About Jaguar E-Type Low Drag Coupe

To maintain standards, the body of the E-Type could be modified, but not the chassis. A completely new body was built, which looked almost identical to the production road car but was entirely made of lightweight aluminum.

To improve aerodynamics, a separate hardtop roof was added, featuring small side vents designed to cool the rear brakes. The windshield was given an even lower angle, and the rest of the windows were made from Perspex acrylic glass.

The interior layout remained identical to the production Jaguar E-Type, while the cabin components were made of riveted and bonded panels.

The standard 3.8-liter engine was modified similarly to the D-Type, allowing for even greater speeds compared to the production models.

According to available data, the Jaguar E-Type Low Drag Coupe (ZX 537/30 – CUT 7) was completed in the summer of 1962 (with testing beginning in January that year). The final version of the car was stunning, but it had issues with airflow at high speeds, making it immediately uncompetitive compared to models from other manufacturers.

In 1963, Jaguar produced 12 Jaguar E-Type Lightweights—special lightweight racing cars. The fifth of these (4868 WK) was sold to German racing driver Peter Lindner, who was also Jaguar's distributor in Germany at the time. In 1964, to prepare the car for participation in Le Mans, Peter Lindner and Malcolm Sayer (who had worked on the development of the first factory Low Drag Coupe) developed a new body design and converted the lightweight E-Type into the famous Jaguar E-Type Lindner-Nocker Low Drag Coupe. Jaguar also slightly upgraded the engine and exhaust system at the factory. However, during the 1964 Le Mans race, the car retired due to a head gasket issue. In October 1964, at the Montlhéry race, a tragic accident occurred—the car crashed, claiming the lives of Peter Lindner and three marshals. The wrecked car was declared irreparable. For the next 17 years, the remains of this unique vehicle lay in a French garage under a chain.

After several sales in the 1980s, the car was partially restored by Lynx (using the original factory monocoque body along with some parts from the crashed vehicle). In 2008, Peter Neumark acquired this unique heritage. To fully restore it, he had to purchase not only the remaining unused parts of the Lindner-Nocker but also the car restored by Lynx.

Restoring the body alone took approximately 5,000 hours. Thanks to painstaking work, 90% of the recovered material was saved. The full restoration took over 7,000 hours. By 2011, the car was complete, and it is rightfully considered one of the finest restoration projects of the modern era.

In 1963, British racing driver Peter Lumsden became the proud owner of one of the twelve unique Jaguar E-Type Lightweights (49 FXN). Throughout the 1963 season, competing in various events with his co-driver Peter Sargent, they were quite satisfied with the new car.

For the 1964 season, the racing team, along with their personal engineer-mechanic and friend Samir Klat, decided to modify the car for even higher speed performance. All three team members studied engineering at Imperial College London, so they were certainly capable of doing something innovative.

The project was not supported by Jaguar, so the team was fortunate to have Jack Playford, a garage owner, as a friend. Together with his sons, Playford helped bring the idea to life.

By March 1964, at the Sussex Trophy race in Goodwood, the car debuted in its new form as the Jaguar E-Type Lumsden-Sargent Low Drag Coupe. Thus began a series of races and tests where the car demonstrated excellent results. Unfortunately, at the 1964 Le Mans, the car retired due to a gearbox failure.

By 1966, Peter Lumsden hung up his helmet and ended his career. The car was sold and began its journey around the world. It was not until 2000 that the model returned to its homeland in the United Kingdom, where it is now owned by a local collector.

Jaguar E-Type Low Drag Coupe Overview

The Jaguar E-Type Low Drag Coupe and Lightweight models are legendary racing versions of the iconic E-Type, built for speed and performance. The Low Drag Coupe, with its lightweight aluminum body and aerodynamic design, aimed to improve on the standard model but struggled with airflow issues at high speeds. The Lightweight series, limited to 12 units, featured further weight reduction and engine upgrades for competitive racing.

Notable examples include the Lindner-Nocker Low Drag Coupe, which underwent significant modifications but was tragically lost in a fatal accident, and the Lumsden-Sargent Low Drag Coupe, created by private enthusiasts for greater speed. Both models are celebrated for their innovation and remain valuable icons of 1960s motorsport history.

Jaguar E-Type Low Drag Coupe Technical Specification

Factory Model

Engine: 6-cylinder Jaguar XK6, 3.8 liters, 3781 cc

Power Output: ~300 hp

Transmission: 4-speed manual gearbox

Features:

Aluminum cylinder head

Triple carburetors

Lindner-Nocker Model

Engine:6-cylinder Jaguar XK6, 3.8 liters, 3781 cc

Power Output: ~344 hp

Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox (ZF)

Features:

Steel cylinder head

Triple carburetors

Lumsden-Sargent Model

Engine: 6-cylinder Jaguar XK6, 3.8 liters, 3781 cc

Power Output: ~340 hp

Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox (ZF)

Features:

Aluminum cylinder head

Triple carburetors

Jaguar E-Type Low Drag Coupe Models

Jaguar E-Type Low Drag Coupe (ZX 537/30 – CUT 7)

Jaguar E-Type Lindner-Nocker Low Drag Coupe (4868 WK)

Jaguar E-Type Lumsden-Sargent Low Drag Coupe (49 FXN)

Jaguar E-Type Low Drag Coupe Photogallery