After a run of victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that concluded in 1957 and with the XK 150 in need of replacement, Jaguar’s attention turned to developing its first monocoque sports car.

The first hint of what was to come was the E2A prototype, which broke cover at the 1960 Le Mans entered by privateer Briggs Cunningham.

Despite the factory’s retirement from competition, director Lofty England knew the value of publicity from motorsport.

So, ahead of the E-Type’s 1961 Geneva launch, he offered early production roadsters to competitors with close Jaguar relationships, including Equipe Endeavour and John Coombs.

Racers including Graham Hill and Roy Salvadori had notable successes until Ferrari’s 250 GTO was unveiled in 1962.

Coombs had also bought a 250 GTO, so Jaguar’s Experimental Department borrowed it for assessment and in return made its E-Type a factory development car that would match or surpass the GTO in terms of performance.

Gaining an aluminium hardtop, lighter steel...