Jaguar E-Type 1962 Le Mans

[Pierre Rivard]

Starting work on one of the 3 Jaguar entries in the GT class at 62 Le Mans. Jaguar did fairly well with these steel bodied coupes at the race placing one with 4th overall and another in 5th. I'll be working on chassis 860458, reg 503 BBO which retired after 4 hours. 

Starting with the new Revell kit but with quite a few changes planned. There are available references photos from the race as well as the restored car which will help.

 

[Smilesperhour]

This is a cool project love the subtle changes on this car. Look forward to see how you replicate the grill.

[Matt Bacon]

As a matter of interest, why not start with the Heller/Airfix kits? The shape’s right and they come in race boxings… which are now available again…

best,

M.

[Pierre Rivard]

Thanks Matt, I'll look into that. I think the Heller/Airfix is the Lightweight Jag right? What they raced at Le Mans in 62 were steel bodied coupes.

Thanks James, part of al list of items I will have to figure out. Change from left to right hand drive, engine with 48mm Webbers, race fuel tank and filler through the rear hatch and so much more.

First I chose to experiment with wheels & tires. This was the only of the 3 cars on wire wheels instead of Dunlop racing wheels. PE or 3D print not yet ruled out but looking if I can recycle some of the stuff I have. The kit tires appear a bit small but look good on the car if I want to keep the unique E-type narrow track / low riding look. Also on hand a set of HRM wheels & tires all assembled (i.e glued) and a set from a Revell 300SLR (beautiful but very tall sidewalls).

Pics 1 & 2 show the various sets

Pic 3 the Jag set mocked on the car

Pic 4 is the HRM set mocked on the car. A candidate but I would have to modify the rear wheelhouses to allow a lower stance.

Pics 5-6 are 300 SLR wheels mounted on the Jag kit's tires. White line around rims is 0.25mm styrene I glued to tighten the fit & would be painted black to blend into the tire. I think that option is also a good candidate

 

 

[SpikeSchumacher]

Pierre, for what it's worth, I think the 300 SLR wheels would work superbly. ?

[cobraman]

This will be interesting.

[absmiami]

Great subject  - what was the body color - can’t tell - let me know if you need any photos from Andrew White’s book …

[Smilesperhour]

3 hours ago, absmiami said:

Great subject  - what was the body color - can’t tell - let me know if you need any photos from Andrew White’s book …

I think spark got it wrong when they did it in 1:43, I'm still not 100% sure but looked a dark blue with red wheels, think spark did it in green just to confuse things.

 

I think 300slr wheels look the best

[Pierre Rivard]

Racing sports cars site listed the car as green but I believe other sources listed it as dark blue. The car was restored with a blue shade (see pic below) but I can't say if it is the correct shade of blue. Some research still needed to nail the color.

Andy, can you post pics from Andrew White's book? Thanks.

 

[absmiami]

That sure looks blue to me - ill grab my White Jaguar bible and take it w me on a short weekender - but its short on color pix - check the Rev’s Collection on line research site ….

[absmiami]

Would Revell like to tell us why they thought it was a good idea to cast this kit in RED. ??

[Matt Bacon]

The Heller “Racing” coupe kit is the regular kit body. It’s not a “lightweight”  in any real sense. It comes with a (roof-mounted) racing fuel filler and pipe, a bonnet air deflector to sit in front of the driver and the Dunlop racing wheels, and that’s about it.

best,

M.

Edited January 14, 2023 by Matt Bacon

[Gramps46]

FWIW - #8 Le Mans  (interior and engineering appear to be restored)

[absmiami]

Or …

we can just ask Gramps …

[Smilesperhour]

Looks very much blue.

 

Why are there so many dials, rally car afterwards?

[Pierre Rivard]

Thanks Gary, you always come through with your mega database. I already had pics 2-3 from xked.com and they are definitely from the restored car. Your first picture answers the question for me as it a period pic from LeMans. Looks like Jaguar Opalescent Blue. I like it much more than the restored car color.

Edited January 14, 2023 by Pierre Rivard

[Dave B]

Hi Pierre, looks like an interesting build.

I'm a bit late to the party but according to Paul Parker's book Jaguar at Le Man's Maurice Charles bought a new opalescent dark blue FHC.

The engine was rebuilt use spare D type parts and the front discs were changed for the larger Mk IX. He then fitted alloy doors, tailgate and bonnet.

Dave B

[Matt Bacon]

2 hours ago, Matt Bacon said:

The Heller “Racing” coupe kit is the regular kit body. It’s not a “lightweight”  in any real sense. It comes with a (roof-mounted) racing fuel filler and pipe, a bonnet air deflector to sit in front of the driver and the Dunlop racing wheels, and that’s about it.

Digging through my books, the Heller kit "look" is clearly based on the Cunningham/Salvadori 1962 car, which had the rooftop fuel filler.

TBH, if you're going to use the Revell kit, you'd be better going for the Sargent/Lumsden car (850009) which actually was a modified convertible, and hence the "short" Revell windscreen is right.

It would be worth doing anyway, but building the ONE CAR that the Revell shape is actually correct for would be an added bonus!

best,

M.

Edited January 14, 2023 by Matt Bacon

[Pierre Rivard]

1 hour ago, Dave B said:

Hi Pierre, looks like an interesting build.

I'm a bit late to the party but according to Paul Parker's book Jaguar at Le Man's Maurice Charles bought a new opalescent dark blue FHC.

The engine was rebuilt use spare D type parts and the front discs were changed for the larger Mk IX. He then fitted alloy doors, tailgate and bonnet.

Dave B

Thanks Dave. So the color is resolved

[Pierre Rivard]

49 minutes ago, Matt Bacon said:

Digging through my books, the Heller kit "look" is clearly based on the Cunningham/Salvadori 1962 car, which had the rooftop fuel filler.

TBH, if you're going to use the Revell kit, you'd be better going for the Sargent/Lumsden car (850009) which actually was a modified convertible, and hence the "short" Revell windscreen is right.

It would be worth doing anyway, but building the ONE CAR that the Revell shape is actually correct for would be an added bonus!

best,

M.

Thanks Matt. I'll keep an eye for the Heller kit for an eventual Cunningham entry and for now working on #8 entry with my Revell kit.

[absmiami]

The Cunningham E is in Rev’s - in Naples - Florida - that is ….   Let me know what pix you need …

[Gramps46]

15 hours ago, absmiami said:

The Cunningham E is in Rev’s - in Naples - Florida - that is ….   Let me know what pix you need …

The Collier-Revs Museum was kind enough to send me photos of the interior of the Cunningham XKE.  Let me know if you need some.

[Pierre Rivard]

Thanks Gary. Interesting to see the Cunningham car has a different fuel tank / filler compared to the # 8 car I want to replicate. Here's the setup of #8. I have yet to find a period picture of the forward part of the interior (dash, seats etc) so if you have anything that would be very helpful. 

 

Edited January 15, 2023 by Pierre Rivard

[Gramps46]

I searched my files for period photos of the interior/dash of #8 and came up empty.  Comparing the photos of the center dash of the #8 and the Cunningham they look pretty much alike, 4 gauges. 

I am going to assume you have seen the photos here:

1962 Jaguar E-Type Fixed Head Coupe | Blackhawk Collection

[Pierre Rivard]

5 hours ago, Gramps46 said:

I searched my files for period photos of the interior/dash of #8 and came up empty.  Comparing the photos of the center dash of the #8 and the Cunningham they look pretty much alike, 4 gauges. 

I am going to assume you have seen the photos here:

1962 Jaguar E-Type Fixed Head Coupe | Blackhawk Collection

Thank you sir.