1962 Jaguar E-Type 3.8-Litre Semi-Lightweight Competition Roadster with Hardtop

• Built to full FIA semi-lightweight specification in 2013
• Steel monocoque tub, aluminium outer panels
• Aluminium cylinder block, wide-angle head
• Campaigned successfully in Masters, GTSCC, Goodwood RAC TT
• 'Last-nut-and-bolt' rebuild by Hall & Hall and Valley Motorsport in 2020
• Always professionally prepared and run
• Current HTP papers

"The career of the E-Type Jaguar in competition was an honourable one - although designed purely for road use, it proved to be one of the few cars able to offer a credible challenge to the mighty GTO Ferrari." - Paul Skilleter, Jaguar - The Sporting Heritage.

Right from the moment 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 sports cars the E-Type proved competitive right from the start, Graham Hill celebrating the model's racing debut by winning at Oulton Park on 3rd April 1961 in Tommy Sopwith's car, 'ECD 400'.

The elevation of the GT class to Manufacturers' Championship status for 1963 prompted Jaguar to develop a small batch of very special lightweight cars to challenge Ferrari. The FIA's regulations for the Gran Turismo category stipulated that a minimum of 100 cars had to be built, but permitted coachwork modifications, thus enabling Jaguar to claim that its lightweights were standard E-types fitted with altered bodywork. (This is the same loophole exploited by Ferrari to get the limited edition 250 GTO homologated, by claiming that they were re-bodied 250 GTs). In fact, all 12 lightweight E-Types constructed in period were built from scratch with aluminium bodies, though they were invoiced as a new standard road car with additional modifications and numbered in the normal production sequence, albeit with an 'S' chassis number prefix.

To create the 1963 lightweight version, the E-Type's steel monocoque tub and outer body panels were re-manufactured in aluminium and the engine dry-sumped and fitted with an alloy cylinder block, 'wide-angle' head and Lucas mechanical fuel injection, producing in excess of 300bhp. The production four-speed gearbox was used initially before a ZF five-speed unit was adopted towards the end of 1963. '4 WPD', the works development E-Type racer campaigned by John Coombs and driven by Graham Hill, was converted to lightweight specification and served as the prototype.

The 12 cars built by the factory were intended for the use of competition orientated Jaguar dealers or specially selected private entrants. Today, copies of these rare competition variants are among the most popular and sought after of all E-Type replicas.

The car we offer was originally built to full FIA semi-lightweight specification by OC Racing in 2013, using a new monocoque and all new parts, and has been updated and developed ever since. Its impressive specification includes a steel tub with aluminium bonnet, hardtop, doors and boot lid; Safety Devices roll cage; four-synchro close-ratio straight-cut gearbox; steel-cased Salisbury limited-slip differential (recently rebuilt); and the latest specification engine. The latter features an aluminium cylinder block, wide-angle head, wet sump lubrication, billet crankshaft, forged con-rods, lightened flywheel, triple-plate clutch and Weber 48 DCOE carburettors. The engine has had approximately 12 hours of use since its last rebuild.

This car has a proven record of success, particularly in the hands of Martin O'Connell. It competed in Masters, GTSCC, the Goodwood RAC TT and won an all-E-Type race at Oulton Park. In 2020 the E-Type underwent a comprehensive 'last-nut-and-bolt' rebuild by Hall & Hall and Valley Motorsport (bills and a full photographic record available). Run by Neil Fowler Motorsport and driven by current owners Tony and Charlie Best, it has once again competed successfully in high-profile races across Europe.

Always professionally prepared and run, this highly competitive and reliable Jaguar E-Type is offered complete with detailed history files, current HTP papers, correct 1962 V5, current V5C, four spare wheels and tyres, and a selection of running spares.