Ecurie Ecosse LM69 Retro Supercar To Be Unveiled In September
- The LM69 marks the return of Ecurie Ecosse, a Scottish company which won LeMans in 1956 and 1957 racing Jaguar D-types.
- The LM69 is designed in adherence to motorsport designs, regulations and technology no later than 1969.
- It will be offered as standard with a period-correct 5.0-litre quad-cam V12 engine like the Jaguar XJ13 as well as an optional bored and stroked 7.3-litre engine.
- Only 25 units will be hand-built in West Midlands; all units will be road legal.
The late 60s and early 70s was a period of flourishing innovations, especially in the field of motorsports. We had playing out their rivalries across racetracks around the world - including LeMans. The period birthed many automotive innovations that we see in today's vehicles thanks to this focus on motorsport. You could say that the late 60s and early 70s was more of a golden age for the automobile as well as motorsports. However, that time period also gave birth to one of the biggest LeMans mysteries.
had made a one-off race car in 1966 called the XJ13, meant to compete in the 24hrs of LeMans against the likes of Ferrari, Ford and Porsche. The XJ13 featured a revolutionary quad-cam 5.0-litre V12 engine which was placed in front of the rear axle, making the XJ13 the company's first mid-engined racecar ever. This car definitely boasted a design that could have won the 1969 24hrs of LeMans. Unfortunately, due to internal politics, the company changing hands and regulation changes, the XJ13 was never raced and was confined to the doldrums as a one-off project that never saw the light of day again. Until now.
Enter Ecurie Ecosse, the Scottish company that won Le Mans twice in the 1950s as a race team using Jaguar D-types. Fast forward the clock to 2019, the Scottish company is aiming to revive the unfulfilled legacy of the authentic Jaguar XJ13 with a new retro supercar called the LM69. The motivation behind the LM69 was to create a vehicle that could have competed in the 1969 Le Mans if Ecurie Ecosse could build its own race car back in the day. One of the greatest highlights of this retro-styled beauty is that it is not only track-focused but road legal as well.
Envisioned as a late 60s car, the LM69 has been designed to adhere to the regulations of that period, and will only feature design traits and technology that entered motorsport no later than 1969. It does differ from the XJ13 by having a fixed roof, rear wing, and winglets to boost aero. Other differences include wider wheels and tires as well as composite materials for the body to make the LM69 lighter than the original XJ13.
Like its inspiration, the LM69 will be powered by a mid-mounted quad-cam 5.0-litre V12 engine. Further technical specifications haven't been revealed yet, but the company will also be offering their own bored and stroked 7.3-litre motor.
The LM69 will be officially launched at the International Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace, London on 6-8 September 2019. It will be a rare gem as only 25 units will be produced in adherence to the 1969 FIA homologation requirements. Each one will be hand-made in the West Midlands. Price figures for the retro supercar haven't been revealed yet, but expect it to burn a massive hole in the pocket thanks to its exclusivity.
By Gaurav Davare July 24, 2019 at 05:51PM
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