Vehicle Description
Throughout the 1950s, Jaguar worked feverishly to establish its
dominance in sports car and endurance racing. The XK120 had become
a formidable competitor in club-level motorsports and the factory
soon developed a full-race version officially known as the XK120-C
(for Competition), which we all know simply as the C-Type. XK120
running gear was mated to a lightweight tubular frame that was
skinned in a beautiful alloy body. The light and powerful C-Type
won the 24h of Le Mans on its first attempt in 1951, sparking a
string of victories at the French Classic that would last through
the 50s. One of the key developments of the C-Type was the use of
Dunlop disc brakes in 1953, which truly revolutionized motorsport
and were largely responsible for the C-Type's second win at Le Mans
in 1953. In 1954, the D-Type was unveiled as a revolutionary
replacement for the C-Type. The traditional tubular chassis was
scrapped in favor of a light and strong monocoque chassis. The
stunning bodywork was largely the work of Jaguar's
aerodynamics-obsessed stylist Malcolm Sayer. Power came from the
proven XK-series inline six in 3.4 or 3.8-liter form (with a
3.0-liter version run in 1958) and fed by either a trio of Weber
carburetors or Lucas fuel injection on later cars. The D-Type's
shape played a key role in its success - proving to be more than
12mph faster down the Mulsanne straight than the brutish 4.9-liter
Ferraris. With the D-Type, Jaguar scored 3 more victories at Le
Mans in 1955, 1956 and 1957 and its sophisticated construction
would inspire the next great Jaguar road car; the E-Type of 1961.
When it came to racing the E-Type, however, Jaguar seemed to
stumble. Management was unsure of how to approach a proper racing
version to compete with the likes of the Ferrari 250 SWB and GTO,
and they took a bit too long to settle on a concept. The first
attempt was a fixed roof car in the spirit of the D-Type. This car,
famously known by its registration number "CUT 7" featured Malcolm
Sayer's new low-drag bodywork that was riveted and bonded in place.
The gorgeous car was undeniably an E-Type, yet had a distinctly
racier appearance. Rather than develop the low-drag, Jaguar shifted
focus to a lightweight, all-alloy version of the E-Type roadster of
which twelve were built. They featured an aluminum tub and alloy
block XK engine but the styling was essentially the same as the
road car. The ultimate E-Type came when German Jaguar distributor
Peter Lindner and his racing partner Peter Nocker combined the
lightweight and low drag concepts. The so-called Lindner-Nocker
E-Type was based on Lindner's own factory-built Lightweight and
adapted with Sayer's low-drag panels. It was enormously fast and
more than a match for the Ferrari 250 GTO at Le Mans, and one can
only imagine what Jaguar could have accomplished had they put the
might of the competitions department behind it. Sadly, Lindner was
killed in the car and it was locked away for decades before it was
carefully restored in 2011. One other factory lightweight E was
developed into a Low-Drag car, famously known by its registration
number of "49 FXN". This car would ultimately score the most
success on the track, and is still active in historic racing today.
Despite the fact that only three cars were built in period, the
legend of the Low Drag E-Type has inspired many to create their own
versions for race or road, and recreations are formidable
competitors in historic motorsport around the world. We are very
pleased to offer this gorgeous Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Low-Drag
coupe. Based upon a 1962 E-Type, this stunning car has been built
from the ground-up to comply with FIA sporting regulations and is
legal for both track and street. The fabulous low-drag bodywork was
built by Jacob Engineering in the UK, using the finest components
finished to a very high standard. With its exposed rivets and
aggressive stance, the look is said to be inspired by the famous 49
FXN, albeit with a few personal touches. It sits low on a set of
period-look Technomagesio peg-drive wheels which mimic the look of
the original Dunlop alloys, but with the strength and durability
for modern track use. Sticky Avon CR6-ZZ DOT-race tires give the
right period-correct look while offering up excellent grip and
handling characteristics. Quality of the metallic silver-gray
paintwork is very good, and the car has been carefully enjoyed in
the hands of its most recent owner, who maintained it as part of a
large collection of significant Jaguar road and racing cars.
Featherweight aluminum doors feature sliding Plexiglas side windows
and simple door cards trimmed in black. The purposeful,
race-focused cockpit is protected by an FIA-approved roll cage but
is also trimmed with carpet and sill upholstery to provide a
modicum of comfort. The windscreen is heated for clear vision in
all conditions. Required FIA safety devices include a plumbed fire
system, interior, and exterior electrical cut-off, and Willans
5-point harnesses. It is currently fitted with period-correct
3.8-style seats trimmed in black leather, and a pair of ultra-light
form-fitting race seats will also be included for track duty. The
current owner updated the steering with a tilt/telescopic column
for additional comfort whether on the road or the race course.
Beneath the alloy bonnet sits a 3.8-liter XK inline six that is
reportedly good for well in excess of 350 horsepower. Built in the
UK by the highly respected Jaguar specialists Rob Beere Racing, it
is remarkably tractable for road use but is also enormously capable
on the track. The engine is mated to a 4-speed all-synchro gearbox,
and the suspension is fully dialed in to provide excellent,
balanced handling. This car is seriously quick, and in the hands of
the current owner (an active vintage racer), was highly successful
in JCNA Slalom Competition (Autocross), scoring the second fastest
time for the 2016 season and once beating Jaguar's current F-Type R
by a full four seconds. It is believed to have run a number of
important UK and European events in the hands of its first owner.
More recently, it has done some vintage racing, including an
appearance at the Lime Rock Historics.�It is currently US-titled
and registered for road use, and the sale will also include
previous UK V5C registration documents, the MSA HTP (Historic
Technical Passport) and the all-important FIA documents which
allows entry into virtually any European historic event. Expertly
prepared and well-sorted, this gorgeous E-Type Lightweight hints at
what could have been if Jaguar followed Malcolm Sayer's lead and
developed the E-Type to take the fight to the Ferrari GTO.
