ACL GTC Jaguar E-type Le Mans

An E-Type prototype had been raced at Le Mans in 1960, long prior to its introduction. Briggs Cunningham entered a three-liter prototype driven by Walt Hansgen. Retiring there after setting the fastest practice lap, the car subsequently won at Bridgehampton and took a third at Elkhart Lake before discreetly retiring from the scene to make way for the production version. With Graham Hill behind the wheel, the new E-Type did win its first time out at the Oulton Park GT Trophy Race. But the decade’s most luscious GT tourer was no racer.

At Le Mans in 1962, the Cunningham team entered this factory-prepared car. Briggs Cunningham and Roy Salvadori averaged 108.87 mph for 24 hours. That speed was just 5 mph slower than the D-Type’s best average ever, and was good enough for fourth place, behind three Ferraris. In major races Jaguar’s venerable long-stroke twin-cam six just couldn’t produce the horses to counter the new three-liter cars from Maranello. For its stalwart followers, the company did subsequently build a dozen aluminum-bodied lightweight E-Types, which performed admirably in club events throughout the world. Despite such efforts, a major racing offensive was not in Jaguar’s plans.

The engine was heavily enhanced, with the block now cast from aluminium, not iron, which significantly reduced weight. The engine modifications also included a ‘wide-angle’ aluminium head with larger inlet and exhaust valves, a dry-sump oil system and competition flywheel. State-of-the-art Lucas fuel injection was also fitted, which led to an increased power output in excess of 300 brake horsepower, which was fed to the road through a four- or five-speed close ratio gearbox and limited slip differential. To save further weight, the wheels were manufactured from magnesium.

Inline 6 cylinder with aluminium alloy block
3781cc capacity
DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder
Aspiration natural with 3 x Weber 45DCO3 carburetors or Lucas Mk I mechanical fuel injection
Power output, 344 bhp @ 6800 rpm