MOTOR CARS | 299The 12 cars built by the factory were intended for the use of
competition orientated Jaguar dealers or specially selected private
entrants. Two of them, campaigned by Peter Lindner (Jaguar’s
Frankfurt distributor) and Peter Lumsden, were fitted with a revised,
low-drag tail section devised by aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer, the
man responsible for the standard production E-Type. This move to
a more aerodynamic design had been prompted by the fact that
although the GTOs had proved beatable on British short circuits, on
faster tracks and in events of longer duration they decisively held the
upper hand.
The best result obtained at international level by a low-drag E-Type
was achieved by Dick Protheroe’s ex-works experimental E-Type
racer (the solitary prototype of 1962), which triumphed at Reims
in the face of stiff GTO opposition, albeit in a race of only 25 laps.
Sadly, the lightweight and low-drag E-Types failed to fulfil their
potential in the endurance classics, though the car did prove able
to take on and beat the Ferrari GTOs at shorter distances. Today,
copies of these rare competition variants are among the most
popular and sought after of all E-Type replicas.
The body/chassis of this lightweight E-Type were constructed by
Rod Jay of Jaguar Racing Panels Limited, Nuneaton. It is fabricated
entirely from aluminium with strengthening in the sills to give greater
rigidity for better handling.
The car was constructed by Valley Motor Sport, whose proprietor Nigel
Morris is one of this country’s foremost specialists in the preparation
of E-Types having worked on and built front-running cars for Jon
Minshaw, Gregor Fiskin and many others. Recently Nigel has also been
working on and sorting out the original lightweight ‘4 WPD’.Built by Valley Motor Sport’s sub-contractor, Phil Hepworth, at a
cost of approximately £60,000, the wet-sump engine incorporates
a Crosthwaite & Gardiner alloy cylinder block and wide-angle head;
Cosworth pistons; Arrow steel crankshaft; 3” lip seal; steel flywheel;
Weber carburettors, etc. Dynamometer tested by Tim Adams, it
produces around 365bhp.The car has been built with original components and parts supplied
by various recognised specialists including RS Panels, Rob Beere
Racing, Custom Cages, B & G Developments and SNG Barratt, while
the interior has been trimmed by Suffolk & Turley. ‘437 YUJ’ was
built to run in the 50th Anniversary E-Type Challenge but in the event
was never used. Built as a front-runner with no expense spared, it is
nevertheless perfectly usable. Totally unused since completion, the car
is offered with current MoT/tax, V5C registration document, full FIA/
HTP papers and photographs documenting the build from day one.
£230,000 - 260,000
€290,000 - 330,000