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Stephen Walker, Next Car's Editor, says each of
the six new cars will be going to good homes!
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New Jaguar E-Type Lighweight
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14th May, 2014
- Jaguar is to build six brand new ‘Lightweight’ E-types – the ‘missing’ six Lightweights that were never built from
the intended 18-car series
- Jaguar’s first ever ‘re-creation’ project, the all-aluminium cars will be assigned the six remaining chassis numbers
which were originally allocated in 1963
- All six vehicles will be built as perfect reproductions and to the exact specifications of the original 12 cars first
produced in 1963
- The first new Lightweight E-type will make its public debut later this year
Jaguar is to build six perfect reproductions of the original, race-bred lightweight E-type that was made in 1963. The
new cars are the ‘missing’ six vehicles from Jaguar’s Lightweight E-type project, which originally started in February
1963 with the objective of building 18 ‘Special GT E-type Cars’.
Only 12 of the aluminium bodied Lightweight E-types were eventually built, the last in 1964, the remaining six
designated chassis numbers having lain dormant, until now.
The new cars will be hand-built in-house by Jaguar’s finest craftsmen. Each car will be constructed to the exact
specifications of their original 1960s forebears – including the 3.8-litre straight-six engine.
The Lightweight carried approximately 114kg (250lb) less weight than a standard E-type, thanks to its all-aluminium
body and engine block, a lack of interior trim and exterior chrome work and a host of further weight-saving features
including lightweight, hand-operated side windows.
Jaguar expects a high demand for the six Lightweight E-types. Established Jaguar collectors, especially those with
historic race car interests, will be prioritised amongst those potential customers who express interest.
The price? Don't ask! Perhaps an indication of price will be known later in the year.
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Jaguar XKR-S
road test .....
more
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About the Jaguar E-Type
- The E-type was made between 1961 and 1975. Just over 72,500 were manufactured.
- The Lightweight E-types were built in 1963 (one car being delivered in 1964) by Jaguar’s competition department.
Twelve complete cars were built in total – 11 are believed to survive today.
- The Lightweights were homologated for GT competition by being designated a 'standard' roadster E-type fitted with a
number of options. Those options varied from car to car, but the main modifications included all-aluminium monocoque and
aluminium body panels, aluminium-block, wide-angle head, dry-sumped 3.8-litre XK engine with fuel injection, and
aluminium hardtop. All chassis numbers carried an 'S' prefix.
- The Lightweight E-types were raced in the period by such drivers as Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Roy Salvadori and
Briggs Cunningham. Today the remaining Lightweights are regular front-runners in the historic
motor sport scene.
E&OE.
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