1971 Jaguar XKE E-Type Roadster

During the mid-1970s, Jaguar provided factory support to two US racing teams, one on the West Coast and the other on the East Coast. Joe Huffaker was on the West and Bub Tullius's 'Group 44, Inc' was on the east. Both teams raced in V-12 powered Series III XKE with Tullius's team being one of the more successful road racing teams ever created. In total, around 300 overall victories were earned during a 25-year career in SCCA, Trans-Am and IMSA GTP competition.

The XKE Jaguar provided much competition to the dominant Corvettes in SCCA B-Production classes. Tullius took the national championship for Jaguar on three consecutive occasions, from 1974 through 1976.

This 1971 Jaguar XKE Series III V12 Competition Roadster is a re-creation of the Tullius XKE. It started life as a coupe but with several modifications, changes, and upgrades it is now in similar fashion to the SCCA national championship car. The original car had clinched the SSCA annual championship on November 2nd of 1975 after beating 14 Corvettes and one Porsche Carrera. It set the B Production lap record at over 98 mph and had a recorded a top speed of over 178 mph.

It is believed that Huffaker's car had more horsepower and a better engine but Tullius's had better handling and braking characteristics. This re-creation has a combination of both. The engine is a factory-built unit from the West Coast team with output in the neighborhood of 425-450 bhp. There is a six-speed transmission and numerous upgrades throughout.

In 2007 this XKE V12 Competition Roadster was brought to the Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club in Carmel, California where it was auctioned at the Bonhams auction, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia. Bidding reached a high of $48,000 (plus premium and taxes) which was enough to satisfy the reserve and the lot was sold. The new owner was treated to a bargain, as the cost of construction consumed 3-4,000 man hours with a bill that reached $185,000 for labor.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2010