Built to Dominate Dakar & Monte Carlo – E-Type Rally Special

1965 Jaguar E-Type Additional Info:

Silver Thunder: The Ultimate Jaguar E-Type Rally Coupe

Silver Thunder is no ordinary Jaguar E-Type. This 1965 Series 1 coupe has been transformed into a no-compromise, long-distance rally machine — a fusion of classic British elegance and hardcore motorsport engineering. Designed to conquer events like the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge and Lima to Cape Horn, it’s a purpose-built legend for those who believe rallying isn’t just a race — it’s a way of life.

At the heart of Silver Thunder is a lightweight, 320-horsepower engine built by Crosswaite & Gardiner, mated to a custom 5-speed gearbox and a lightweight performance differential. This drivetrain delivers explosive torque and proven reliability over thousands of rally miles.

The body features semi-lightweight aluminum panels mounted over a reinforced tub, protected by front and rear skid plates, extensive heat shielding, and powered by a Bluetooth-enabled lightweight lithium battery. Structural reinforcements include the A-pillars, firewall, side sills, and rear bulkhead, ensuring safety and strength under the harshest conditions. Fully corner-weight balanced and weighing in at under 1000 kg, Silver Thunder is nimble, responsive, and brutally capable.

Suspension includes extended-range GAZ shocks up front, and four custom QA1 coilovers at the rear, paired with Eibach rally springs and featuring independent compression and rebound adjustment. A reinforced picture frame, spaceframe, and IRS cradle complete a chassis setup built to endure and excel.

Braking is razor-sharp with lightweight 4-piston front calipers and upgraded Series 2 rear brakes. It rides on custom Dakar-spec wheels wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion tires, and comes with 12 full sets of wheels and tires for every imaginable terrain.

The custom side exhaust offers increased ground clearance for off-road work, or can be adjusted lower for track use. A Monza-style fast fuel filler cap delivers quick and secure refueling.

Inside the cockpit: Recaro competition seats, Schroth 4-point harnesses, asafety cage, and a Stilo intercom system ensure safety and communication between driver and navigator. The dash is fitted with a digital instrumentation suite displaying tire temps, brake temps, lambda, fuel pressure, and more. A rally computer, navigation setup, and electric power steering round out the control center.

Additional highlights include:

• Bluetooth-programmable electronic distributor for real-time tuning

• Dual electronic fuel pumps for reliability and redundancy

• Long-range custom fuel cell for marathon stages

• Roof-mounted high-power LED lighting

• And much much more

Silver Thunder isn’t a showpiece — it’s a battle-hardened, competition-ready, event-proven rally car that merges classic soul with unstoppable engineering.

And best of all? This machine is equally happy tearing across rally roads — or, with just a few tweaks to ride height and stance, storming around an oval track.

It is also the only Jaguar E-Type to have ever completed the grueling Peking to Paris rally. To put that in perspective — more people have walked on the moon than have finished that rally in an E-Type.

If you're lucky enough to afford it, you're not just buying a car — you're owning a legend.