Jaguar E-Type for Sale: How to Read a Series 1, 2 or 3 Listing

Search for a Jaguar E-Type for sale (also badged XK-E in North America) and you'll see three factory series plus a collector nickname for the late Series 1 cars often called "Series 1½." Jaguar built the E-Type from March 1961 to June 1974, with published totals around 72,500 cars depending on how Series 1.5 and 2+2 rows are counted (source 1). The hard part is matching the car in the photos to the right series, reading the chassis prefix, and judging the monocoque before you fall for the shape.

This guide covers how Series 1, 2 and 3 line up, how to read a chassis number at a glance, what to inspect first, and what we found when we read every Jaguar E-Type for sale on RareCars.com today. To start with the cars, browse every Jaguar E-Type for sale on RareCars.com.

What to check first on any Jaguar E-Type for sale

1. Series cues you can see in photos. Covered headlights and a small mouth point toward Series 1; open lights, larger lamps and a bigger intake toward Series 2; egg-crate grille, flared arches and (usually) four exhaust tips toward Series 3 (sources 1 and 2).
2. The chassis prefix. E-Types use short chassis numbers with series-specific prefixes (for example early LHD Fixed Head blocks in the 885xxx range, 4.2 Open Two-Seater 1E…, Series 2 1R… / 2R…, Series 3 1S…). Record the number exactly, including any letter prefixes/suffixes (source 3).
3. Structure before cosmetics. The E-Type is a monocoque with a bolted-on front frame. Sills, floors, rear arches, boot floor and rear suspension mounts matter more than fresh paint (sources 2 and 4).
4. Engine family. Series 1 and 2 use the XK inline-six (3.8 then 4.2); Series 3 uses the 5.3-litre V12. Overheating history matters on both, and especially on V12 cars (sources 1 and 2).

Jaguar E-Type series at a glance

Series	Approx. years	Engine	What changed	Notes
Series 1	1961–1968	3.8 then 4.2 XK six	Covered headlights (most), small mouth, lights above slim bumpers; 2+2 from 1966	Early "flat floor" cars are a scarce sub-type (source 1)
"Series 1½" (collector term)	~1967–68 model year	4.2 XK six	Open headlights and other US-driven changes while still Series 1 body	Not a separate factory series; US cars often twin Strombergs (source 1)
Series 2	1968–1971	4.2 XK six	Open headlights worldwide, larger intake, larger lamps, wrap-around rear bumper	Cooling and seating improvements (sources 1 and 2)
Series 3	1971–1974	5.3 V12	Egg-crate grille, flared arches, longer wheelbase; roadster + 2+2 only	Short-wheelbase two-seater FHC dropped (source 1)

Published body-style tables commonly put Series 1 (incl. 1.5 rows), Series 2 (~18,809) and Series 3 (~15,287) near a combined ~72,500 (source 1). Treat any single exact total as source-dependent.

How to read an E-Type chassis number

Factory cars do not use a modern 17-character VIN the way a 2000s Ferrari does. Buyers and specialists work from the chassis number (and matching engine/body numbers on a data plate).

On RareCars.com today, the seven live E-Type / XKE cars show prefixes that already sort the shelf:

Chassis on live listing	Likely series cue (first filter)	Listing year on page
850358	Series 1 Open Two-Seater RHD block (early 3.8 OTS range)	1962
885391	Series 1 Fixed Head LHD 3.8 block	1962
878385	Series 1 Open Two-Seater LHD 3.8 block	1963
1E10710	Series 1 4.2 Open Two-Seater LHD	1965
1E12216	Series 1 4.2 Open Two-Seater LHD	1966
P2R14519	Series 2-era prefix family (2R appears on some late US-spec cars; P often flags power steering on earlier cars — confirm on the plate)	1971 on listing
1S72424	Series 3 LHD 2+2 block	1972

Use Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust / specialist chassis tables as the next check, then a Heritage certificate or specialist inspection — prefixes are a filter, not a provenance proof (source 3).

What the chassis can't tell you by itself

It won't prove the engine, gearbox or body still match, and it won't reveal patched sills under fresh underseal. For that you need paperwork and a car on a lift (source 4).

Body and rust: buy the structure

Specialist buyer's guides put bodywork first on E-Types. Look for:

1. Sills and floors (inside and underneath).
2. Rear wheel arches, boot floor and spare-well area.
3. Front frame for corrosion and crash distortion (uneven bonnet/door gaps).
4. Bonnet underside and hinge fit — the clamshell is expensive to replace well.
5. Thick underseal or heavy filler as a reason to dig deeper, not a reason to relax (sources 2 and 4).

Mechanicals are still important (oil pressure, coolant/oil mixing, inboard rear brakes, wire-wheel splines), but a pretty engine in a soft shell is the expensive mistake (source 4).

What we found in 7 Jaguar E-Types for sale on RareCars.com

On Thu Nov 5, 2026 ~10:51–10:52 PM PT (America/Los_Angeles), RareCars.com had 7 Jaguar E-Type / XKE listing URLs in the sitemap (all real cars — none titled as replicas). Reading every public asking line and chassis field showed:

1. Series 1 dominates the shelf. Five of seven cars carry Series 1-style chassis prefixes (850…, 878…, 885…, 1E…).
2. One clear Series 3. Chassis 1S72424 sits in the Series 3 LHD 2+2 range (source 3).
3. One Series 2-family prefix. P2R14519 needs a plate/photo confirmation before you treat the listing year as the whole story.
4. Priced asks span $99,995 – $129,950 on the three cars that show a dollar figure tonight ($99,995, $105,000, $129,950).
5. Four cars are "Ask for price." They are left out of the dollar range on purpose.
6. No replica E-Types are live in the sitemap tonight. If a kit or tribute appears later, judge title paperwork and build quality on their own terms — don't price them against a chassis-correct Series 1.
7. North American "XKE" naming still appears. One live roadster is titled as a 1962 XKE Series I — same car family, different badge language for US buyers (source 1).

A pre-purchase checklist for a Jaguar E-Type for sale

1. Match series cues in the photos to the seller's series claim (sources 1 and 2).
2. Record the full chassis number and compare the prefix to period tables (source 3).
3. Ask for engine and body numbers; note any mismatch claims with receipts.
4. Put the car on a lift: sills, floors, arches, boot, front frame (source 4).
5. Check cooling history and for oil/coolant mixing; budget for specialist maintenance (source 2).
6. On Series 3, confirm V12 details (grille, arches, exhaust tips) and long-wheelbase packaging (source 1).
7. Operate every electrical item; earth faults are common and time-consuming (source 4).
8. If wire wheels are fitted, check spokes, splines and hub play (source 4).
9. Get an independent E-Type specialist inspection before you buy.

Jaguar E-Types for sale on RareCars.com

As of Thu Nov 5, 2026 ~10:51–10:52 PM PT (America/Los_Angeles), RareCars.com has 7 Jaguar E-Types / XKEs listed by dealers across the US. Of the priced cars, asks run from $99,995 to $129,950; four more listings show no price. Every listing is reviewed and approved, and you contact the listing dealer through RareCars.com to check availability. Cars sell, so if a car linked here is gone, see the Jaguar E-Types for sale now.

More to explore:

1. All Jaguar E-Types for sale
2. All Jaguars on RareCars.com
3. C2 Corvette for sale: buyer's guide
4. Classic Mustang for sale: buyer's guide
5. Classic car dealers near you
6. Selling an E-Type? List it on RareCars.com, or read where to sell a classic car online

FAQ

What years are Jaguar E-Types?
Production ran from March 1961 to June 1974 across Series 1, 2 and 3 (source 1).

What's the difference between E-Type and XK-E?
XK-E was the North American market name for the same car (source 1).

How do I tell Series 1 from Series 2 from Series 3?
Start with headlights, intake, lamps/bumpers and (for Series 3) the egg-crate grille, flares and V12 cues — then confirm with the chassis prefix (sources 1–3).

Were about 72,500 E-Types built?
Published tables land near 72,500, but series and 2+2 allocations differ by source; treat it as an approximate total (source 1).

How much is a Jaguar E-Type for sale on RareCars.com today?
On Thu Nov 5, 2026 ~10:51–10:52 PM PT (America/Los_Angeles), the three priced cars asked from $99,995 to $129,950. Four listings show no price. These are asking prices, not sale prices.

Photo credits

Photos: DeFacto (CC BY-SA 4.0); Jay Cross (CC BY 2.0); Andrzej Otrębski (CC BY-SA 4.0); Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0); Reinhold Möller (CC BY-SA 4.0); Palauenc05 (CC BY-SA 4.0); Werner100359 (CC BY 3.0). Via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

1. Wikipedia, "Jaguar E-Type" (production March 1961–June 1974; XK-E name; Series 1/1½/2/3 overview; published production tables near ~72,515; Series 2 ~18,809; Series 3 ~15,287; covered vs open headlights; V12 Series 3 cues), read Nov 2, 2026: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_E-Type
2. Hagerty UK buying guide + JCNA model-guide consensus via public pages (series visual cues; rust-first monocoque advice; cooling/V12 notes), read Nov 2, 2026. Prefer a specialist inspection over any single article. Hagerty UK · JCNA (archive)
3. Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust chassis guidance (series prefixes; RHD/LHD blocks; 1E / 1R / 2R / 1S families; power-steering / auto suffixes), read Nov 2, 2026: JDHT PDF · also xkedata.com
4. jaguaretype.org buying-and-evaluation (lift inspection order: sills/floors/arches/boot/front frame/bonnet; mechanicals secondary to structure), read Nov 2, 2026: https://jaguaretype.org/buying-and-evaluation
5. RareCars.com listing pages for all 7 Jaguar E-Type / XKE URLs in https://rarecars.com/sitemap.xml (H1, meta asking price, chassis/VIN fields), first read Mon Nov 2, 2026 ~1:30 AM PT; re-read Thu Nov 5, 2026 ~10:51–10:52 PM PT (facts unchanged).
6. Google Keyword Planner Historical Metrics export 2026-10-28 (US; Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026): "jaguar e type for sale" = 1K–10K avg monthly searches.