You can now buy a new 1960s XK engine block direct from Jaguar

Well, the XK block is back. After a gap of 50 years, Jaguar has put the cast iron XK block in 3.8-litre capacity into production again, and for the first time brand new units are available from Jaguar Classic, priced at £14,340.

Each engine comes with a certificate of authenticity and, once provenance is proven, can be stamped with the original engine number from the receiving vehicle, in order to maintain matching-numbers history.

As a 3.8-litre it will be a direct replacement engine for Jaguar models built from 1958 to 1968, which includes the XK150 and XK150S, the Mark 2, the S-type  and of course the first Series 1 E-types. The XK 3.8 in these cars at the time produced up to 265PS.

This is no “crate” engine of the kind preferred by Americans but just the iron block, manufactured to authentic specifications, and tested and approved by Jaguar Classic engineers. Jaguar says they are the only brand-new XK engine blocks available.

You have to add your own double overhead cam head and ancillaries, though doubtless if you ask nicely (and pay handsomely) Jaguar Classic will take care of that for you too.

The XK engine, the first real Jaguar engine, was designed by chief engineer William Heynes to a brief from the boss, Sir Williams Lyons, that it have a higher than average power output, look good and remain competitive for many years without revision. It was mission accomplished with knobs on.

The XK in 3.4-litre form made its debut under the bonnet of the first XK120 at the London Motor Show in 1948. There were lots of different cubic capacities, from 2.4 to 4.2 litres, but the design of the XK engine block hardly changed throughout its life.