Ecurie Ecosse LM69
A modern homage to the Jaguar XJ13, built to 1969 Le Mans specs.
The Ecurie Ecosse LM69 is a sports car built by Ecurie Cars Ltd, a partnership of Building The Legend, Ecurie Ecosse, and Design Q. It serves as a tribute to the Jaguar XJ13 while also functioning as a race car designed to meet 1969 Le Mans regulations.
Neville Swales of Building The Legend commissioned the car. It was conceived as a homage to the 1966 Jaguar XJ13, a race car intended for the 24 Hours of Le Mans but rendered obsolete by rule changes before it could compete. Jaguar abandoned the project, and the single XJ13 built was stored away. The LM69 is not an exact replica; instead, it envisions what the XJ13 might have become if Jaguar had kept developing it through 1969. This explains its retro appearance and lack of post-1960s technology. The car would have complied with all 1969 Le Mans rules, allowing the Scottish team Ecurie Ecosse to race against cars like the Ford GT40 and Porsche 917.
Howard Guy and his team at Design Q handled the design. Unlike the heavier all-aluminium XJ13, the LM69 uses a mix of aluminium and composite materials over a purpose-built chassis. It features a closed cockpit, refined aerodynamics, wider tires, and a mid-mounted engine visible under a transparent deck lid.
The mid-mounted V12 engine, called tera, is a near-period reproduction based on the original Jaguar design. It comes in a 6.1 L version or a stroked 6.8 L version developed by Neville Swales. Period-correct distribution and injection are standard, with modern electronic injection optional for the larger engine. A 5-speed manual gearbox handles transmission. No official performance figures were given beyond a claim that the 6.8 L version exceeds 700 hp. The car is said to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 203 mph. For comparison, the original XJ13’s 5.0 L V12 produced 502 hp and a top speed of 170 mph.
Only 25 units are planned, matching the minimum required for 1969 FIA homologation. Each is hand-built in England at the Ecurie Cars factory, priced at £875,000 ($1.54 million) in standard configuration. Despite its racing origins, the LM69 is road-legal in the United Kingdom. The first example was shown at the 2020 International Concours d'Elegance at Hampton Court Palace in London. There are tentative plans to revive the project as the "Ecurie 69."
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Ecurie Cars Ltd
- Production
- TBA
- Class
- Sports car
- Layout
- MR
- Related
- Jaguar XJ13
- Engine
- 6.1 or 6.8 L tera V12 (by Building The Legend Limited)
- Transmission
- 5-speed manual
- Wheelbase
- NNNN mm
- Weight
- NNNN -
- Sp
- uk
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Originally commissioned by Neville Swales of Building The Legend Limited, the LM69 was developed as a homage to the 1966 Jaguar XJ13 race car, which was intended for the 24 Hours of Le Mans but became obsolete due to homologation rule changes. Jaguar halted the project, and the sole XJ13 was stored. The LM69 was never meant to be an exact replica; instead, Ecurie Ecosse imagined what the XJ13 might have looked like if development had continued until 1969, explaining its retro design and absence of post-1960s technology. The car was designed by Howard Guy and his team at Design Q. Unlike the all-aluminium XJ13, the LM69's body uses both aluminium and composite materials over a purpose-built chassis. It features a closed cockpit, refined aerodynamics, wider tires, and a mid-mounted engine under a transparent deck lid. The engine is a near-period reproduction V12 called tera, based on the original Jaguar design, with either 6.1 L or a stroked 6.8 L version developed by Neville Swales. Only 25 units are planned, matching the minimum FIA homologation requirement for 1969. Each car is hand-built in England at the Ecurie Cars factory and is road-legal in the United Kingdom. The first built LM69 was exhibited at the 2020 International Concours d'Elegance at Hampton Court Palace, London.
Reader's Guide
The Ecurie Ecosse LM69 occupies a unique niche as a modern car built to historical racing regulations, specifically those of the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans. By adhering to period rules and using near-period technology, it offers a tangible connection to the late-1960s endurance racing era, when cars like the Ford GT40 and Porsche 917 competed. Its limited production of 25 units—the exact number required for 1969 FIA homologation—underscores its conceptual purpose as a race car that never raced. The LM69 also serves as a tribute to the Jaguar XJ13, a legendary prototype that never competed, reimagining its potential evolution. While not an official continuation, it represents a collaborative effort between enthusiasts and designers to fill a historical gap. Its road-legal status in the UK allows owners to experience a car that blends vintage aesthetics with modern build quality, though its high price and limited availability make it a collector's piece. The project's tentative revival as 'Ecurie 69' suggests ongoing interest in this retro-futuristic concept.
Did You Know?
- The LM69 was designed to comply with 1969 Le Mans regulations, allowing a virtual entry for the Scottish racing team Ecurie Ecosse.
- Its engine, called tera, is a near-period reproduction based on the original Jaguar V12 design, available in 6.1 L or 6.8 L stroked versions.
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