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Is this 20B-powered E-Type an engine swap too far?

James Lisle
Content producer
1 Sep 2017
2 min read
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We're all for engine swaps, as you can tell, but meddling with an original E-Type? Don't do it man...

You see, meddling with an original '60s E-Type is like playfully throwing a baby up to the sky, except it's the newly born baby Jesus. I mean, yeah sure, go for it. But make sure you don't drop it on its head.

Built around a custom tube chassis made from a Luego Viento and using a genuine shell from an ex-American E-Type, Muttley Racing's '3Type' Jag uses a naturally aspirated version of Mazda's triple-rotor, twin-turbo 20B engine.

Never heard of the Luego Viento? Neither have we. Best to think of it as a V8 Caterham. (image credit: Muttley Racing/Facebook.com)
Never heard of the Luego Viento? Neither have we. Best to think of it as a V8 Caterham. (image credit: Muttley Racing/Facebook.com)

Heaps of other bits and bobs are in the Jag, too, such as a LSD and brakes from a Sierra Cossie, a MkII Escort's steering (sweet!), and a six-speed from an RX-8.

If that doesn't sound insane enough, know that bigger, more shiny parts are soon to be installed, such as bridge-porting and RX-8 rotors, in order to turn this little pocket rocket into a full-on screaming nightmare.

In the words of Palpatine,
In the words of Palpatine,

Currently running on a rich fuel mixture and limited to around 3500pm, the Jaguar "3Type" made its debut at the Shelsley Walsh hillclimb. While we don't want to speak on behalf of the spectators, they seemed to be pretty shocked. And for good reason.

And to piss off the traditional Establishment even more, the E-Type is finished off in the traditional British racing green, albeit with wide-body extensions and a side-mounted straight pipe exhaust. Nice.

But is this heresy you ask? I don't think so. While half the Oversteer office scoffed at the idea of a rotary powered E-Type, I've come to appreciate it. If it was an already pristine example that had been defiled, then sure - "off with his head".

But going out of your way to save a neglected shell that is surely destined for the crusher (even if your wallet pleads that you walk away) earns respect from me. Jolly good.

What do you think of the Jaguar '3Type'? Should it be left to someone else to save, traditionally? Tell us what you think below.

James Lisle
Content producer
James Lisle (aka J3) likes all things cars. Cynical and enthusiastic in equal measure, James loves to clamber into anything with a steering wheel and a decent amount of grunt. Although it may seem the J3 glass is half empty on first acquaintance with a new ride, he maintains a balanced approach and will happily lose himself in technical details relating to even the most common, mass market models. Bore and stroke ratios, specific output stats, and thermal efficiency figures are his guilty pleasures.
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