Beschreibung:

1961 Jaguar E-Type Semi-Lightweight Competition Roadster with Hardtop Registration no. 9 VPD Chassis no. 850007 *One of seven 'Project ZP537/24' cars (the very first competition E-Types) *The fourth oldest E-Type roadster surviving *Supplied new to John Coombs and sister car to '4 WPD' (the first Lightweight E-Type) *Coombs' spare car and demonstrator *In-period competition history (1961) *Restored to a highly competitive Semi-Lightweight specification *Well known and extensively raced in the last 15 years in major events: Le Mans, Spa, Goodwood, etc *Comes with an incredible amount of original spare parts Fußnoten 'The career of the E-Type Jaguar in competition was an honourable one – although designed purely for road use, it proved to be one of the few cars able to offer a credible challenge to the mighty GTO Ferrari.' – Paul Skilleter, Jaguar The Sporting Heritage. Right from the moment deliveries commenced in 1961, the E-Type began to find its way on to the world's racetracks. In the Grand Touring class for production sports cars the E-Type proved competitive right from the start, Graham Hill celebrating the model's racing debut by winning at Oulton Park on 3rd April 1961. Entered by Jaguar dealer John Coombs, Hill's car was one of seven special competition E-Types, the very first of their kind built by the factory. Jaguar's designer, Claude Bailey, had initiated 'Project Specification ZP 537/24', the title of which was 'Variations Required To Build 7 Competition E-Type Cars'. The suggested modifications were in fact relatively mild, including an increased compression ratio; polished con-rods; gas-flowed cylinder head and inlet manifold; lightened flywheel; and the provision of a close-ratio gearbox. The fortunate few earmarked for this inaugural septet of racing E-Types were those who had already successfully waved the Jaguar flag on track: John Coombs, Tommy Sopwith, Écurie Écosse, Peter Berry, and Sir Gawaine Baillie. Ultimately, Coombs, Sopwith and Berry were granted two each and Baillie one. Coombs' first competition E-Type, chassis '850006', carried the company's well known registration 'BUY 1' in its first year but by the following season its identity had been changed to '4 WPD'. It was this car that went on to become the prototype Lightweight E-Type and arguably the most important competition example of the model. Coombs' second car - chassis '850007', the seventh right-hand drive roadster built - was completed on 29th March 1961 and despatched to Henlys of London on 20th July of that year. From there the E-Type was transferred four months later to Coombs of Guildford with the registration '9 VPD'. It effectively served as a spare for the team and, other than reputedly being entrusted to Graham Hill during testing at Goodwood, was not called into action until the Scott-Brown Memorial Trophy meeting at Snetterton on 23rd July 1961. Albert Powell had been due to pilot one of Peter Berry's competition E-Types (chassis '850010', registration '3 BXV') before the car suffered a broken wishbone in practice, whereupon Coombs kindly loaned him '9 VPD'. According to Autosport, Powell ran as high as 4th before dropping back, eventually retiring when a broken fan belt led to overheating. No fewer than five of the seven 'ZP 537/24' cars were in action that day, including chassis '850005' ('ECD 400') and '850006' ('BUY 1') although that car did not carry registration plates at that meeting for some reason. The pair finished in 1st and 2nd places respectively. As far as its in-period competition history is concerned, little more is known of '850007' other than it definitely led a much quieter life than '4 WPD'. Sold off into private hands, '9 VPD' was purchased by the preceding owner in July 2002 in an extremely dilapidated but original state, having been left in the open in Scotland for some 15 years. Jaguar Driver magazine reported that the E-Type had been off the road since 1973. Apparently, it was while north of the border th