There was a time when the concept of Jaguar E-Type “donor cars” existed. These days, almost any E is worth restoring, but that wasn’t always true, based on values. In the 70s, the Kougar Sport was a kit car that used E-Type running gear and other bits to make a nostalgiac ‘vintage’ racer. Interestingly, these are known to perform very well. After all, it takes some of what makes an E-Type a legendary performance and puts it into a lighter, lower-slung vehicle. While it has changed hands, the company is still around.
This one obviously needs some work. Cosmetic needs are obvious, but the seller gives away very little about the car, although he/she does claim it runs and drives. Suspension, it seems, is all E-Type and the steering column and gauges are instantly recognizable as the same. Other parts might be a bit more ‘interesting’ to find, but it seems the company still makes these, so new panels might be available.
So…what’s it worth? This one may be too unusual to call. There’s value inherent in the Jaguar drivetrain and other bits, plus there may be value in the Kougar itself for just the right buyer, either due to memories or racing intentions. Either way, it’s worth MUCH less than a complete, project E-Type and even the seller’s seemingly-aggressive BIN price is below pretty much any ’64 E. The market will tell us whether it’s reasonable.
Click for eBay ad
Sarasota, FL
$2,375 with five bids and reserve not met. $21,999 BIN price.
– Post by CG
The seller indicates the car has needs, but doesn’t answer the ‘what happened’ question.
This thing is definitely cool from any angle.
As we said. Tail lamps are a bit inelegant, given the car’s styling, but we could live with them. BTW, who’s posing in the background?
The wheel is not Jag, but the column is and the gauges very obviously are.
Why use air filters? Dust may work like Bar’s Leaks to help stop the inevitable British car oil leaks.
Ad text:
1964 Jaguar Kougar
1964 KOUGAR JAGUAR RIGHT HAND DRIVE SPORTS CAR. CAR RUNS AND DRIVES BUT NEEDS WORK BEFORE GOIING ON THE STREET. These cars were manufactured in England and were available as a completely built up car and in some cases supplied in a kit version. Jaguar donor cars have always been used for the mechanical side of it. This example utilizes and is titled as a 1964 Jaguar and has original English Registration number AJE 280B. The engine is Jaguars 3.8 liter double overhead camshaft version coupled to a 4-speed gearbox with overdrive transmission. Equipped with dual two inch Sutters Union (SU) carburetors and producing about 230 horsepower. The suspension is all Jaguar and uses the inboard disc brake fully independent rear suspension along with rack and pinion steering and independent front suspension with disc brakes. Our version was built in rare Right Hand drive form. The dash is done with the original Smiths Jaguar instruments. The car has a Jaguar telescopic steering column with a Mota-lita vintage three spoke aluminum and wood rimmed steering wheel. Wheels are very unusual center lined off set wires. The windshield is the very early variety Kougar Series One cars, being the wrap around very sporty and sleek looking Perspex (Plexiglas) version. The car also retains the mounts for dual windscreens. Finished in racing Red with Black leather interior. Four point Hersh racing seat belts. These cars are purported that they would out run a D-type and for the price of a set of D-type wheels. Kougar has over the years won countless race track and sprint events. The following is from the Kougar owners club the factory is now in Rye in Sussex. This car is from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England (see original I.D. plague in photographs). Wherein from our internet search this might be one of the original approximate 200 cars made by Rick Stevens.
This is an extremely rare opportunity to own and repair at a fraction of the price of comparable cars an important part of automotive history.
For more information call Pierre 941-xxx-xxxx
The following is copied from the Kougar owners club web page
THE ORIGINS OF KOUGAR CARS
Rick Stevens founded Kougar Cars in 1979, although the first (approximately 30) cars were marketed by a company called Storcourt Wells Ltd. He built the prototype in 1976, which incorporated an aluminum body. All the other cars have a fiberglass body shell. Rick still maintains an active interest in the Kougar Owners Club, as its president.
Rick’s inspiration for the Kougar originated in his ownership of a Jaguar S Type saloon, but recognized that it had a scrap value of only £100 to £200. He also realized that a first class sports car could be made by connecting the heavy lumps of the Jaguar together with a simple light weight body and chassis unit.
The sports car design was not directly inspired by any particular vehicle, but Rick admits to having a certain fondness for the Frazer Nash TT replica and the Healey Silverstone. The first car with an alloy body was sold to an American in 1977, but mold’s had prudently been taken from the alloy body and a batch of 5 cars was exported to Australia. The first cars featured a chrome grill, however, this was superseded by a cast alloy grill for a short time, after which a chrome grill was re-instated, albeit with two extra bars in 1979, still used today.
Production of the “Sports“ model has been continuous with about 200 cars being sold over the years. In 1979 a second model, the Monza, was developed which utilized Ford engine components. Approximately 40 Monza’s found their way mainly to the west coast of America. The Monza was eventually developed to take Jaguar components like the Sports and occasionally fitted with Rover V8 and Jaguar V12 engines, also the Jaguar XK engine.
Over the years about 60% of the cars were supplied as kits, the other 40% were complete cars supplied by Kougar Cars, of which 20% were registered as new and contained all new parts from Jaguar Cars Ltd. Some of these new vehicles were sold by H.R. Owen in London, and other distributors.
In 1990, the company Kougar Cars Ltd was wound up and a new company was formed called Kougar Cars (1990) Ltd. In June 1990 this new company was sold to Trent Engineering in Somerset. After trading for approximately 18 months, during which time approximately 6 Kougar Sport cars were built, Trent Engineering went into receivership. After an interval of about a year, the jigs and fixtures for building Kougar cars were acquired by a gentleman named John Killick who advertised and built several Kougars until 1999 when the building of Kougars was transferred to a company in Rye in Sussex which is the current situation. Information about the current availability of Kougar Cars and Kougar spare parts can be obtained on line at www.kougar-cars.com