The original ZP cars, of which there were just seven, were only lightly modified for racing, but that didn’t hold back Hill, who won first with a blue drophead at Oulton Park, or Salvadori who took a grey ZP E-type to first place at Crystal Palace. That was also a drophead (in period, all the ZP cars were) but, not letting the facts get in the way of a good story, Jaguar Classic has chosen to represent it by the fixed-head car you see here.
Hill’s and Salvadori’s successes marked the first victories for the E-type which went on to chalk up 24 podium finishes between ’61 and ’64. It was the start of a storied motorsport career for the car – one that famously goes on to this day in historic racing at Goodwood.
So what do you get with a ZP E-type 62 years on? The cars have not just been meticulously restored but also made more reliable (electric fan and electronic ignition) and easy to live with (DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and navigation). Under the bonnet is a 3.8-litre XK straight-six chucking out 265PS (198kW) via a five-speed all-synchro close-ratio manual gearbox that has been specially developed to allow easier shifting and more relaxed touring.
As you can tell from the photos, the updating hasn’t exactly wreaked havoc with the looks. From the chrome bumpers and wire wheels to the external bonnet latches and welded bonnet louvres, the look is authentically 1961. Roundels and white “lipstick” around the front intake reinforce the motorsport connection. New paint, Oulton Blue and Crystal Grey, mimic the colours of the Hill/Salvadori racers.