The Jaguar XJ13 is considered by many to be the most beautiful racecar ever produced, except it never earned its racecar credentials. Just one prototype was produced by Jaguar in 1966, and it didn’t see any competition. The brand new Ecurie Ecosse LM69 (for Le Mans 1969) evokes the spirit of the original XJ13, and 25 lucky buyers will get to own one.
You can view our bespoke gallery of images from the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans here.
With the V12-powered XJ13, Jaguar was aiming to replicate the successes it tasted at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the C- and D-Type. You can see the original XJ13 in action here. The car was not given the go-ahead by management and the entire project was shelved. During a media outing for the impending E-Type in 1971 the original car was crashed heavily, without injury to the driver, but subsequently rebuilt.
Reimagined
Jaguar XJ13
The Ecurie Ecosse LM69 has lines that strongly resemble the Jaguar’s, if slightly modernised, and with a closed cockpit. Under that long engine cover lies a quad-cam V12, a unique signature of the XJ13, that has been designed to evoke the experience of driving at Le Mans in 1969, according to the press material. The Ecurie Ecosse LM69 is suitable for track use and it is fully road-legal.
Retro-modern
In an effort to remain true to the original, the designers and engineers chose to adhere to the regulations of the time. Only design details and technology that entered motorsport no later than early 1969 would be used on this modern-retro racer. But the car is not a complete throwback as composite materials have been used, it’s lighter than the original car, and it boasts experimental aerodynamic devices, wider wheels and tyres, and a much-improved engine.
Only 25 hand-built units will be produced in keeping with the 1969 FIA homologation requirements.
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