1963 - 1964 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Roadster - Images, Specifications and Information

Model history:

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Conceived as as a road car, the Jaguar E-Type was nevertheless a regular sight at racing tracks shortly after its launch at the 1961 Geneva Motorshow. With its chassis and engine design derived from the three-time Le Mans winning D-Type this was hardly a surprise. To keep the costs of production down, Jaguar fitted the E-Type with a steel body. This proved to be a big handicap when the E-Types faced thoroughbred rivals like the Ferrari 250 GT(O), Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato and Shelby Cobra, which all used featherlight aluminium bodies.

One of the most successful of these early racing E-Types was the John Coombs prepared example that was raced by Roy Salvadori and Graham Hill in 1961 and 1962. The only upgrades fitted on this car were a wide-angle head and triple Webers. The performance of Salvadori and Hill in the steel E-Type sparked an interest inside Jaguar's dormant competition department at the end of 1962. It was decided to construct a proper competition version of the E-Type and John Coombs was invited to the factory to have his successful machine serve as the prototype.

To retain the E-Type's homologation as a GT car, the body could be modified but not the chassis, so the steel monocoque was retained. A brand new body was constructed that looked virtually identical to the production road car but was fabricated completely from aluminium. To improve the aerodynamics a separate 'hard-top' roof was added, which sported a small vent at the rear. Some of the later cars were bodied with full fast-back Coupe bodies that proved to be even more efficient.

Under the lightweight shell the new competition E-Type also featured changes. The biggest was an aluminium cylinder block instead of the cast-iron lump fitted in the road cars. Together with the revised body, this helped cut the weight by over 200 kg. The revised 3.8 litre engine was also fitted with Lucas fuel injection, which helped lift the power to well over 300 bhp. All of this was transferred to the rear wheels through a five-speed, close-ratio gearbox.

Simply dubbed the 'Lightweight E-Type', Jaguar's new racing car was entrusted to privateer entrants, some of whom received factory support. Among them was of course John Coombs but also American Briggs Cunningham, who ordered three cars for an all-out assault on Le Mans. One of the first major outings for the Lightweight was the 1963 Sebring 12 Hours where two examples placed 7th and 8th overall. They finished 1st and 2nd in the four-litre GT class but were beaten by three Ferrari 250 GTOs that raced in the under three-litre class.

At Le Mans the three Lightweight E-Types looked absolutely splendid in the Cunningham colours of white with two blue-stripes. The high-speed track had traditionally favoured Jaguars, so hopes for a good result were high. The cars were competitive in the practice session but the race started disastrous; two of the three E-Types were out before the 40th lap was completeled. The surviving example finished 9th overall and 2nd in class behind a Cobra. Most worrying of all was that the smaller engined Ferrari 250 GTOs turned out to be considerably quicker.

While the Lightweight E-Type was proven to be 'too little, too late' in the major events, it did score the odd win in national events. In England Peter Sutcliffe was very competitive in his example and German Jaguar distributor Peter Lindner won several races in his coupe-bodied Lightweight. Sadly he suffered a fatal crash behind the wheel of his car at Montlhery in the fall of 1964. By that time, Jaguar had long lost interest in the project. Eventually only 12 examples were constructed, including the Coombs prototype.

Whether the E-Type could have been a success on the racing track had Jaguar built a competition version immediately, we will never know. The Lightweight built two years later showed promise but failed to perform on the big stage. Despite the average track-record, the Lightweight E-Types are well sought after today, demanding seven figure prices in Pounds, Dollars and Euros. The most amazing development is the performance the cars have shown on track. The Lightweight E-Types have been particularly successful in the Goodwood Revival TT race, winning against Ferraris and Cobras they could not touch in period.

Chassis: S850006

Chassis S850006 was originally delivered in 1961 as a steel-bodied Roadster to Coombs of Guildford. Fitted with a wide-angle cylinder head and triple Webers, it was raced extensively by the likes of Roy Salvadori and Graham Hill. They scored one win and finished on the podium several times. During the winter of 1962/63, the car was extensively modified by the works. Fitted with an aluminium body and cylinder-block, it became the first 'Lightweight E-Type'. Hill raced the car very successfully in local events, winning races at Goodwood, Silverstone and Mallory Park. In 1965 the car was run by Red Rose, who campaigned the car for Brian Redman. He added many more wins to the Lightweight E-Type's tally.

After launching Redman's racing career, it was retired from contemporary racing. Still wearing its original license-plate '4 WPD', chassis S850006 has since been raced in historic events by its various owners. This did not always go well as the car was involved in big crashes in 1995 and again in 2006. The current owner acquired the car with a severely damaged body after its most recent incident. Late in 2008 a careful restoration was started to the E-Type's 1963 specification, fitting many original parts that had been removed over the year but had stayed with the car. The work was completed in time for the 2009 Goodwood Revival Meeting where it was raced by the owner and Red Bull Racing supremo Christian Horner.

Chassis: S850660

Originally sold to Kjell Qvale in California, chassis S850660 was first raced at the 1963 Sebring 12 Hours. It placed 7th at its debut and then raced at Laguna Seca before it was stored in. It reappeared over 35 years later in time-warp condition. After being reconditioned by Lynx Motors, it was offered by RM in their 2003 Amelia Island Auction. The most original surviving Lightweight found a new owner for nearly $1.4 million. Since then the car has made several appearances, including the 2010 Goodwood Revival where it is pictured above.

Chassis: S850664

Chassis S850664 was one of three Lightweight E-Types entered by the Briggs Cunningham team in the 1963 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Piloted by Americans Augie Pabst and Walt Hansgen, the car was forced to retire early in the race with gearbox issues. After its active racing career, it was displayed in the Cunningham museum for many years. At some point the car returned to England, where, despite changing hands several times, it remains to this day. The ex-Cunningham E-Type is seen here at the 2002 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Chassis: S850666

This Lightweight E-Type was sold new to Peter Sutcliffe. He campaigned chassis S850666 in local and international events for three seasons with some success. The car was subsequently sold to noted collector Brian Corser. After owning the car for nearly 30 years he offered it in the Bonhams auction during the 2005 Goodwood Revival Meeting. Still in highly original condition, it was estimated to sell for �1,000,000 to 1,200,000 but offers failed to meet the reserve. Shortly after the auction, it did change hands.

The new owner had the ex-Sutcliffe E-Type prepared for the 2006 Goodwood Revival. Together with Michael Vergers, he piloted S850666 to victory in the blue ribbon RAC TT Celebration race. The two men repeated that feat in 2007. Two years later the owner raced the car with Stuart Moseley but this time missed out on the win.

Chassis: S850668

Although built as full competition specification Lightweight, chassis S850660 was sold to its first owner as a road car. The car passed through various hands in quick succession and was campaigned at Shelsley Walsh. It was eventually acquired by historic racer Nigel Corner, who extensively raced the car in historic events. After he retired from racing, Corner sold the car to an American enthusiast. He is seen here in action during the 2011 Monterey Motorsports Reunion where Jaguar was the featured marque and the E-Type's 50th anniversary was celebrated.

Chassis: S850669

Completed in early in 1964, chassis S850669 was the 12th and final Lightweight E-Type to be built. It was sold new to Phil Scragg, who campaigned it extensively and quite successfully in sprints and hill-climbs. The E-Type was subsequently sold to the United States and in the mid-1970s ended up in a Japanese collection. The car resurfaced twenty years later at the 1995 Goodwood Festival of Speed in remarkable original condition.

A further ten years later, the car was offered by Blackhawk and eventually acquired by the current owner. He crashed the car heavily during the 2006 Goodwood Revival meeting. Fully repaired, chassis S850669 returned to Goodwood two years later. The owner, together with F1-racer/commentator Martin Brundle, came close to winning the RAC TT Celebration race. With the help of Indy-legend Bobby Rahal, he did manage to score a win in the prestigious one-hour endurance race. The car has reportedly spent some time in the Red Bull Racing wind-tunnel to tweak its aerodynamics.