The
development of the Low Drag Coupe is a well documented and significant
part of Jaguar's racing history. Conceived by Jaguar engineers
in early 1962, there were plans to produce several cars for
competing in the World Manufacturer's Championship but in reality
only one car was actually made.
Based
on the production steel E-Type, the Low Drag Coupe used the
steel monocoque tub but with lightweight aluminium bonnet, doors
and boot lid and Perspex windows. The most distinctive feature
was of coursethe Coupe's rear end treatment. Designed by Jaguar's
Malcom
Sayer, the tail combined advanced aerodynamics with an aesthetically
pleasing shape that gave the car a top speed in the vicinity
of 170mph.
The
one-and-only Low Drag Coupe was retained by the factory until
1963, when it was sold to experienced Jaguar campaigner Dick
Protheroe. Protheroe re-badged his car with the number plate
"CUT 7" and achieved considerable successes in races
in England and Europe.
Over
time this car came to be referred to variously as the "Sayer
Low Drag Coupe" or the "Protheroe Low Drag Coupe"
and is now recognised as a critical turning point in Jaguar's
re-involvement in developing the racing Lightweight E-Type
Roadsters.
The
Tempero Lightweight Coupe is based on the Low Drag Coupe but
with significant enhancements. The Sayer/Protheroe car was
based on the production car, with a full steel monocoque tub.
The Tempero car is built from all aluminium, including the
tub, body panels, doors and rear end. The end result is a
weight saving over a standard Coupe in the vicinity of 400
pounds.
The
cars in the photos were built by Temperos in the early 1990's
and have been used extensively in racing at club level. The
dark BRG car was built by Rod Tempero for his own personal use
on both road and track and now leads a happy life in retirement
in Australia.
