Good Evening;

Has anyone here ever heard of a Series 1 E-Type with the open headlamps? I was under the impression that the open headlamps were pretty much all that qualified a car as a Series 1.25; triple SUs, toggle switches, minimal bumpering and ancilliary lights, all as with a Series 1, except for the headlamps. Any thoughts?

 

I'm guessing you saw a 1968 car that had the rear of a Series 1 and the bonnet of a Series II car. We call that a series 1.5 most often. It had the twin Stromberg carbs and the cam covers from the Series II as well.

 

No, it's an early 1967 car, with triple S Us

 

A lot (if not most) of the 1967 model year cars had open headlights. Today a lot of the 1967 car have replacement bonnets with covered head lights.
Open headlight Series 1 cars should also have triple SU carbs, toggle switches, tail lights and front turn signal lights above the bumpers. Some people call the open headlight Series 1 cars Series 1.25. But they are Series 1 according to JCNA and are judged with Series 1 cars.

Robert's car above is a nice looking example of a late Series 1.

Here is what the JCNA judges guide has to say about when covered headlights were deleted:
HEADLIGHTS
Note: There is a discrepancy between build records and Service Bulletins as to when the covered headlights

were deleted. Both are quoted.

Glass covers deleted at: Build records:
LHD OTS: 1E 14535 LHD FHC: 1E 34120

Spares Bulletin (P198 - Canada & USA only)[img]blob:https://www.jaguarforums.com/9c998d5a-0a76-4cb5-96cd-d5286346a821[/img]

LHD OTS: LHD FHC: LHD 2+2:

1E 14532 1E 1E34113 1E 77010

 

I have a little to add to the comments made in some of the above posts.
January 11th, 1967 was the last day of covered headlight production. All subsequent 1967 model year and series 1 cars including the 1968 model year did not have the covered headlights. Note that the 1968 uncovered headlight bucket assembly, is a one year only assembly. It is different from the series 2 1969 and onward headlight assembly (Parts are not interchangeable). Late 1967 open headlight assemblies are also supposed to be different from the 1968.
The 1968 bonnet is the same as the 1967 bonnet with the possible exception of the headlight bucket assembly (I'll have to take a close look at my cars today). The 1968 bonnet is not the same as the series 2 1969 and onward bonnet, as the series 2 bonnet has a larger radiator opening, the headlights are mounted a bit higher, and the turn signal mounting is under the bumper. All E-types until the end of production of the 1968 model year are all considered Series 1 cars by the factory and JCNA.
I hope this helps to clarify things a bit.
Bill.

 

Thanks all; my late Father purchased the car in late '67 from a British Leyland Dealer, and the story went (some 55 years ago, and my memory is a bit fuzzy) that the car had been vandalized somewhat after being unloaded from a ship in Montreal. The exact "Series" of the car was never important to Dad, and the car now leads a pampered life with my Brother and Nephew in Vancouver. Its provinance is the kind of subject that is guaranteed to set off a lively discussion between 2 or more Jag nuts in the same room, always. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall in Coventry in early '67!

 

By the way Robert, Nice looking car.
It is very cool to still have the car in the family.
Bill.

 

As Daytona mentioned, such a 'unicorn' is certainly possible given that Jaguar (and many other automakers) practiced running changes on the same series as they ran out of parts or made minor updates. As a certified JCNA concours and driven judge for ~20 years and a member of both SDJC (San Diego) and JAGM (Michigan) clubs, I have never seen a '67 with open headlights unless there was some kind of story attached to the car that involved a later replacement or update. Just my impression and more anecdotal than fact, I would imagine that any owners of E-Types that are on the cusp of late 1967-to 1968 Series 2 production might prefer the covered headlamps, not only for the design "purity" of the S1 but for potential resale value - and not having to explain things when asked!

 

A unicorn? Maybe. But we have at least three of them in the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the JCNA. One of them is mine and there is no doubt that it came from the factory in May of 1967 with all of the series one components including winged knock offs, triple carbs, toggle switches, etc. I am also a JCNA judge and it amazes me how few people know about this variant of the S1 - even so called experts who have written books on the e-type. I love having mine because it's a great way to stir up a lively discussion and you can actually see when driving in the dark. Cheers, Herb

 

Thanks Herb - please don't take my response to imply that I or other local club judges think they don't exist. We know they are out there and it usually does general some good conversation and picture-taking at meets!

 

Sorry, My response was not aimed at anyone in particular. The funny thing is that when I was first looking to purchase the car I reached out to a guy in town who has written several books on Jaguars. He advised me to not buy it because it had the wrong bonnet. Glad I didn't listen to him. Herb

 

I have a '67 E-Type with covered headlamps. And it seems most '67s have the covered headlamps (at least to my recollection), it surprises me if they stopped putting covered headlamps on them so early in 1967. So does anyone know the production dates for the 1967 model year? At an online database, (xkedata.com) I found a car listed with a serial number two above mine with a production date in June of 1966.

 

Left(near)Side,
My 67 OTS has a manufactured date of May 8th, 1967 and it has open headlights. Manufactured for US consumption and delivered via Jaguar Cars of NY.
It may be that (I am speculating) cars meant for the US market were changed to open headlight in January, while cars meant for European consumption kept the covers until end of the model year production.
Do you have a Jaguar Heritage trust certificate for your car? It should say where the car was first delivered. Maybe your car is an original European delivery car.
There is another 67 OTS with open headlights, identical to mine Red over Black, here in town that is 318 numbers after mine. I have seen one with an April manufacturing date with open headlights.
Bill.

 

I have to make a trip to the safe deposit box to get a pic of the title before I can complete the Heritage trust certificate process. I have everything else ready to go. The oldest records I have for the care date back to the early 70s, so IDK much about the origin. I guess this will get me to take a trip to the bank (I just realized I have not been there in well over two years!).

 

I can't verify this but I have been told that there was not a single number where covered headlamps stopped and open headlamps started. There may have been a mixture over the first quarter of the year or so. I'd love to hear from anyone that has an covered headlamp car manufactured after about April and known to be original. Herb

 

Here's mine. May '67 production, triple SUs, S1 bonnet, tail lights, toggle switches, but open headlights. I've been armwrestling with myself about putting money into covered headlights modification and in the end I decided that is better to leave it untouched.
Oh, BTW, maybe it was already said, but
the other characteristic of these cars is that in late S1 production, Jaguar stopped painting the engine block gold. In fact, mine is silver.

 

Hi Dan219,
First off, beautiful E-Type. It looks great in black.
Thanks for contributing to the discussion. Could you share with us the production date of your E-Type. That would be helpful.
Thanks, and once again, beautiful car. Enjoy it.
Bill.

 

Hi Bill -- It's not black it's actually a dark BRG called "Black Emerald". The pics were taken on a cloudy day, so it looks way darker than it actually is.
As for your question ... I have not received the heritage certificate yet, but I remember finding a database online where you could see the approximate aproduction period (not the exact date) based on the VIN. I cannot find that resource anymore, but if someone has it I am happy to look it up. I remember that it was around Spring of 1967.

 

Thanks Dan219.Let us know when you know the production date.
Thanks,
Bill.

 

Dan,

I agree, beautiful E-Type. My OTS was built on May 16th, 1967 and the head was painted gold. I guess the British were never hung up on that consistency thing. What is your VIN? Mine is 1E15593. BTW I also toyed with the idea of covering the headlamps and decided not to. I think these cars are best the way they rolled off the line.

Herb