It took Jaguar some years to perfect a five-speed gearbox installation. There was the cumbersome ZF manufactured unit as fitted to the low run lightweight E-types, before they adopted the Rover derived LT77 unit for the Series 3 XJ6, and subsequently harnessed the Getrag for the 3.6 XJ-S. Way back in the seventies though, Jaguar came very close to manufacturing their very own. A few prototype examples made their way into road going versions - one was fitted to a customer Series 3 E-type, that has a back story so fascinating, that the story almost masks the Jaguar development story. It all began during World War 2.
It was an audacious attempt. Five prisoners of war in Oflag V11B variously dressed as a Nazi officer, his adjutant, batman and Red Cross officials calmly walked up to the prison gates where the disguised officer demanded “Schnell – machen sie das tur auf!” – literally Hurry up and get this gate open. Incredibly the gate was opened and the prisoners strode to freedom. Short lived as it transpired as without waiting transport, their actions of striding off to the nearby forest outside of the gates caused some suspicion and within half an hour, they were recaptured.
Posing as the officer was Major WilliamThere was also a shot at Formula 1.
