Jaguar E-type (1961)

Such was the huge demand for the 'E' type at the time of its launch that the first cars were only made available for purchase to suppliers or close friends of Jaguar Cars. William Lyons and 'Lofty' England of Jaguar very much encouraged initial owners to compete with their cars, and ‘YRP 999’ ticks both of those boxes having been believed to have been campaigned from its very early days and with chassis 20 being one of the earliest RHD E-types in existence.

- The 20th RHD E-type Roadster produced
- Raced from its very earliest days, and regarded as one of the most raced E-types
- Last raced at the 2022 Goodwood Revival - the has competed in no less than 10 Goodwood TTs
- Offered in Race-Ready condition, with a spare Alloy Block, Wide Angle Engine
- FIA Papers Valid until 2025.

First owner Derek Wilkinson acquired ‘YRP 999’ (chassis #850020) in early 1961. The car was driven for Derek, by John Bekaert, an extremely popular and capable driver of the time, already well-known for his exploits in HWM and Lister-Jaguar sports cars. ‘YRP 999’ is not only one of the very earliest cars built but also one of the very first E-types to have been raced from new and was even entered into the very first race that any E-Type took part in at Oulton Park in 1961 (a race that the car did not start but was won by the famous ECD 400).

After its energetic racing career in the hands of John Bekaert, the car passed to fellow enthusiast John Woolfe for 1963-64, Woolfe becoming well-known for his Woolferace wheels project (later Wolfrace) and 7-litre competition Cobra. It is believed that Woolfe was responsible for the addition of a Le Mans style fuel tank, extensive use of aluminium panelling and other modifications including adoption of a 'D' type chronometric tachometer helping bring the car to early Semi-Lightweight specification.

In March 1969 ‘YRP 999’ was purchased by Terry McGrath who ran a D-type, Connaught, Crossley and a Lola T70 under the Concross Racing Team Banner. ‘YRP 999’ had still been in its green livery when purchased but was repainted dark blue. Mr. McGrath has confirmed that at the time the rear discs were cooled by some interesting unique vertical slots in front of the rear wheel arches and the car had already been fitted with the long-distance alloy factory Le Mans fuel tank with filler cap mounted in the boot lid.

Bob Vincent bought the car that November, and his mechanical modifications in addition to the extensive items already carried out (confirmed by Martin Ryan, who frequently raced the car during Mr. Vincent's ownership) included lowered and stiffened suspension, modified brakes ducted both to the boot lid vents and to the rear wheel arches via an alloy tower over the rear axle, and the modified tail treatment with increased underside rake to reduce lift. In 1971, Bob Vincent had ‘YRP 999’ resprayed signal red and Martin Ryan then bought it purely for competition use, campaigning it widely, and successfully. During 1972, he returned it to HSCC specification by reducing amongst other things the flared wheel arches.

In 1973, Martin Johnson bought the car, which Mr. Ryan continued to race. In 1974, ‘YRP 999’ passed to the collector Alexander Boswell in whose hands it lay unraced for five years until 1980 when it was acquired by Mr. T. White and his brother-in-law, Mr. A. Crossingham, who began a lengthy restoration. The bodywork was resprayed as original in Opalescent Dark Green but in 1991 when Charles Good acquired the car, the restoration was still incomplete. ‘YRP 999’ received its finishing touches and was made road useable by Lynx Motors under the instruction, "not to change any original parts or period modifications unless required". Between 1995 and 2005 ‘YRP 999’ was campaigned carefully and regularly at a number of senior events, including the Silverstone Historic Festival twice and both the Donington 35th and 40th anniversary E-type races.

‘YRP 999’ has been in it’s last custodianship since around 2005, avid motorsport and racing fans the car has been driven by some of the all-time great racing drivers including Jackie Oliver, Anthony Reid, John Cleland and very regularly by Martin Stretton. Stretton has sympathetically overseen the cars maintenance and race preparation, always ensuing the car is “on the button”. The result is a car that whilst it retains a great deal of charm and unique features it is a front running car and a regular contender at the best events such as the Goodwood Revival.

Having taken part in almost TEN Goodwood Revival TTs the car is very regular feature at the world’s greatest historic meetings, its last race was the 2022 Goodwood Revival TT where she was driven by former Ferrari development driver and ex-Formula E world champion Jean Eric Vergne.

Today ‘YRP 999’ is currently fitted with a 3.8-litre E-type engine with a cast iron block but is accompanied by a race-specification 3.8-litre aluminium block unit, built by Crosthwaite & Gardiner, a spare bonnet, the full history file, and of course full valid FIA papers until December 2025.

Widely regarded as one the most raced E-type in existence ‘YRP 999’ represents a unique opportunity to acquire a significant race-ready part of the E-type’s ongoing history.