Meet ‘Silver Thunder’ — a one-off 1966 Jaguar XKE that conquered the Peking to Paris Rally. Street legal, race-proven, and absolutely legendary.
Overview
SBX Cars is proud to offer for sale this 1966 Jaguar XKE 3.8L Coupe that was fully re-engineered for rally competition purposes while remaining U.S. street legal. Finished in silver over a black interior, this XKE is offered with records, engine build documentation, race provenance, tools, and a clear California title.
From the beginning, the Coventry-built E-Type (known as the XKE in the North American Market) was praised for its performance, sleek silhouette, and advanced technology for its time. But instead of spending its later years tucked away in a museum, one XKE has traveled the world in competition.
The Peking to Paris Motor Challenge is an endurance motor rally that can take upwards of 37 days to complete. The event, first held in 1907, is considered one of the most grueling of its type. The route covers about 14,500 kilometers over deserts, mounts, and various types of challenging terrain.
This bespoke XKE, dubbed “Silver Thunder,” is reportedly the only one in the world to have completed the rally. It is a competition-proven race car with a 3.8-liter inline-six that was custom-built by renowned Croswaithe & Gardiner Ltd of England. Accompanying the car is complete documentation from the builder regarding the components, specifications, and performance data for the unique powertrain.
Among the car’s many features are a custom tubular rollcage, underbody skid plates, an upgraded suspension, and auxiliary LED lighting. It was awarded First in Class for the Vintage Race Cars division at the Danville d’Elegance in September 2025 and is most certainly unlike any other XKE in the world.
The spirit of adventure is alive and well in this unique Jaguar. As the seller says, “Whether you’re competing in a rally or showcasing it at a classic car event, this Jaguar is guaranteed to turn heads and set hearts racing.”
Specifications & Options
Exterior
- Silver paint
- Aluminum bodywork
- Red accent striping
- Jaguar decals
- Clamshell-style front clip
- Bonnet latch pins
- Bonnet and rear hatch custom rally hold-down latches
- Body reinforcements
- Engine space frame
- A-pillars
- Side sills
- Front and rear bulkheads
- Picture frame
- Enclosed headlights
- Mesh guards
- Perspex headlamp covers
- External kill switch
- Quad KC Gravity LED driving beam
- Auxiliary LED lighting
- Roof rack from Drift Cave Motorsports
- Dual Talbot side mirrors
- Side-mounted exhaust pipes
- Rally Armor mud flaps
- Underbody skid plates for engine, gear box, and differential
- 16-inch Braid dark grey aluminum rims
- Michelin street tires
- Pirelli Scorpion medium-compound gravel tires
- 205/65 both front and rear
Interior
- Recaro black leather bucket seats
- Schroth four-point harnesses
- Variable-assist electric power steering
- (2) Moto-Lita steering wheels
- One for street use and one for rally use
- Tubular roll cage
- Boss Bluetooth audio system
- Stilo intercom system
- Kill switch
- Manual-crank windows
- Toggle switchboard
- Dual washer system for redundancy
- Custom wiper system
- Map light
- Fan
- Dual fire extinguishers
- Garmin GPS MAP 276Cx multipurpose handheld GPS
- Two Monit G-200 rally computers for navigator and driver
- Stopwatch
- Clock
- Performance timer
- All-weather floor mats
- Spare tire with retention straps
- Gauges
- 260-km/h speedometer
- AutoMeter 8,000-rpm tachometer
- Smiths coolant temperature gauge
- Brake caliper temperature and master cylinder temperature gauge
- Second AEM speedometer for mph or km/h
- AutoMeter voltage gauge
- AutoMeter oil pressure gauge
- Aircraft fuel-level gauge
- Lambda sensors gauge
- Fuel pressure gauge
- Tire pressure monitoring system
- Racetech Design oil pressure and oil temperature gauges
Mechanical
- Lightweight 3.8-liter inline-six
- Built by Croswaithe & Gardiner Ltd of England
- Alloy block
- Rated at 310 horsepower
- Mechanical Updates
- Wide-angle head
- 123 Ignition Bluetooth distributor
- Triple Weber carburetors
- ITG Megaflow performance air filter
- Kevko two-port breather tank
- Setrab Series 6, 25-row oil cooler radiator
- Reinforced engine mounts
- Lightweight expansion tank
- Lightweight starter motor
- Fire resistant GOLD heat cover barriers
- Finned aluminum heat-sink style thermal barrier
- Triple redundancy fuel pumps
- 7-lb lightweight Lithium 40 Ah battery
- Battery management system
- High-volume cooling system
- Marine-style fuel filters with shutoff valve
- Five-speed manual transmission
- Built by E-Type Fabs Ltd.
- Aluminum differential
- 3.07 gear ratio
- 25-gallon custom aluminum fuel tank with foam
- Monza-style fuel filler
- Modified suspension geometry
- Front coilover adjustable gas shocks and torsion bars
- Reinforced upper wishbone
- Lower wishbone guard
- Rear adjustable Eibach springs, trust bearings, and QA1 gas shock absorbers
- Separate compression and rebound
- Uprated and reinforced suspension crossmember
- Custom reinforced rally-style radius arms and sway bar links
- Custom reinforced wishbone assembly
- Custom rear hub with guards and reinforcement
- Rally guard on lower wishbone
- Front coilover adjustable gas shocks and torsion bars
- Braking system
- Front four-pot lightweight calipers with temperature sensors
- Rear S2 calipers
- Grooved front and rear discs
- Aeroquip heatshield fire sleeves on brake lines
- LEED electric quiet, and vibration-free vacuum pump
- Kevlar pads
- Dedicated master cylinder cooling fan
Service History
Multiple invoices are included in the gallery, including those documenting the engine build in April 2020.
The seller has provided photos illustrating stages of the start-to-finish build process as well as images from competitions and other events. As demonstrated, the sequence was comprehensive in nature, originating with a complete tear-down.
Documentation will include race memorabilia and paperwork regarding the vendors and products leveraged during the assembly process.
Condition & Reports
As a race-proven rally car, this XKE is expected to have some wear and tear. The seller indicates that the car is currently in mechanically sound condition, with the engine, suspension, and braking systems in good shape throughout. Dyno and "Torque and Power" reports are included in the gallery.
This XKE demonstrates some cosmetic wear consistent with rally use.
Included in the Sale
- Receipts
- Dyno test printouts
- Trophies (negotiable)
- TEAM USA license plate (negotiable)
- A full set of six 15-inch Braid Dakar wheels with Pirelli Scorpion medium-compound rally tires
- Six 16-inch Braid Dakar wheels with Michelin tires
- Rally Monte- Carlo Jaguar roof rack replica
- Full rally tool kit, including a fast hydraulic jack and all associated tools
- Intercom system
- Two Monit rally computers
- Garmin navigation equipment
- TAG Heuer–style rally clock, etc
Summary
Whether you are driving to the local cars and coffee or setting off on a cross-continental 14,500-kilometer rally, this XKE is up to the challenge. From its custom-built powertrain to its extensive rally-bred enhancements, it is a unique collector opportunity. It will undoubtedly be a conversation piece at any event, and it’s bound to put a smile on the face of anyone who sees – or better yet, drives – it.
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Buyer's Premium
The Buyer’s Premium will be added to the final sale price and is payable directly to SBX Cars. Sales tax applicability will be determined by buyer's location.
- Buyer's premium: 5%
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