JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES 3
Jaguar came up with a more powerful car in order to bring the E-type up to date for the 1970s. For many owners, the S3 is already perfect, so what improvements could you possibly make to one?
More than 45 years after its introduction the E-type’s final iteration remains a capable ground coverer. With values far higher than they were a decade ago, owners tend to value originality, so while improvements can be made, the trick is to choose carefully which ones are worthwhile investments.
The S3 was available as either a two-seater roadster or a 2+2 coupé, both utilising the longer 2+2 floorpan. The Roadster was produced between December 1970 and July 1974, while the coupé came on stream slightly earlier, in August 1970. Both offered a wider track, wider wheels, plus tyres to match, flared wheelarches and a widemouthed cross-slatted grille, plus the all-important trademark V12 badge at the back.While the third generation car may have lacked some of its 1960s predecessors’ period charm, it made up for it in terms of performance. It could crack 60mph in 6.5 seconds and went on to a top speed just short of 150mph, which was plenty 40 years ago. There are many ways of eking out extra oomph but most owners are happy with these figures as they stand, so most of the improvements under that vast bonnet tend to focus on improving reliability and keeping the 5.3-litre V12 cool. Power steering came as standard, as did more powerful brakes with ventilated brake discs upfront.
Jaguar’s final 50 right-hand drive roadsters were built during 1974 as a special Commemorative edition to mark the end of E-type production. Naturally, these final cars command a significant premium, so we’d leave the factory specifications well alone.
But even though the days of wildly modified E-types is over – we’ve seen cars being modified to run Chevrolet small block V8s in the past – there’s a lot that can be done with a Series 3 without spoiling the car’s charm. There are numerous options, in particular, that will further enhance the driving experience, including carburettor conversions that rein in that big engine’s tremendous thirst, uprating the brakes and equipping the E-type with more modern tyres.
There are also alternators for better electrical reliability, plus running gear improvements that improve the car’s braking and handling.