1965 Jaguar E-Type Series I 4.2-Litre Roadster 'Semi-lightweight' Ex-Stirling Moss & Win Percy

Offered here is a 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series I 4.2 Roadster with a fascinating provenance. Selected as a straight, corrosion-free bodyshell, 1E11338 was entrusted to respected XK and E-Type specialist, the late Jeremy Broad, to be converted into semi-lightweight specification ready for competition use. Jeremy Broad’s competition workshop was situated not far from Browns Lane and Broad followed the specification of the two special-order, semi-lightweight cars constructed by Jaguar Works in 1964. Impressed by the success of the 12 full-blown Competition Lightweights built to compete with Ferrari and Aston Martin in International GT competition, two, presumably very persuasive, customers managed to talk the factory into building something very similar for them, a left-hand drive Fixed Head Coupé for a prominent French collector and a Roadster for Sir Robert Ropner (4th Baronet) in County Durham. Interestingly, it's believed that 1E11338 wears the original bonnet from the Ropner car, presumably removed when the car was restored in an age when panel gaps mattered more than originality.

Purchased in 1991 by Manx Motor Racing Club Director, Graham Warwick, and registered in the Isle of Man as 1E MN, Chassis 1E11338 was entered into the 1991 Mountain Challenge, a prestigious event organised to commemorate Britain’s greatest road race the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy and the 30th Anniversary of the E-Type, to be piloted by Sir Stirling Moss. Sir Stirling was full of praise for the car, comparing his laps of the TT circuit in the E-Type with his races in earlier years on the Island’s British Empire Trophy course, saying “The car was pretty good, but it needs to be damped down a little, made more taught if we were going to try really hard!  It handled nicely, behaved quite well, and was comfortable”. As a result of Sir Stirling's observations, 1E11338 was then further developed by the legendary Peter Lander of Sigma Engineering in conjunction with marque specialists, Pearson’s Engineering, probably the world’s most famous preparers of C, D and E-Type Jaguars. Graham then went on to win the Manx Classic sports car event outright in this car.

A decade after Sir Stirling’s time with 1E11338, the car was invited to Donington Park to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the E-Type, this time to be steered by Le Mans and British/World Touring Car star, Win Percy, who reportedly left his D-Type in order to drive the Semi-lightweight. 1E11338 also appeared nationally and internationally including an outing at Jarama in Spain.

The 4.2-litre engine is currently in fast-road tune, with a Sigma head, performance cams and pistons, balanced crank, lightweight flywheel, hi-torque starter, triple Webers, Power-Lock LSD, adjustable shocks, Safety Devices roll-bar, uprated springs, lowered suspension, vented boot, alloy radiator and header tank, internal rear brake access panels, FIA-type foam-filled tank with alloy case and a five-speed gearbox (Jaguar’s later Le Mans E-Type lightweights had 5-speeed boxes in the 60s).

This unrepeatable E-Type has recently been subject to a thorough mechanical overhaul and sympathetic restoration work which included fresh paint whilst thoughtfully preserving the original 1991 Manx Mountain Challenge decals. The history file includes a wealth of evidence supporting the fascinating provenance including an entry in the Peter Griffiths book ‘E-Type Factory and Private Competition Cars’. More recently, it has been invited to attend a number of prestigious events including the E-Type's 60th Anniversary celebrations and was chosen by the Schwetzingen Palace International Concours 2021 to feature in a series of paintings by artist Mauricio Franco to publicise the event. Further documentation within the history file includes; FIVA identity card issued in 2019, expired FIA papers issued 1998, signed images and correspondence with Win Percy, 1991 Manx Mountain Challenge official programme, correspondence between Graham Warwick and Jeremy Broad, a copy of Classic Jaguar magazine with a full feature titled ‘Perfect Pedigree’, Invitations to have the E-Type feature at Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance, a copy of 1991 Jaguar drivers magazine with feature, many photos and clippings, race timing paperwork, old registration documents and copies and a wealth of invoices for recent attention.

The car is absolutely on the button, performs well and will continue to turn heads outside the pub, at any classic car event or sat in Parc Ferme after a racing event and, despite its provenance and focused appearance, is remarkably well behaved on the road and docile in traffic.