Jaguar S-Type (1963)

jaguar
Jaguar 3.8 S (1966)
S-type
Sales designation:	3.4 Liter S 3.8 Liter S
Production period:	1963-1968
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.4-3.8 liters (157-164 kW)
Length:	4769 mm
Width:	1696 mm
Height:	1380 mm
Wheelbase :	2727 mm
Empty weight :	1637 kg
successor	Jaguar XJ 6

The Jaguar S-Type was an upper middle class passenger car series that was first presented by the manufacturer Jaguar in 1963 at the London Motor Show. The S-Type was designed to bridge the gap between the successful Jaguar Mark II and the great Mark X to close.

The concept

The S-Type was based on the Jaguar Mark II and was basically an updated, slightly enlarged variant of that vehicle. Although the S-Type - unlike the Mark II - was provided with the rear axle construction with independent suspension already used in the Mark X and E-Type , much of the body structure was otherwise shared with the Mark II. Doors, windshield and bonnet were identical front fenders were taken over slightly revised. The roof was raised at the rear for more headroom and the rear window was changed accordingly and made steeper. The distinctive bumpers of the Mark II were dropped in favor of thinner - and, according to some critics, cheaper to manufacture - units. The rear section had to be completely redesigned, as the new independent suspension would otherwise have restricted the trunk too much. Therefore, a longer rear in the style of the Mark X was designed for the modified rear axle construction.

The new, much heavier rear axle gave the car its own character. Instead of the sportiness known from the Mark II, the driving behavior was now perceived as comfortable. This corresponded to the power steering and the Borg-Warner 35 automatic transmission , two optionally available convenience features that were ordered comparatively more frequently for the S-Type than for the Mark II. However, a manual four-speed transmission was also part of the standard equipment here. However, if the Mark II offered better performance even with the same engine, the suspension of the S-Type allowed higher cornering speeds and thus better overall performance. Initially, the four-speed gearbox from Moss with an unsynchronized first gear (commonly known as a crash box) was installed; in November 1964, this ancient design was replaced by a fully synchronized four-speed gearbox (with optional overdrive from Laycock de Normanville) designed by Jaguar.

variants

The S-Type was offered with the XK6 in-line six-cylinder engines with 3.4 and 3.8 liters displacement and 213 PS (157 kW) or 223 PS (164 kW) output, which are already known from the Mark II. These were called Jaguar 3.4 S and 3.8 S sold. A Daimler version was not offered.

In contrast to the lighter Mark II, the 2.4-liter machine was not available for the S-Type. The 4.2 liter six-cylinder was also not offered in the S-Type; In this case, the installation of the engine failed due to the limited space in the engine compartment. In 1966, with the Jaguar 420 , a variant with the 4.2-liter engine finally appeared ; However, this model had a modified front end, which at the Mark X was ajar.

The production

Between 1963 and 1968 a total of 25,171 S-Type units were produced.

model	construction time	Right hand drive	Left hand drive
Jaguar 3.4 liter S-Type	1963-1968	8665	1371
Jaguar 3.8 liter S-Type	1963-1968	9717	5418

The successor to the S-Type was the Jaguar XJ 6 in 1968 . In 1999 Jaguar introduced a new model series called the S-Type , some design elements of which were reminiscent of the eponymous S-Type , which was built until 1968.

literature

• Brazendale, Kevin: Encyclopedia Automobiles from Alfa Romeo to Zagato. The 600 most beautiful models . Augsburg (Bechtermünz) 2000. ISBN 3-8289-5384-0
• Günther, Dieter: Second choice? Jaguar S-Type, 420 and Daimler Sovereign , in: Oldtimer Markt Heft 6/1989, p. 191 ff.
• Günther, Dieter: Salon lion . Rather unloved: the big brother of the famous Mark 2 ", in: Oldtimer Markt Heft 1/1997, p. 188 ff.
• Schrader, Halwart: Typenkompass Jaguar - passenger cars since 1931 , Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-613-02106-4
• Stertkamp, ​​Heiner: Jaguar - the complete chronicle from 1922 to today , 2nd edition, Heel-Verlag, 2006 ISBN 3-89880-337-6
• For your eyes only : Driving report and purchase advice Jaguar S-Type 3.4 Liter, in: Motor Klassik 11/1998, p. 21 ff.

Web links

Commons : Jaguar S-Type  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• jaguar.co.uk: The years 1963 to 1968 - History of the Jaguar brand from 1963 to 1968
• jag-lovers.org - Jaguar S-Type and 420 - Pictures and documents for the S-Type

Individual evidence

1. ^ "Jaguar S Type & 420 - 'Road Test' Limited Edition", Brooklands Books ISBN 1-85520-345-6
2. ^ "Autosport" magazine - August 7, 1964
3. ↑ Oldtimer Markt 1/1997, 188 ff.