Hello All. The early Series-1 from 1968 to 197_? I . What years is considered by enthusiasts to have the "low roof line" ? Thanks.

 

1968 - 1973 (the Series 2 debuted in September of 1973).

All Jaguars from the Series 1 through to the X-308 cars had a low roof line and a low belt line but I’ve never heard of a “low roof line” reference to a specific model other than in relation to the reduced interior head room in those cars with sun roofs.

 

Hi Ken. Thanks for your reply. Maybe my "low roof line" is the wrong terminology. I think (?) low belt line is what I was trying to say. But I think you know what I was asking. LOL The Series-1 from the side view of the vehicle made the height "look" shorter than the Series-2 and later sedans. But it made the Series-1 look good. Please correct me if I'm wrong. And thanks for confirming the years. Which brings me to another question:

Did the last of the Series-1 Sedans, in 1973 have the USA mandated (for U.S. vehicles) smog pump coupled with lower horse power engines ? I recall that this started with USA manufactured cars in the 1973 model year.

 

Rooflines on the series 1 and the xjc (based off the ser1 swb car) were at least 1 inch shorter than the series 3 cars. I have both here and the xjc measures abt 1 in lower from the beltline to the gutter trim. I'm pretty sure the series 2 cars shared the lower roofline and shorter windscreen but I don't have a 4dr ser 2 car here to measure. One of the things that makes the xjc attractive is the lower series 1 roofline.
Just checked Moss and all series 1 and 2 use the same windscreen and so the lower rooflines to '78? The swb series 1 cars also always looked great to me with the low roof and short wheelbase in a 4dr.

 

OK. Thanks Slofut. That answers that question.
Now, for USA spec cars: Were ANY of the Series-1 for U.S. export equipped with the smog pump ? I believe it was 1973 for USA manufactured cars. Thanks for any help.

 

The Series 3 started in 1980. They have a higher / taller rear roof line that increased rear passenger head room.

 

The front windshield height, arbitrary measurement near the top of the corner vertical, down to the belt line approx 15" on the series3, same measurement on the ser2 is 13.5". The whole roofline on the series 3 cars were raised higher I suspect to further americanize the look along with meeting safety standards via glued in glass etc... Sleek lines sure took a hit imho though.
Bill

 

^
Bill, I suspect that “extra 1 1/2” had more to do with providing enough depth for the sun roof than “Americanizing” the car (unless you consider a sun roof an American element).

 

I could go with that Ken, but didn't they make some series 1's with sunroofs? And it's purely a personal opinion that they started looking more "Americanized" in the ser 3, I mean I was mistaking them for fords and Caprice's of the same era back then, at least they still had the pretty front bodywork and most of the rear end. I guess I just didn't take to the changes very well . I made my daughter drive a ser3 to high school for two years, she said it made her a better person. Guys were impressed when she would open the hood and jiggle the starter relay to make it start, it was actually a pretty dependable car those years after a good bit of prep work. And it was still an elegant and unique car in a parking lot of usuals.