JAGUAR TYPE E FHC FIA

Fabriquée par le constructeur britannique Jaguar dans les années 1960 et 1970, la Jaguar Type E est une voiture de sport. Elle succède à la série des XK, et elle sera présentée au salon international de l’automobile de Genève de 1961. La production s’étend de 1961 à 1975 et elle se décline en 3 modèles qui sont le coupé, le cabriolet et le 2+2, en trois séries et en deux éditions limitées.
La Jaguar Type E est pour l’époque d’une conception très moderne. On compta de nombreuses évolutions et modifications tout au long de la vie du modèle, dans le but d’améliorer les performances, la sécurité, et le confort.

Livré neuf en France en 1964, notre coupé est connu du circuit VHC depuis plusieurs décennies. Préparé à la fin des années 70, c’est avec l’engouement des courses historiques que nous le retrouverons dans le team Atlantic Racing dans les années 90, trustant déjà les premières places. Certains se souviennent encore de passages mémorables dans la ligne droite de Montlhéry ! Elle change ensuite de mains à deux reprises mais sera toujours dans le top 10 de nombreuses courses de Peter Auto en Sixties. Figurant en bonne place au Tour Auto 2014 pour la victoire, une sortie de route met hélas fin à ses espoirs. De nouveau sur les circuits en 2016, elle sera créditée d’un temps de 2:40 sur le grand circuit du Castellet.

Notre modèle est doté d’un moteur carter sec et d’une culasse Wide Angle ayant deux heures environ depuis sa révision. Ses ouvrants aluminium, ses gros freins type MK9, et l’ensemble des éléments sont conformes aux meilleures spécificités (seuls les harnais, extincteurs et réservoir sont à renouveler), cette très performantes Type E est prête pour revenir dans le Top 10 entre les mains d’un pilote expérimenté, comme elle le fait depuis des années !

On sale, 1964 Jaguar E Type, 3,8l FHC/FIA.

Probably the most beautiful design in automotive history, a breath-taking engine for half the price of a Ferrari. This is how the E-type Jaguar was described when revealed in 1961. The E-type is the result of the strong track experience of the 5 victories at the Le Mans 24h with the C- and D-types, and offers a real revolution compared to the obsolete XK150. The E-type, project starts in 1957, when the last of the XK era is launched trying to keep up with the sportscars market. Unquestionably the star of the 1961 Geneva motor show where it was first revealed, this project cleverly kept secret received a huge enthusiasm from the public and generated unequalled media coverage for such a car. Not only the car was greatly built and designed but it was offered at a very competitive price, in the range of the nice but far less competitive Porsche 356 for example. Commercial success is immediate and the car will know an incredible career including in the United-States where most of theme will be sold. Fitted with the straight six, 3,8l XK engine, the E-type offers both a Coupé or Roadster version.

Innovating compared to the XK, the E-type is a semi-monocoque structure derivated from the D-Type architecture. The front part of the car, supporting the engine, is built from square tubs bolted to the monocoque body.

On the sporting side, she had a career in retreat for the production models, which were not light enough, especially against the Ferrari 250 GT. The factory then built the famous « Lightweight », only twelve were made, with an aluminium body and engine block, very fast but accumulating engine reliability issues. The factory rectified the situation by restarting the cast iron blocks prepared to develop 300 hp. Often involved in races in the United Kingdom where she has accumulated a good track record over the years, she will also compete in the Tour de France automobile after the withdrawal of the MK2, and she obtained the Australian GT title in 1963 with Bob Jane. That same year, Graham Hill won several GT national events at the wheel, and between 1963 and 1964 Peter Lindner made her participate in the german championship again, winning a few more cups. In December 1963, Hans Schenk won the Governor’s Trophy and the Bahamas Cup in succession. Between 1964 and 1965, Peter Sutcliffe won the Prix de Paris GT, and Brian Redman even had the opportunity to drive it. Nowadays, Type E racing in historic in France and on tracks in the United Kingdom and over Europe have become, with advanced preparations (340 hp), much more efficient, thus obtaining more and more trophies.

Delivered new in France in 1964, our coupe has been known on the HCV circuit for several decades. Prepared at the end of the 70s, it is with the enthusiasm of historic races that we will find it in the Atlantic Racing team in the 90s, already as a front runner, and some still remember it being driven on the Monthlery straight! It will then change hands twice, but will still be in the top 10 of many Peter Auto races in Sixties Endurance. It was competing for victory at the 2014 Tour Auto, but a road trip will stop its performance.