Legendary Jaguar XJ13 reborn as Ecurie Ecosse LM69

Felix Page wrote:

UK-based firm Ecurie Cars has unveiled the LM69 as a road-legal reimagination of Jaguar’s 1966 XJ13 prototype racer. 

The company said the new model has been built as if revered British racing team Ecurie Ecosse had recovered the abandoned XJ13 prototype from storage and prepared it to race at Le Mans in 1969. 

In reality, changes to homologation rules meant the original never competed, and it was only following a heavy crash in 1971 with engineer Norman Dewis at the wheel, that the model was salvaged and restored to its former glory. 

Unlike the original, of which only one was ever made, 25 examples of the LM69 will be hand-built at Ecurie’s Redditch facility, with an emphasis on sourcing parts and labour locally. Prices and performance details are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.

As with the XJ13, the LM69 is powered by a mid-mounted quad-cam V12 engine, which sits beneath a 1960s-style transparent curved decklid. The XJ13’s 5.0-litre unit produced 502bhp and was good for a 161mph top speed. 

Styling has evolved to incorporate a fixed roof, prominent rear wing and aerodynamic-enhancing winglets, but remains largely faithful to Jaguar designer Malcolm Sayer’s original shape. Engineers have added no technology or design features that entered motorsport after 1969. 

Performance enhancements over the original model have been achieved with the use of wider wheels and tyres, engine modifications and composite body materials. 

The car will make its public debut at London’s International Concours of Elegance in September. 

The LM69 is the closest collectors can come to owning an XJ13, as the restored original is on permanent display at the British Motor Museum. It has never officially been valued, but a rejected £7 million bid in 1996 made it three times the value of a contemporary Ferrari 250 GTO, which has since become the world’s most expensive car. 

Limited-run recreations are among the most exclusive new cars available. David Brown’s Mini Remastered costs up to £130,000, while Aston Martin’s DB4 GT Zagato continuation can be bought, exclusively with the DBS GT Zagato, for £6 million.

Read more

Driving the ultralight Lister Knobbly continuation​

Used car buying guide: Jaguar E-Type​

Ian Callum: the man who revived Jaguar design​