Lot 253: 1961 Jaguar E-Type 3.8-Litre Fixed Head Coupé

Jaguar’s E Type certainly generated plenty of coverage when it was launched to the international press at the March 1961 Geneva Motor Show. With dashing good looks and, at the time, incredible performance for a production motor car of 0-60mph and 0-100mph in 6.9se and 16.2 seconds respectively, not to mention a reported top speed of 150mph, combining limpet-like roadholding and almost limousine-like docility, it became a huge hit both the movers and shakers of the day as well as weekend racing drivers who could drive one to the circuit, compete and, hopefully, head for home again it afterwards and drive in back to work on a Monday morning, all in the same car.

Times and motor sport, even historic motor sport, move on though, and this E Type - a 1960 left-hand drive Coupe unregistered for the road which was acquired by the current owner some twelve years ago - has been restored and prepared specifically for Historic GT Racing in the FIA Period E GTS category, the original FIA Papers with Fiche No. 0268/GTS and Homologation No. 34 being issued 6 04 1989. Successfully campaigned during the 1990s, in recent seasons it has entertained both owner-driver and spectators at leading historic race events at Silverstone and the Nurburgring and has taken part in the GP L’Age D’Or. Importantly for the next owner, an application for one of the latest Historic Technical Passports had been made prior to our inspection of the car for the catalogue and, according to the vendor, one of the latest HTPs is currently being processed by the FIA and MSA officials responsible for their allocation.

We are told that the period-correct and triple Weber-fed 3.8-litre XK motor currently fitted was built and modified by the celebrated Jaguar race engine engineer Ron Beatty and the fuel tank has been refurbished recently. The fully-caged interior has a pair of high-backed bucket seats trimmed in black and a wide-belt full harness with crutch straps for the driver. A plumbed-in fire system and an electrical master cut-off with internal and external actuation should also comply with the latest safety requirements for racing. Having only just been refurbished, the exterior of the Fixed Head is particularly well presented in Franchorchamps yellow livery by the Rae Davis Race Shop, where the car has only recently been serviced. Eligible for a whole host of one or two-driver retro-events, both in the UK and elsewhere, and with no shortage of Jaguar specialists on line to fettle it and competition parts in plentiful supply, this race-ready E Type is ready to rumble.