Dick Protheroe 1922 - 1966
CUT 7 racing "E's"
Snetterton March 1963
CUT 7 was the registration used on three of Dicks racing "E" types.
The first, chassis number ,860004,
was raced successfully in the early 60's however with the advent of the
lightweight 'E' 's and Ferrari, a more competitive car was sought. 860004 was re-registered 636 CJU and sold as a road car much to the delight of the new owner.
No lightweight's were available from Jaguar at that time so a visit to
the Jaguar parts department was made where a complete car was purchased
in the form of "bodyshell 1", "wheels 4" etc etc.
The parts were then subsequently modified and assembled into a competetive "E" and
raced successfully. In its first competitive outing at Snetterton, Dick
rolled it three times (photographs below) in very wet conditions, followed by several other
cars. This resulted in a rebuild to him and the car which was completed
in 10 days.
This car disappeared off the map in the late 60's however it resurfaced in the UK owned by Penny Woodley (photo below). Its discovery was confirmed by Pat Wells and Tony Ward, both whom under the
tutorship of Bill Cockerill and Dick, worked on the Protheroe racing "E"'s, at a meeting in Stoneleigh in April 2012.
The car was featured in an article in Jaguar Magazine March 2012 Edition 155 page 58 entitled "Revelation - Finding CUT 7 2". It is hoped that a lot more of the car
will be seen at
historic events in the future.
The urge for something better forced yet another visit to Jaguar Cars
The result of which was the following car which was one of the four
lightweights produced by Jaguar for competition use.
Light Weight 'E' Chassis EC1001 Engine no E5033-9 Gearbox C7513 Body No. R2181 steel Project Number ZX 537/30;
First of an intended team of cars for international GT racing; lighter gauge steel body with
Sayer-designed 'low drag' roofline; project proceeded very slowly and car was first run on
17/1/62; after gathering dust in the Experimental Dept, car sold to Dick Protheroe in mid-1963;
Reims, 2nd
1st in GT class; TT, Goodwood. 6th; Snetterton! 5th; 1964 Daily Express
Silverstone, 6th;
Spa 500Kms,12th; Nurburgring 1000Kms, crashed in practice Reims 12
Hours 'with John Coundley, 8th & 1st in class; Autosport Three Hours, 10th; Paris
1000Kms Montlhery,
with Coundley, 7th & 1st in GT class; February 1965 advertised at
£3200; sold to
David Wansborough; TT, Oulton Park, went off into lake; then believed
owned by Messrs
David Wansborough, Robbie Gordon & John Fellowes; sold to Mike Wright who campaigned it in
hill climbs &
sprints; sold to Robbie Gordon; 1973 sold to Adrian Hamilton for
£1850; sold to Robert Danny; sold to Walter Hill (Florida, USA); c1990 sold to Sir Paul Vestey;
rebuilt by David Cottingham & RS Panels; c1994 sold, via Adrian Hamilton, to David
Pennell (UK); 1995
sold to Viscount Cowdray (UK).