Meet the men who built the Lightweight E-type and the very first Lightweight itself – 4 WPD!

Strictly No Admittance by Peter Wilson

Strictly No Admittance!, a major new book telling the story of Jaguar’s Lightweight E-type, will be officially launched on Saturday, 2^nd April at the Jaguar Breakfast Club meeting at British Motor Museum, Gaydon.  Author Peter Wilson will be on hand to sign copies of the book, which will be offered at a special event price.

Peter Wilson was one of the small team of men who built the Lightweights in Jaguar’s famed Competition Department – to which, as the book’s title emphasises, there was indeed ‘Strictly No Admittance’ for most!   So this is truly a story told ‘from the inside’, with Peter Wilson’s remarkable ability to recall events of 60 years or more ago augmented by his meticulous research.  The amazing documentation preserved in the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust’s archives was crucial in this task, as was the input from a number of Peter’s former colleagues at Jaguar.

Just 12 Lightweight E-types were produced, all in 1963, and they competed in major endurance races such as the Sebring 12-Hours, the Le Mans 24-Hours, the Goodwood Tourist Trophy and the Nürburgring 1000 km.  Drivers included Formula 1 World Champion Graham Hill, champion-to-be Jackie Stewart, Roy Salvadori and Jack Sears.  The very first Lightweight, 4 WPD, will be on display at Gaydon.

With Peter Wilson at the Breakfast Meeting are expected to be some of his former colleagues in the Competition and Experimental Engines departments, allowing enthusiasts the rare chance for enthusiasts to meet the men who built ‘Jaguar’s dashing dozen’.

Lightweight E-type No. 1, registration number 4 WPD, chassis no. 850006.  Owner: Shaun Lynn

4 WPD The First Lightweight E-type

This was the car which started it all.  An early production E-type, it was originally registered BUY 1 and was raced in 1961 by the Coombs team with factory support.  It became Jaguar’s main development car in 1962, re-registered 4 WPD.  Prepared and raced by the Competitions Department, it was always entered in the Coombs name.  Its main driver was Graham Hill who became Formula 1 World Champion that year.

For 1963, 4 WPD was rebuilt with an all-aluminium body and engine to become the first ‘Lightweight’ E-type.  It continued to be driven by Graham Hill who notched up four victories in 1963, with Jack Sears achieving 4^th place at the Goodwood TT meeting that year.  By 1964 the Lightweight E-type was heading towards obsolescence and Jaguar’s involvement in motor racing declined, but nevertheless Jackie Stewart won at Crystal Palace and came second at Brands Hatch.

At the end of 1964 the car was sold to Red Rose Motors, when it effectively launched the career of Brian Redman who achieved many victories in 4 WPD before moving on to Formula 5000, sports-racing cars and Formula 1 (Redman was spectacularly successful in sports-car racing, and he even drove the Group 44 XJR-5 to complete the Jaguar full circle).

Since 2008 4 WPD has been owned by Shaun Lynn for whom it was restored by CKL Engineering Ltd who continue to maintain this historic E-type.  Peter Wilson and publisher Paul Skilleter are very grateful to both for arranging for this car to be at Gaydon on 2^nd April.

The Jaguar Breakfast Club Meeting is a monthly gathering open to all Jaguar owners and enthusiasts regardless of affiliation to a club, forum or group.  We meet on the first Saturday of each month (except where another major event precludes this) at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon; home to the impressive Collections Centre housing Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust’s iconic collection of vehicles.

This is a free, friendly and informal gathering, so just turn up anytime from 09.30 (10 am from December to February) and enjoy breakfast in the on-site café.  There is no obligation to visit the museum if you just wish to view the display but access to the café is only available to museum visitors.

Museum tickets are available at £14.50 adult or £12.50 for over 60s which if Gift Aided (at no extra cost) allow 12 months unlimited entry. Or pay £10 discounted rate on the day for a single visit.  Non-taxpayers may make a voluntary donation of the gift-aid amount to obtain an annual admission ticket.  Standard Gift-Aid annual tickets can be purchased in advance if desired from the British Motor Museum website.