1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Fixed Head Coupe (FHC) 3.8
- Engine
- 3.8-litre XK inline-six, D-type wide-angle heads, triple Weber 45 DCOE carburettors
- Colour
- Opalescent Gunmetal Grey with blue nose band
A 1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 fixed-head coupe, chassis 860004 — the fourth right-hand-drive E-type FHC built and among the most celebrated competition examples of the model. Campaigned in period as "CUT 7" by Dick Protheroe, it took five national victories and the 1962 Autosport Production Sports Car championship (over 3-litre class) before being returned to road specification. Long since restored to its period Opalescent Gunmetal livery with blue nose band, it holds FIA HTP papers and remains a regular Goodwood Revival Tourist Trophy entrant. The "CUT 7" registration was later transferred away and famously worn by other Protheroe E-types, so the car is correctly identified by its factory chassis number rather than the plate.
Ownership
- 2001-07-05Auction saleEstimate £180,000 – £200,000
- 2005-02-26Auction saleEstimate £275,000 – £325,000
- 1961-09-13 → 1963Factory deliveryDick Protheroe (registered to Rosemary Massey), County Motorsfull documentation
Delivered 13 Sep 1961 via Sturgess of Leicester; race-prepared by Protheroe with D-type-spec wide-angle heads, triple 45 DCOE Weber carburettors, uprated brakes and suspension; nose in pale Bugatti blue.
- 1963 →Private saleClive Castle, Londonfull documentation
Bought after the 1962 season; car re-registered 636 CJU and returned to road specification.
- → 1996Private saleColin Pearcyfull documentation
Confirmed the car identity as the original CUT 7 and began returning it to its original colours; commissioned the 1996 restoration.
- 2000 → 2001Private saleNick Whale & Ian Guestfull documentation
Acquired c.2000/2001 for GBP 100,000 (GBP 50,000 each); raced at Goodwood Revival, Donington Classic, Tour Auto and HSCC events; race-prepared by Techspeed Motorsport.
- 2001 → 2013Private salePaul Drayson (latterly Baron Drayson)full documentation
Bought from Nick Whale; ran the car in historic events alongside ALMS and Le Mans 24 Hours commitments.
- 2013 →Private saleUnknown private ownerpartial documentation
Acquired 2013; restored to correct Protheroe livery (prepared by Valley Motorsport); regular Goodwood Revival entrant; offered for sale via Classic Driver and Car & Classic c.2019-2021 with valid HTP papers.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownVarious (three documented owners)partial documentation
Approximately three ownership changes c.1963 to 1990s; car was repainted red and diverged from original specification at some point.
- Date unknownPrivate saleJohn Youngpartial documentation
Renowned Jaguar racer who returned the car to racing in the 1980s to early 1990s; car was red during this period.
Competition
- 1962-03-01Snetterton (competition debut)Driver: Dick Protheroe3rd
First competitive outing for CUT 7, March 1962.
- 1962-04-01Easter Trophy, Mallory ParkDriver: Dick Protheroe1st Overall
First overall victory for the car; starred again at Mallory on Whit Monday.
- 1962-07-01SilverstoneDriver: Dick Protheroe1st
Victory over Mike Salmon Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, July 1962.
- 1962-08-18RAC Tourist Trophy, GoodwoodDriver: Dick Protheroe6th Overall
Privateer result against works Ferrari 250 GTOs, Aston Martin DB4GT Zagatos and factory E-types driven by Clark, Surtees, Hill, Ireland, Salvadori and Piper.
- 1962-09-011962 Autosport National Championship (Production Sports Cars, Over 3-litre)Autosport Three Hours, SnettertonDriver: Dick ProtheroeClass Win
Final outing in the original CUT 7; clinched the 1962 Autosport title with one retirement in 10 outings.
- 2001Donington ClassicDriver: Nick Whale / Ian GuestRace Winner
Raced by Nick Whale and Ian Guest; also competed at Goodwood Revival in this period.
- 2013Goodwood Revival RAC Tourist Trophy CelebrationRegular competitive entrant
Restored to correct Protheroe Opalescent Gunmetal livery with Bugatti blue nose band; prepared by Valley Motorsport; valid HTP papers.
- —Crystal PalaceDriver: Dick Protheroe1st
One of five national victories in the 1962 season.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1961ModificationCounty Motors (Dick Protheroe)
Race preparation: D-type-spec wide-angle cylinder heads, triple 45 DCOE Weber carburettors, uprated brakes and improved suspension; nose painted pale Bugatti blue.
- 1996RestorationRoger Dowson Engineering, Silverstone
Full restoration to Opalescent Gunmetal with blue nose band; fitted original-pattern perspex tailgate with fast-fill fuel cap.
- 2001ServiceTechspeed Motorsport
Race preparation for historic events (Goodwood Revival, Donington, Tour Auto, HSCC).
- 2013RestorationValley Motorsport
Preparation to correct Protheroe livery (Opalescent Gunmetal, Bugatti blue nose band) for Goodwood Revival; valid FIA HTP papers.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.