Lot 212: 1963 Jaguar E-Type Series I 4.2-Litre Competition Coupé

Right from the moment when deliveries commenced in 1961, the E-Type began to find its way on to the world’s racetracks. In the Grand Touring class for production sportscars the E-Type proved competitive right from the start when Graham Hill, driving Tommy Sopwith’s Team Endeavour car, celebrated the model’s racing debut by winning at Oulton Park on 3rd April 1961 ahead of Innes Ireland’s Aston Martin DB4GT and Roy Salvadori in John Coombs’ E-Type. Since then E-Types have been raced successfully the world over, with development continuing well beyond the level achieved by Jaguar themselves.
Raced at circuits, hill climbs, sprints and rallies, this original right-hand drive E-Type Coupé is accompanied by a history file detailing its 20-year competition career, including scrutineering tickets, owner’s diary and race times. The car is offered for sale following a recent restoration and further race development undertaken by renowned Aston Martin specialists Four Ashes Garage during 2005/06 and comes with a photographic record of the work. It incorporates a number of highly desirable components supplied by racing E-Type specialist, Rob Beere, including the cylinder head, twin-plate competition clutch, 16-row oil cooler and adjustable front torsion bar reaction plate. The engine breathes via triple Dell’Orto 45 carburettors fitted with Pipercross filters and is fitted with a competition exhaust system.
Suspension upgrades include new adjustable gas shock absorbers at the front and Spax units (fitted with new springs) at the rear, while the braking system has been up-rated with V12 discs/calipers at the front (fitted 2005) and reconditioned ‘4.2’ Girling calipers at the rear, with Aeroquip hoses throughout. Other noteworthy features include differential oil cooler, Safety Devices roll cage, plumbed-in fire extinguisher, and Lightweight E-Type-style Realm wheels (5” at the front, 7” at the rear) shod with Dunlop ‘historic’ race tyres.
Assessed by respected Jaguar Surveyor and Valuer, Alan Fogg, in 2004, the car was described by him as ‘very impressive and totally tractable’ and the engine as ‘very sweet and powerful’. Reluctantly sold due to a change in the vendor’s circumstances, this well developed racing E-Type is offered with sundry invoices, MoT to January 2008 and Swansea V5 registration document.