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New Jaguar XK 3.8 Engine Block Costs More Than Two Dacia Sanderos

As a Jaguar enthusiast and a lover of all things E-Type, I can’t deny the importance of the XK6 engine. Produced for more than four decades in various displacements, the straight-six blunderbuss has been revived by Jaguar Classic.
Replacement Jaguar XK 3.8 Engine Block 13 photos
Photo: Jaguar
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Don’t think we’re dealing with a crate engine, though. Only the block is back in production “to authentic specifications,” and only the 3.8-liter version of the long-running motor. Made from cast iron, the block fits ‘58 to ‘68 sports cars and sedans like the XK150, Mk IX, Mk X, Mk 2, S-Type, and the E-Type.

“Subject to providing documentation that confirms proof of vehicle ownership, customers can choose to retain the serial number from their original engine block,” says Jaguar. The S/N is stamped on the casting with an additional asterisk, denoting that the block is a replacement to the original. Customers can also opt for an all-new serial number, and all engines come with a one-year warranty.

It should be highlighted that the warranty period depends on the market, and it won’t cover “modified engines or vehicles used for racing purposes.” Of course, shipping the six-pot powerplant from the UK to anywhere in the country or outside of it costs extra.

Including the certificate of authenticity from Jaguar Classic, care to guess how much the cast-iron block costs? Well, prepare to pony up 14,340 pounds sterling for it, translating to a pair of all-new Dacia Sandero hatchbacks.

SAE gross output figures for the XK 3.8 range from 220 to 265 horsepower (223 to 269 PS), and over the years, the Leaping Cat of Coventry offered two cylinder heads – the B type and the straight port. SU carburetors were fitted from the factory to all of them, ranging from two HD6 to three HD8 units.

For a brief period of time, boutique automaker Panther Westwinds used the 3.8 in addition to the 4.2-liter engine and the 5.3-liter V12 of the XJ. Styled to resemble the SS100, the J.72 open-top sports car numbers only 368 units.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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