Lot details
Registration No: ACK241A
Chassis No: 888500
Mot Expiry: May 2013

The E-Type or XK-E as it was known in the USA, made its debut at the Geneva Salon of 1961. At launch the new Jaguar was the fastest production car of its time - its 3.8-litre straight-six engine allowing a 0-60mph acceleration time of a whisker over seven seconds and a top speed of circa 150mph. With such off-the-shelf, race-bred performance and Jaguar's enviable competition history it was only a matter of weeks before the newcomer hit the tracks. The venue was Oulton Park and the drivers were Graham Hill and Roy Salvadori. The result was victory first time out, with Hill winning in the Equipe Endeavour car ('ECD 400') and Salvadori in the Coombs example ('BUY 1') coming home third behind the Aston Martin DB4 GT of Innes Ireland. A few weeks later the E-Types of Salvadori and Jack Sears outstripped the Ferrari 250 GTs of Whitehead and Parkes at Crystal Palace. The dye was cast and after gaining useful experience through the 1961 and 1962 seasons, the factory decided to get more serious for 1963 and build a run of 12 lightweight competition E-Types - the majority of which were Roadsters with hard tops. Piloted by a mix of amateurs and such aces as Graham Hill, Roy Salvadori, Jackie Stewart and Briggs Cunningham, the cars achieved numerous national victories but, unlike the illustrious C-Types and D-Types, were denied the development required to beat the all-conquering Ferraris in international events.

Finished in White with Grey upholstery, this particular left-hand drive example began life as a road car before a more recent conversion to street legal race specification. Reportedly restored in Italy approximately seven years ago and entrusted to Jaguar race preparation specialist CKL Developments for an engine overhaul during 2006, the Coupe is deemed by the vendor to possess: "sound, all steel bodywork", "good paintwork (but with some stone chips)", "shabby interior trim", "very good 3.8-litre engine" and "excellent four-speed manual gearbox". Boasting a current FIA Historic Technical Passport (HTP), original FIA and FIVA papers plus an MOT valid until May 2013, the Jaguar has raced in the Pre-'63 GT Series and the GT & Sportscar Cup, but would also be suitable for the HSCC's E-Type Challenge and various road tour events, having previously competed in the Tour Auto.

Since purchasing 'ACK 214A' from Charles Cook in February 2010, the vendor has had renowned marque restorer Classic Motor Cars Ltd of Bridgnorth and Denis Welch Motorsport attend to its differential, brakes, gearbox, prop shaft and suspension etc. Equipped with an unleaded cylinder head, tubular exhaust manifold and triple SU carburettors, the engine apparently put out 255bhp at the rear wheels during a past rolling road test. Allied to a Jaguar four-speed all synchromesh gearbox, the straight-six is kept in check by a 3.54:1 differential, Leda adjustable dampers, polybushes all round, and 'small Dunlop' original size disc brakes with aluminium racing pistons and race pads. While, the Coupe's impressive specification is also said to encompass: internal and external cut out, plumbed-in extinguisher (new in 2011), thermostatically controlled electric fan, catch tank, oil cooler, long range bag tank (dated to 2015), rear roll cage, cold air ducting (to cockpit and rear brakes), lightweight style driving seat with inflatable lower back support, 14-inch Moto Lita quick release steering wheel, map light, alternator, rain light, twin document nets and driver / passenger harnesses.

'ACK 241A' comes complete with a detailed history file and sizeable spares package. The latter which can be collected from the seller's Cheshire home includes: Moss gearbox, alternative anti-roll bars, two matching seats, 11 x 7/16 inch front discs with 3-pot callipers (as new), two sets of wire wheels, two sets of Dunlop-style alloy wheels, various Dunlop race tyres and four good road tyres not to mention several original items such as a steering wheel, dynamo and rear side windows.