Kougar Sports 1965

Description:

Description from The Vendor:

In 1982, shortly after completing the restoration of an MGC, I was offered a Jaguar 3.8 litre XK engine from a Series 1 E-type, together with all its original carburettors, manifolds and ancillaries, by a friend who had given up trying to restore the original car.  I decided to build a kit car with it. During my research, I discovered the Kougar Sports, which was conceived, designed and manufactured in Sussex to “incorporate the advanced engineering of the ‘S’ type Jaguar Saloon, with a body style reminiscent of a previous era.”  After a visit to the factory and a breath-taking test drive with the owner of the company, I ordered a kit which I collected in November 1984.

I took the engine to Oselli Engine Services at Oxford for complete refurbishment and preparation to fast road specification.  I bought a 1965 Jaguar S type, which provided the majority of the remaining parts needed for the kit.  The build took me longer to complete (almost 8 years) than I had expected, using new or completely refurbished components.  Many kit cars of that era were never correctly registered with DVLA, and their registration document showed the donor car details, not the kit car that it became.  This Kougar is correctly registered, having been inspected by DVLA and allowed to carry the original donor car registration plate, while showing the make as Kougar Sports.

Since then the car has had occasional and relatively light use, with no track, hill climb or other competition work.  In 2010 I decided to have the car completely stripped, rebuilt and repainted.  That was done by the second owner of Kougar Cars, who was a Rolls Royce trained motor engineer.  At that time the original 4 speed plus overdrive S type gearbox was replaced with a 5 speed Getrag unit, and the camshafts were changed to 3/4 race specification.  The ignition, carburation and tuning were tested, modified and set up by Peter Lander and his team at Sigma Engineering on their dynamometer.  They are recognised experts in performance tuning of Jaguar XK engines, and worked on many of the E type racing series vehicles at the time.  They measured and verbally quoted the engine output at 220bhp after tuning.  The Kougar has been stored in an air chamber continuously since its rebuild in 2010.   The speedometer underreads by about 20%, as it is set up for the original S type, so the mileage recorded since the original build (3,052) represents approximately 3,700 miles actually covered.

This Kougar is a stunning and unique car, with shattering acceleration and looks that always turn heads, whether it is stationary or moving.  You won’t see another one like it – the only other in this colour is in the USA.  I’m very sad to part with her, but past injuries and age has left me with severely arthritic ankles that aren’t well suited to driving such a powerful car any more.  I have full documentary and photographic records of the key stages of my ownership, and particularly the last full rebuild.

Specifications

Six cylinder Jaguar  3.8 litre engine (originally fitted to a 1964 Series 1 E type)

Three 2″ SU carburettors

Five speed Getrag gearbox (originally fitted to a Jaguar XJS)

Jaguar limited slip rear differential

Lumenition electronic ignition

Electric thermostatically controlled radiator fan

Competition electric fuel pump

Triangulated steel multi-tube welded frame

Servo assisted all round Jaguar disc brakes, inboard at rear

Rack and pinion steering

12v negative earth electrics with alternator

Leather seat cover

Full tonneau cover

Wheel base 100″

Front and rear track 56″

Fuel tank 14 imp gallons

Weight 17.5cwt (900kg) approx.

To see additional items that come with the car, see the above gallery.

Auctioneer’s notes:

I have just seen this fantastic car, the finish of the paintwork is quite outstanding.  When she was fired up WHAT A SYMPHONY OF SOUND. The full details and specifications are being forwarded to us by the vendor and we will be putting it up online.  May be viewed, strictly by appointment.