Ex-Nicholas Cage
1963 Jaguar XKE E-Type Competition Coupe "No. 46"

3,781cc Racing Specification DOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Weber Carburetors
Approximately 365-400bhp at 6,500rpm
5-Speed Close Ratio Manual Transmission
Four-Wheel Competition Modified Independent Suspension
Four-Wheel Competition Prepared Disc Brakes

* Legendary West Coast vintage racing E-Type known simply as "No. 46"
* Developed and campaigned by renowned Jaguar specialist Bernard Juchli
* VARA B Production Champion in 1992, 1993, and 1994 with 19 race victories
* Monterey Historics veteran and regarded as one of the most successful vintage racing Jaguars in America
* Later owned by actor Nicolas Cage and registered for road use


THE JAGUAR XKE

When the XKE debuted in 1961, it was an instant hit. The aerodynamic design was not just a pretty façade, as the indomitable XKE lived up to its good looks by clocking top speeds in excess of 150 miles an hour. The E-Type was the fastest production car of its era. Not only beautiful and fast, the car was reasonably priced and became Britain's favorite motoring sports car and a racing celebrity.


THE CAR OFFERED

Among Jaguar competition cars active in American vintage racing during the late twentieth century, few achieved the reputation, success, and recognition of E-Type No. 46. For more than a decade, this distinctive green coupe dominated West Coast vintage racing grids under the stewardship of Swiss-born Jaguar specialist Bernard Juchli, who went on to become the general manager of Jay Leno's Big Dog Garage in Burbank, California. Under Juchli's stewardship, No. 46 earned multiple championships, becoming a fixture at the Monterey Historics, and establishing itself as one of the most successful and recognizable E-Types in the country.

No. 46 began life as a 1963 Jaguar E-Type Fixed Head Coupe before entering competition use early in its career. By the time it was acquired by Bernard Juchli and his partner at Jaguars Unlimited, the car was already a seasoned race car. Although worn and in need of comprehensive restoration, it retained many of the key features that hinted at its competitive past, including an aluminum hood, Weber carburetors, a dry-sump lubrication system, suspension modifications, and a roll cage.

Rather than restoring the Jaguar to road-going specification, Juchli envisioned something altogether different: a purpose-built vintage racing E-Type capable of winning at the highest levels of competition while maintaining the reliability necessary to complete full racing seasons.

The car was stripped completely to its bare shell, revealing extensive corrosion throughout the lower structure. The floor sections were beyond repair, and the body required significant reconstruction. The shell was mounted upside down, the deteriorated floor removed entirely, and an integrated eight-point roll cage fabricated before new structural panels were installed. Juchli personally carried out much of the work, utilizing the facilities of Jaguars Unlimited to create what would become one of the most developed and successful vintage racing Jaguars of its era.

Lightweight construction became a central theme of the build. Aluminum doors and rear hatch panels were fabricated, Lexan windows installed throughout, and the rain gutters eliminated entirely to improve aerodynamics. A specially configured windshield extending farther forward than the standard E-Type design improved airflow over the roof. Completed, the car weighed approximately 2,340 pounds, substantially lighter than a standard production E-Type.

Mechanically, No. 46 evolved continuously throughout its competition career. Utilizing the 3.8-liter engine, which produced approximately 365 horsepower at 6,500 rpm on the dynamometer and approached 400 horsepower under ideal conditions, Juchli retained Jaguar's legendary twin-cam inline-six architecture, with virtually every component optimized for racing use. Only the basic block, head casting, and crankshaft remained fundamentally Jaguar. The dry-sump system was rebuilt and refined, cooling was upgraded with lightweight aluminum components, and extensive development produced an engine that combined exceptional performance with remarkable durability. Unlike many highly tuned competition engines that required constant rebuilding, Juchli's race motors were engineered for longevity and reliability, a philosophy that would prove critical to the car's success.

The transmission received similar attention. A close-ratio gearbox was fitted with specially designed racing synchronizers developed by Juchli after repeated failures of conventional components. Combined with a Tilton aluminum flywheel and triple-plate clutch, the result was a drivetrain capable of handling the engine's increased output while remaining dependable throughout a demanding racing schedule. In Juchli's own words, the car received thousands of hours of work and thousands of dollar's worth of upgrades. The result is priceless.

By the early 1990s, No. 46 had become the benchmark Jaguar in West Coast vintage racing competition. Under Juchli's ownership and driving, the E-Type captured VARA B Production Championships in 1992, 1993, and 1994 while accumulating an extraordinary nineteen race victories.

Its dominance became so pronounced that the Jaguar was moved from C Production, where it naturally belonged, into the more competitive B Production category. There it faced formidable opposition from Shelby Cobras and V8-powered Corvettes yet continued to deliver winning performances. According to Juchli, the car recorded no race retirements during its final two seasons of active competition under his ownership—an extraordinary achievement for a front-running vintage race car. The Jaguar became a familiar and respected presence at the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, where it competed successfully for more than ten years. During this period, No. 46 developed a reputation as the car to beat and earned recognition among competitors and spectators alike as 'the winningest vintage racing Jag in the West'!

Following its championship-winning career, the E-Type entered private ownership and later passed to actor Nicolas Cage. Cage reportedly registered the car for street use and used it while preparing for the driving sequences featured in the film Gone in 60 Seconds. While many former race cars lose their identity following retirement from competition, No. 46 retained the character and presence that had made it famous on the track.

Today, No. 46 represents a rare opportunity to acquire a Jaguar competition car whose significance derives from decades of documented achievement. Developed by one of America's most respected Jaguar specialists, campaigned to multiple championships, and remembered by generations of vintage racers as the dominant E-Type of its era, it occupies a unique place in the history of American vintage motorsport. For collectors seeking a proven and celebrated competition Jaguar, few E-Types can match the combination of pedigree and performance embodied by the legendary No. 46. Add to that the Jaguar's celebrity ownership with Nicholas Cage and its role in his preparation for one of the most iconic motoring films of modern times, and the legendary No. 46 is itself a celebrity not to be overlooked.