The history of this interesting Costin Jaguar starts in 1939.

The wiry little ERA (English Racing Automobiles) racers had been tearing up the 1.5-liter and even 2-liter classes in Europe but didn’t have a big enough engine to race against the German Mercedes-Benz’ or Auto Unions or even the Italian Alfa Romeos in that period of the European Driver’s Championship and are now most often referred to as Grand Prix races.

Reid Railton, who designed the ERA, had gone back to America, and his assistant Peter Berthon was tasked with coming up with a competitive racecar for the series now considered Formula 1; then called the European Championship.

Unfortunately, it was 1939 and Europe was preoccupied with the imminent World War, meaning the company’s backers had other priorities.

However, the British press was all over the idea, hoping the country could beat the Germans at something before the unpleasantness began.

Berthon was stuck for an engine, but he continued with ERA practice and tr...