Classic Cars

Currently owned by Penny Graham E2A is the one off metamorphisis between the D Type and the E Type Jaguars.
Presented in wonderfully original and unspoiled ex-works condition, this unique car been lovingly preserved in just one family ownership for over 40 years and – extraordinarily - it is in effect a one-owner car ex-works.

Jaguar had withdrawn from fully-focused works team competition after 1956, but had continued to maintain a racing presence through such customer teams as Briggs Cunningham’s in America, and Ecurie Ecosse in the UK.

Sir William Lyons had decreed that it was time for the marque’s phenomenal sporting pedigree to benefit production with an all-new semi-monocoque chassised design which was to emerge in 1961 as the Jaguar E-Type.

One prototype for this model – the ‘missing link’ between D-Type and E-Type – emerged as ‘E2A’, a powerful fuel-injected 3-litre sports-racing two seater which was to be raced by famous American sportsman Briggs Cunningham’s experienced team at Le Mans in 1960.

The new ‘E2A’ was to test several features of the forthcoming E-Type production model, not least its independent rear suspension system in place of the live-axle featured in both the C-Type and D-Type designs.

Visually the new car’s tail-finned rear bodywork recalled the charismatic D-Type, while its handsomely proportioned one-piece forward bodywork presaged the lovely lines of the forthcoming E-Type.

Built in the Jaguar experimental department at Brown’s Lane, Coventry, completed in February 1960, it was powered by a one off aluminium-block fuel-injected 3-litre version of the XK engine.

Finished in Cunningham team American racing colours, Dan Gurney and Walt Hansgen ran at LeMans well into the night until fuel injection failure caused retirement having set second fastest time in testing and 194mph on the Mulsanne straight.

Then loaned to the Cunningham team for the rest of the season, with a 3.8-litre XK, ‘E2A’ was successful in the US driven by Hangsen, Jack Brabham and Bruce McLaren.

This important prototype was then returned to the factory where it was used by the Dunlop company to test their frontier-technology Maxaret anti-lock braking system.

aguar engineer Roger Woodley was successful in negotiating purchase of ‘E2A’ for his father-in-law, the prominent collector and racing photographer Guy Griffiths. It has remained in the family ever since – Penny Griffiths-Woodley (now Penny Graham) has kept it in highly original condition, running it on such special occasions as the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the 1996 Jaguar cavalcade from Browns Lane to Le Mans, and in the Jaguar E-Type 40th anniversary tribute at the Goodwood Revival Meeting.

While ‘E2A’ as offered by Bonhams & Butterfields is fitted currently with a 3.8-litre XK competition engine, an original competition 3-litre power unit is offered with the car.