Early XK blocks grouped the six cylinders into two groups of three, creating a larger space between the cylinders in the middle of the block
launched in 1961 with the 3.8-litre XK, which had been powering later XK150s, and the MkIX, MkX and MkII saloons. The extra capacity came from a new bore size of 87mm and power was up to 265hp, with 325Nm of torque. If it wasn’ t enough that the E-Type, whether in coupé or roadster form, was one of the best-looking cars ever produced, or that it was powered by one of the most desirable engines of the time, it also went on sale with a top speed of 150mph making it the fastest car in the world. A title becoming a Jaguar tradition.
The 3.8 received some of the most radical of competition developments of any XK engine. Not only can you find a wide-angle head and dry sump, like the D-Type, but for the Lightweight E-Type racecar, a twin-spark head was used and an aluminium block.
Autumn / Winter 2026 The Engine Rebuilder 23