Six Lightweight Jaguar E-Types

Jaguar’s E-Type is a thing of unsurpassed beauty. Its Sixties styling, with those famous curves, is still a stunner today. But it’s more than just a pretty car. Beneath those swoon-worthy lines hid refined race-bred mechanics that made the cars a genuine contender on the track.

But the company wasn’t satisfied with just a few victories at Le Mans and set about further developing the E-Type’s independent rear suspension. The result was the E2A, a prototype that was lent to Briggs Cunningham to contest the 1961 24 Hours of Le Mans with Dan Gurney and Walt Hangsen behind the wheel. Unfortunately the E2A didn’t finish but the experience was enough to convince Jaguar engineers to resume development. Learn more

The result was the Series 3 of E-Types, running until 1975. For this generation the short wheelbase FHC body style was dropped and the 3.8 litre XK engine was updated with a newer negative earth electrical system, an improved radiator and a five speed manual gearbox.

From Old to Gold: How Skilled Craftsmanship Transforms E-Type Jaguars

Today, Jaguar Classic has taken a bold step to mark the 60th anniversary of that debut by building six E-Type Lightweights. These aren’t continuation cars that use existing chassis numbers, but brand new aluminum creations.

To create these bespoke Lightweights Jaguar Classic used state-of-the-art scanning technology to map each of the original car’s bodies down to a fraction of a millimeter. The results were then handed over to Jaguar’s best in-house craftsmen to construct the six new cars. Jaguar is offering the six cars to established Jag collectors, giving first dibs to those involved in historic racing. It’s a brilliant idea. But it is important to remember that if you are buying an E-Type as an investment you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. It’s always better to buy a car that you will enjoy driving, tinker with and adore than one that has you worrying about its value.