- Semi-Lightweight with a fascinating history

- Prepared to a very high standard, superb results in historic events

- Major mechanical work from 2020–2022, ready to return to the track

In 1963, two years after the launch of the E-Type, Jaguar decided to create a competition version of its elegant roadster. Boasting reduced weight and a higher-performance engine, 12 examples of the aptly named ‘Lightweight’ model were produced. But as early as March 1961, the company’s competition department, headed by ‘Lofty’ England, had already supplied some private teams (such as those of Dick Protheroe, John Coombs or Tommy Sopwith) with specially prepared E-Types, which did well in racing. Admittedly, they never achieved their goal of beating Ferrari’s GTOs, but these special E-Types, fitted with parts supplied by Jaguar’s competition department and sometimes known as ‘Semi-Lightweights’, whipped around the circuits, with numerous victories in the GT category.

This was the case for the E-Type roadster ordered directly from the Jaguar factory in Coventry by François Mazet, who was living at the time in London and would go on to be the French Formula 3 Champion. Recommended to ‘Lofty’ England by a racing driver friend, in 1964 Mazet took delivery of one of the first 4.2-litre roadsters (chassis no. 1E10431), which was specially equipped with features from the Lightweight: D-Type wheels with Dunlop Racing tyres, a strengthened rear axle, wider rear track, wider front and rear wings, D-Type front disc brakes, a close-ratio gearbox, an engine with a special camshaft and exhaust manifold, and aluminium doors and bonnet (these last items confirmed in a later letter from Mazet to Richard Gletton).

Mazet competed in several events with the car, including the Grand Prix de Paris at Montlhéry in May 1965, where he finished ahead of Sylvain Garant’s Ferrari GTO, and the Rallye des Routes du Nord in 1966 (teamed up with the photographer Manou Zurini). It remained on English plates (DRW 608C) until Mazet registered it in France in 1967 with the number 6362 TK 75. He used the car to drive to the events he was competing in, until a serious accident, on an icy evening in the Parc de Saint-Cloud, led to him disposing of it as a write-off to the coachbuilder Henri Chapron in 1971. The car turned up again at Nîmes during the 1970s, in unknown condition, with the registration number 5040 SS 30.

The car for sale here is another E-Type, chassis no. 876688, which left the factory in February 1962 and was delivered to Capima France in March that year. It was a ‘flat-floor’ Series 1 model, finished in ‘Gunmetal’ with a beige interior. Its history is unknown before it was discovered in 1988 in the garage of a M. Solignac in Montpellier by Richard Gletton from Lyon. It was fitted at the time with a 4.2-litre block with a 3.8-litre cylinder head and several special works ‘competition’ parts: D-Type wheels, a wider track at front and rear, D-Type disc brakes, a special exhaust manifold, camshaft and rear suspension, and aluminium doors and bonnet, the latter identified by Mazet as being identical to his old bonnet, which would suggest that Mazet's 1964 roadster was the ‘donor’ vehicle for the special parts fitted to the E-Type discovered by Gletton. Two factors support this argument, the first being the geographical proximity of the two cars. Secondly, whereas Mazet had been able to compete with his 4.2-litre roadster during the 1960s, the regulations for historic racing changed at the start of the 1970s and the 4.2-litre models were forbidden, which may explain the ‘transformation’ of the 3.8-litre chassis no. 876688 at that point.

After buying the car, Gletton sent it to Francis Trichet, an acknowledged Jaguar race car specialist, to be restored in accordance with the FIA regulations and as a ‘continuation’ of Mazet's old car. A correct 3.8-litre engine (no. RA1161-9) was installed, and it competed in the French VHC Championship in 1990, 1991 and 1992, driven by Gletton and then by Alain Schlessinger, who sold the car in 1993 to Jean-François Bentz, who registered it as 542 KVR 75.

Often accompanied by Francis Trichet in endurance races, Bentz went on to enter the E-Type in nearly 100 events on circuits throughout Europe, with 20 podiums and several victories, and only 14 retirements. The car also took part several times in the Tour Auto and Le Mans Classic, where, in 2004, it finished first out of the Jaguars and created a sensation with a paint scheme devised by the fashion designer Chantal Thomass, as part of a project for charity. In these colours, Hervé Poulain considered it a genuine ‘Art Car’ and it appeared in his book Mes Pop Cars, alongside the cars painted by Calder, Warhol, Stella and Lichtenstein ...

During its 25 years in competition, this E-Type was prepared right up to the limits allowed by its FIA homologation form (ref. Lightweight competition 64, form no. 100), except for the width of the rear track, and the bodyshell, which was still made from steel (only the genuine 1963-1964 Lightweight competition cars are authorised to race with an aluminium shell). In 2000, a 3.8-litre ‘wide-angle’ (D-Type) engine with dry sump lubrication was installed, developing about 350bhp (engine no. ZA84968). Over time, it became a pure Semi-Lightweight, which was easy to drive and very competitive, It was, moreover, the subject of a particularly complimentary test by José Rosinski, published in the magazine Auto Rétro.

After one last podium at Paul Ricard, Bentz sold his E-Type in 2017 through Hall & Hall to Olivier Cazalière, who entered it in, among other events, the Le Mans Classic that year, before selling it in 2019 to Michel Mhitarian’s company LTS.

In 2020, 2021 and 2022, the car underwent major work to prepare it for the historic events in which it competed, carried out by the specialist Équipe Europe in the Seine-et-Marne run by Yvan Mahé. Work was carried out on the 3.8-litre engine, which was rebuilt as new, the braking system, electrical system, suspension and running gear; the upholstery was restored, a Tripmaster fitted and the wheels refurbished, along with several jobs to finalise the car’s set-up and configuration. Over three years, the total for these bills exceeded 125,000 €, and we invite interested buyers to examine them in detail in the file of invoices. The work carried out ensures that the car is now prepared to a high standard and is ready to take part in the most competitive historic events.

As well as the file of invoices, the car comes with historic documents, a Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate, press articles, photographs of the restoration work, an exhaustive record of its results since 1993, current FIA papers, a copy of Hervé Poulain’s book Mes Pop Cars (which will be signed for the buyer) and its original cylinder head. The condition of this Jaguar today is a credit to its history and to the muscular appearance befitting its high performance. More affordable than a ‘genuine’ Lightweight, this E-Type shares that model’s style, performance and qualities, a fact which will not be lost on connoisseurs.

Photos © Nino Hamet