Back from the brink of extinction, the Jaguar E-Type is making a comeback!
It’s almost 50 years since it went out of production, but a brand new Lightweight E-Type Jaguar has been rolled out of the company’s Coventry factory.
The prototype model – codenamed Car Zero – has been lovingly recreated by Jaguar Heritage, part of Jaguar Land Rover’s new Special Operations division.
Six will be built and sold with a specification originated from the last Lightweight E-type produced in 1964. Each will be hand-crafted and the cars will be sold as period competition vehicles and all will be suitable for FIA homologation for historic motorsport purposes. No prices have been announced yet.
The new cars are the missing six vehicles from the Special GT E-type project, which originally started in February 1963 with the objective of building 18 cars. Only 12 of the aluminium-bodied Lightweight E-types were built and the remaining six that were designated chassis numbers have lain dormant … until now that is.
John Edwards, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations, said: “The E-type is an iconic car, and the Lightweight E-type the most desirable of all. To be able to complete the intended production run of 18, some 50 years after the last Lightweight was completed, was an opportunity we couldn’t miss.”
The specification includes an aluminium bodyshell with doors, boot lid, hardtop and bonnet also in aluminium – all hand-assembled to exacting standards.
And the 300bhp-plus, six-cylinder, 3.9 litre, XK engine mirrors the original power units.
The prototype Lightweight makes its public debut at this week’s Pebble Beach Automotive weekend, the world’s most prestigious classic car event, where it is almost certain to be the star of the show.