News: Jaguar leaps back in time to build six historic E-types

THE NEW F-type represents Jaguar’s latest thinking in sports car design but the car maker is turning back the clock to build six special versions of its legendary predecessor, the E-type.

Called Lightweight E-types they are the so-called “missing” six vehicles from a project, originally started in 1963, to build 18 special GT E-type cars.

In the end, just 12 of the special, race-bred cars were constructed, the last in 1964. The remaining six chassis numbers lay dormant ‒ until now.

Jaguar has announced they will be applied to six Lightweight E-types, to be hand built to the exact specifications of their original 1960s forebears – including the 3.8-litre straight-six engine.

The Lightweight was around 114kg lighter than a standard E-type thanks to its all-aluminium body and engine bock, absence of interior trim and exterior chrome work, and further weight-saving measures including lightweight, hand-operated side windows.

The cars were raced by drivers including Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and Roy Salvadori.

Jaguar plans to offer the six new cars, the first of which will be ready this summer, to established Jaguar collectors at a price still to be announced.

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