Jaguar E-Type 2+2 and Automatic: Which Cars Had It

When the 2+2 arrived

Motor Sport's April 1966 introduction says the 2+2 was first shown at Geneva the previous month. It records that the planned appearance at the previous year's Earls Court show had been delayed. The longer floorpan accommodated rear seats and an optional Borg-Warner automatic. The contemporary report supports March 1966 as the public introduction.

The Heritage Trust's Series 2 collection page instead says the 2+2 followed in 1965. The sources disagree on the year; this guide uses the contemporary report for the public launch and does not treat the planned show date as an actual launch. The longer doors, raised roof and occasional rear seats are described on the Series 1 2+2 page.

Which cars could be automatic

On the six-cylinder cars, automatic transmission was confined to the long-wheelbase 4.2 litre 2+2. The short-wheelbase open two-seater and two-seat fixed-head coupe were manual cars as built. This includes the interim cars commonly called Series 1.5. The Series 1 page and Series 2 page describe the engines and manual gearboxes.

Series 3 retained the 2+2 and moved the roadster onto the long floorpan. Both could have manual or automatic transmission. It was the first E-Type roadster with a factory automatic option. There was no production two-seat Series 3 fixed-head coupe. See Series 3 for the body and running-gear changes.

Which Borg-Warner gearbox

The Jaguar 2+2 sales brochure supplied to this archive by Stephen Ruddick names the Borg-Warner Model 8 automatic. The Series 3 used the Borg-Warner Model 12, identified in Hemmings' Series 3 reference guide. These are not names for the manual Moss or Jaguar all-synchromesh gearboxes.

The exact change points and gearbox-model coverage across all six-cylinder production have not been verified for this guide. Do not identify a fitted unit solely from the year or the model name on the registration document.

Identifying an automatic car

Inspect the selector and pedals to establish the controls fitted now, then have the gearbox itself identified. The Heritage Trust's RG001F reference guide records a BW chassis suffix for Borg-Warner automatic transmission and warns that it was not used consistently on Series 1 4.2 cars. Its absence alone does not settle the question.

Compare the physical numbers and the original record through chassis and engine numbers and Heritage Certificates. Present controls cannot by themselves prove the original factory specification. Treat a converted short-wheelbase car as a conversion, not evidence that Jaguar offered that body with an automatic.

What owners should check

Establish which transmission is fitted before ordering parts or choosing fluid. This guide gives no fluid grade, capacity, adjustment figure or service interval because the correct factory instructions for each unit have not been verified here. Use the applicable Jaguar workshop publication and a specialist familiar with that gearbox.

The buying and evaluation guide covers identity and condition. The 2+2 body guide records door droop, water around the rear seat floor and leaking seals as inspection points. Read rust and bodywork and the inboard rear brakes technical article for the structure and running gear shared with other E-Types.