassis and bigger taillights. The engine’s power was also cut down and a larger motor intake with twin electric fans was for better engine cooling. The entire braking mechanism had a major overhaul and the dashboard’s toggle switches were replaced by rocker switches – all in the name of safety.

These alterations were universally reviled by fans of the Jaguar XKE, but company management had no choice in the matter. Jaguar’s bottom line depended on the continued sales of their vehicles in America, making such changes necessary. Unfortunately many fans saw this as the emasculation of Jaguar’s once powerful XKE line.

In 1971 the company launched the Jaguar XKE Series 3. In an effort to overcome criticism over the muzzling of its once powerful XKE line, the XKE Series 3 included a beefy 5.3 liter V12 engine. Other refinements included a larger wheelbase, chrome grill on the intake mouth, power steering and wider wheel arches.

The Jaguar Automotive Company had a long and proud history of manufacturing high performance sports cars in Britain, but was largely unknown to the outside world. All this changed in the aftermath of World War 2, where this small British car maker burst on to the global scene and become an international icon of automotive excellence.

Jaguar enjoyed strong success in Britain for such memorable classics as the Roadster SS-100, but had little impact elsewhere. The advent of World War 2 killed off luxury car sales in Europe, and Jaguar soon found itself floundering in the weak post-war economy. Luckily things were looking much better in North America, with the US and Canadian post-war economies booming. Even though sales were stagnant at home, there was a growing demand for high-performance vehicles across the Atlantic.

Jaguar’s management was well aware that the company’s future survival depended on its ability to tap the luxury car market in America. Jaguar’s design team went to work and eventually came up with a stylish and sporty line of performance cars that would capture the hearts (and wallets) of buyers in America and beyond. This vehicle, the XK120 Dual Cam Roadster, would prove to the Jaguar’s savior and ensured not only the company’s survival, but its gradual dominance of the luxury car market.

The XK120 Roadster was fitted with an extremely powerful engine that could achieve a maximum power output of 5,000 rpms. Such an innovation was unheard of at the time – engines this powerful were the sole domain of custom built race cars and not regular production vehicles. The XKE roadster’s dual-cam ¾ liter inline-six engine belted out an impressive 160 horse power, making the XKE Dual Cam Roadster one of the fastest street legal cars available at the time.

The XK120 Roadster’s unique over head twin-cam design was actually meant for a totally different model, the Jaguar Sedan. The dual-cam setup was introduced as an improvised solution to an engine problem during the testing phase, but was included as a part of the final production vehicle after highly positive feedback from early customers. The 1951 Jaguar Sedan Mark VII, released three years after the Roadster XK120 had the same powerful 3.4L XK-I6 engine.

Upon launch the Jaguar XK120 was lauded for its refined style, high performance and superb handling. The XK120 Dual Cam Roadster’s stylish contours and impressive speeds won it a lot of fans in America, Europe and beyond. The car has a huge following to this day, and is a highly sought after classic car.

Sadly, the Series 3 was not the success Jaguar hoped it would be. Instead of bringing the vaunted XKE line to a whole new generation of car buyers, the Series 3 was seen as something of a step back for the British car maker. The mandatory power steering caused the Series 3 to have a soft and vague control, more like a stately town car than a performance car. XKE aficionados used to the lively, sporty feel of the previous cars were put off by the subdued, unresponsive feedback of the Series 3’s steering. Another mark against the Series 3 was its poor fuel efficiency – the car managed an abysmal fuel consumption.

The Series 3 Roadster retained the iconic XKE sportster makeup, although it came at the expense of luggage space. The Series 3 2+2 coupe model had a refined appearance and boasted a wider room. Great for extensive journeys, the XKE Series 3 coupe’s back seat can be moved forward to increase storage space even more. The downside to the Series 3 coupe models is that they suffer from major heat leaking issues. Heat tends to escape from the engine into the interior. Keep in mind that air conditioning was not built-in, but an optional extra in the Series 3.

Many drivers complained about the lack of leg space in the Series 3. Regardless of whichever jaguar design, tall and big drivers had trouble becoming comfortable in a XKE Series 3. This is nothing new for the XKE line, however, as even the early models had trouble accommodating anyone taller than 6’2″ or weighing more than 115 kilos (250 lbs).

Despite all the drawbacks, the entire XKE line remains highly sought after in the classic cars market. Deciding which one to buy comes down to individual preference. Early Series-1 models have the iconic 1960′s Jaguar look. They also have the responsive handling of a genuine sports car. The Series 3 is bigger and more refined but lacks the zippiness or maneuverability of earlier models. The XKE Series 2 is a mix of the two, having some of the refinement of the S3 with the raw power of the S1.