Drive
The local legend who built the world’s fastest Jaguar E-Type
On this episode of In My Garage we meet the WA local who built the world's fastest production E-Type.
Published
3 min read
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Media duration: 14minutesmins
Drive
3 min readDrive
On this episode of In My Garage we meet the WA local who built the world's fastest production E-Type.
Published
3 min read
Text size
Published
Text size
Richard meets Allen on this episode of In My Garage on the Horizons by RAC YouTube Channel.
Every evening, Allen sits on his favourite foldout chair on his driveway, a fist full of birdseed in one hand and his chosen cold beverage in the other, surrounded by pigeons, as he enjoys the slow, steady pace of a life well lived.
Meanwhile, not far away, parked quietly inside Allen’s garage is a stunning Jaguar E-Type, widely regarded as the fastest production E-Type in the world. The E-type was once described by Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful ever made, but Allen’s 1962 E-Type now carries a story shaped not by factory engineers or racing teams, but by a team of determined Western Australians with a curiosity for high-performance cars and a deep passion for motoring.
Allen purchased the E-Type in the late 1970s for around $1,000 after it had been damaged in a crash, its bonnet worse for wear but its potential still intact. What began as a passion project would evolve into a decade-long pursuit to see just how far this 1960s icon could be pushed. Inspired by Speed Week at South Australia’s Lake Gairdner salt flats, Allen returned year after year, not initially chasing records, but simply chasing answers.
How far could its original engineering be stretched?
Remarkably, much of the car remains true to its roots. The original 3.8-litre engine still sits under the bonnet, a testament to what Allen describes as “the best bloody engine in the world.” With careful development, subtle modifications and unwavering patience, the E-Type eventually achieved speeds approaching 200mph, earning its reputation as the world’s fastest of its kind.
But once you spend five minutes with Allen, it becomes clear the numbers aren’t the real story. There’s a quiet pride in the way he speaks about the car, not as a trophy, but as a companion. It has carried him through decades of learning, problem solving, and persistence, occasionally even trying to bite back.
Before its record-breaking runs on the salt, the E-Type had already tested Allen’s determination in the Panama to Alaska rally, a daunting journey spanning thousands of kilometres across vastly different terrain and conditions. Many doubted a low-slung British sports car would even make it through, with some even betting heavily against it. But Allen was determined to prove them wrong. Against the odds, the E-Type completed the journey, a testament to the car’s capability, but also to Allen’s persistence and belief in what it could achieve.
Allen’s E-Type represents something uniquely West Australian, a reminder that world-class achievements don’t always come from big teams or big budgets, but from passion, patience and a willingness to simply see what’s possible. And judging by the smile on Allen’s face as he took it for another drive, the connection between car and owner remains just as strong as ever.
Watch the full episode of In My Garage on the Horizons by RAC YouTube Channel.
