Jaguar is honouring the E-type’s first race win with Project ZP. This exclusive collection comprises seven pairs of restored E-types, and each pair consists of an Oulton Blue drophead coupe and a Crystal Grey fixed-head coupe, along with matching period-specific helmets and other accessories.
The story of the present-day Project ZP dates back to the day after the E-type was launched to huge fanfare at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show. That day, Claude Baily, Jaguar’s Chief Designer at the time, detailed the specifications of what he called Project ZP to his engineers. The seven cars allotted to the project would each receive engine modifications and enhancements for components such as the cylinder block and cylinder head and the inclusion of a close ratio gearbox.
Just one month later, on 15th April 1961, the Project ZP cars made their racing debut. Two of them, ‘ECD400’ and ‘BUY1’ – referred to by their registration numbers – took first and third positions in the Oulton Park Trophy for GT cars. This marked the beginning of the E-type’s racing career, and a continuation of Jaguar’s racing pedigree established by the C-type and D-type.
The winning car at Oulton Park, ‘ECD400’ was an Indigo Blue E-type driven by Graham Hill, while ‘BUY 1’ was a Pearl Grey example driven by Roy Salvadori to third place. Salvadori then went on to win at Crystal Palace on 21st May 1961. In total, between 1961 and 1964, the E-types achieved 24 podium finishes.
Inspired by Graham Hill’s ‘ECD 400,’ the drophead coupe is finished in Oulton Blue. It features a black hood and a range of exterior details that pay homage to the debut race-winning vehicle. The roundels on the bonnet and door are finished in white, with matching front ‘lipstick’ around the inside of the front air intake.
The motif bar across the grille and front overriders have been removed, in keeping with the original. However, unlike the original which was developed just for racing with no regard for finishes, Jaguar Classic engineers had to rework and hand-finish the nose with over 40 additional hours of labour.
There are chrome bumpers front and rear. The wire wheels and wheel spinners bear Jaguar’s Heritage logo. To ensure a period-correct look for 1961, a beech wood steering wheel is joined by other early E-type characteristics, including welded bonnet louvres and external bonnet latches with a lockable key.
A selection of additional ZP details are visible on the fuel filler cap, exterior car cover and roof cover, while ZP and Jaguar logos appear on the rear. There is also a graphic on the wing of the car, with the Union Jack set within a silver shield containing the E-type’s silhouette and Project ZP wording. The external bonnet locks have ZP logos and are joined by a leather bonnet retention strap.
The interior features red leather by Bridge of Weir and in-period Hardura trim. The suite of additional enhancements includes a golden growler horn push. The centre console, finished in anodised aluminium, features hand-engraved panels by master engraving artist Johnny “King Nerd” Dowell. These art panels are anodised in batches to modern high-quality standards.
For the Oulton Blue drop-head, the design features engravings of the car’s silhouette, the Oulton Park track layout with a chequered flag and one-half of a laurel wreath. It also contains Hill’s famous quote: “In a race, my car becomes part of me, and I become part of it.”
While all of the original Project ZP cars were based on drophead coupes, the vehicle inspired by Roy Salvadori’s ‘BUY 1’ is reimagined as a fixed-head coupe. This was done to offer clients examples of both body designs. Inspired by the original car’s Pearl Grey paintwork, its new incarnation is finished in Crystal Grey. The colour takes its name taken from the track where Salvadori got his first win.
This fixed-head coupe comes with white roundels and similar exterior detailing as the drophead, with the removal of the motif bar and Jaguar badge across the grille. The coupe sports the same chrome bumpers as the drop-head, along with the welded bonnet louvres and side graphic detail. Created with specialists Vaughtons – based in Birmingham’s ‘Jewellery Quarter’ – the exterior badging mimics the appearance and design of in-period racing stickers.
Inside, it features Dark Navy Bridge of Weir leather with matching Hardura trim and a Beechwood steering wheel. The centre console’s aluminium detailing is anodised in grey. Its design includes the other half of the laurel wreath engraved on the console of the Oulton Blue car. The track outline is of Crystal Palace and the text spells out Roy Salvadori’s nickname “King of the Airfields” alongside a silhouette of the vehicle.
Both cars feature a suite of additional enhancements from the team at Jaguar Classic Works. These include the Jaguar Classic Infotainment System with DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and navigation for 21st-century standards of in-car entertainment.
On the technical side, the engines powering the ZP Collection cars are based on the specification of the 3.8-litre Series One E-types produced between 1961-1964. This engine features an authentic 1961-style alloy radiator with an electric cooling fan and electronic ignition for everyday usability. It also comes with a polished stainless steel exhaust system.
The most significant mechanical upgrade is the specially developed five-speed manual transmission for quieter, more comfortable cruising. It features synchromesh on all ratios, helical cut gears and a reinforced cast aluminium casing for enhanced reliability and durability, with closer gear ratios for smoother changes.
Despite providing an extra ratio, the transmission’s intelligent design requires no modification to the bodyshell, or any of the other components. Maintaining the donor vehicle’s integrity is paramount to the team at Jaguar Classic, and the gearbox they developed allows the body’s originality to be retained, as well as giving customers increased usability.
Each vehicle comes with a period helmet to match those worn by Hill and Salvadori. These helmets are crafted by British expert Bill Vero of Everoak, who has been manufacturing helmets since the 1950s. The faithful reproductions are beautiful display pieces that can be worn, and are adjusted for each client.
They are provided with a tailored leather storage bag crafted from the same leather as the interiors and made onsite by the in-house trimmers at Jaguar Classic. Using the same leather, they also make the pouch for the car’s handbook. Supplied with each vehicle is a tailor-made car cover with ZP logo and a bespoke jack with an exclusive storage bag to be stored beneath the boot floor.
“The E-type ZP Collection is the ultimate tribute to the E-type’s triumphant racing debut, in itself part of Jaguar’s rich motorsport history,” says Paul Barritt, Director of Jaguar Classic. “Each pair tells a fascinating, and often untold, story of the E-type’s history. The ZP Collection honours not only the vehicles, but the racers who drove them to victory on the track. With 2,000 hours lovingly spent on each vehicle by the craftspeople at Jaguar Classic, our discerning clients will be able to enjoy a unique tribute to two of the greatest cars in the E-type’s history.”
