Jaguar reveals 'new lightweight E-Type' prototype

Jaguar Land Rover's newly created Special Operations unit has unveiled its 'new' prototype of the Lightweight E-type, a further six of which will be built and sold.

It's the first recreation to come from Jaguar Heritage, which operates within the Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations division. The prototype has been hand-built by highly skilled Jaguar craftsmen and will be on view tomorrow, 14 August, at the Pebble Beach Automotive weekend at the famous golf links in California, the world's most prestigious classic car event.

Only 12 of the 20 intended aluminium bodied Lightweight E-types were eventually built, the last in 1964. So Jaguar wanted to build six perfect reproductions of the original.

The six will be sold as period competition vehicles and all will be suitable for FIA homologation for historic motorsport purposes. They will carry those original, historic Lightweight E-type chassis numbers that have remained unused, until now. All chassis numbers carried an 'S' prefix.

Each will be hand-crafted at the original home of the E-type, Jaguar's Browns Lane plant in Coventry in the UK, in a brand new workshop. In recreating the ightweight E-type, Jaguar has been able to call on the skills and experience of many talented engineers and technicians already working in a variety of departments within Jaguar. Each leapt at the opportunity.

LIGHTWEIGHT E-TYPE SPECIFICATION*

Engine System

Engine:                                   Aluminium six-cylinder block, wide-angle cylinder head, dry sump lubrication, lightweight low-inertia flywheel

Displacement:               236.0 cu in (3,868cc)

Bore/Stroke:                 3.46in/4.17in (88.0mm/106.0mm)

Valvetrain:                     2 valves per cylinder, DOHC

Compression ratio:       10:1

Carburettors:                 Triple 45DCO3 Weber

Injection (optional):       Lucas mechanical, 6.25in (158.7mm) butterfly trumpets

Crankshaft:                   Steel with steel H-section con rods

Power:                          340hp/253.5kW @ 6500rpm

Torque:                          280lbs ft/380Nm @ 4500rpm

Fuel tank:                      Mesh-filled 14-gallon (64-litre) capacity

Fuel pump:                    Standard E-type

Transmission and Driveline

Transmission:                Jaguar 4-speed all-synchro close-ratio gearbox

Final drive casing:         Cast iron, Powr-Lok limited slip differential, axle ratio 3.31:1

Gearbox oil:                  Castrol

Clutch:                          Single dry plate

Suspension and Steering

Front:                            Double wishbone, LWE torsion bars, uprated anti-roll bar

Rear:                             Jaguar independent rear suspension lower wishbones/driveshaft links, radius arms, anti-roll bar (C/O Standard E-type rear springs with uprated damper assemblies)

Steering:                       Standard E-type rack-and-pinion, adjustable steering column

Brakes

Brake discs (front):       12in Dia (305mm)

Brake discs (rear):        11.25in Dia (286mm)

Handbrake:                   Production E-type

Wheels and Tyres

Magnesium disc
wheels:                          Front: 15in x 7.0J, Rear 15in x 8.0J

Tyres:                            Dunlop (Front - 6.00L15 CR65, Rear – 6.50L15 CR65)

Electrical

Battery:                         12v - 62 amp / hour

System:                        12v negative-earth

Lighting:                        Tungsten headlamps and standard rear tail-lamps

Ignition:                         Electronic

Instruments:                  Smiths Industries

Generator:                    Production E-type

Starter:                          Production E-type

Control Box:                  Production E-type

Wiper motor
and blades:                   Production E-type

Exhaust and Cooling

Exhaust:                        Fabricated steel manifold, steel exhaust system with centre silencer box and twin polished tail pipes

Cooling:                         Aluminium E-type radiator, aluminium expansion header tank, engine oil cooler, oil sump tank

Overview

Length:                          175.3in (4,453mm)

Width:                            66.9in (1,700mm)

Height:                          46.5in (1,181mm)

Weight:                          2204.6lbs (1,000kg)

Wheelbase:                   96.1in (2,440mm)

Front Track:                  50.0in (1,270mm)

Rear Track:                   55.0in (1,397mm)

BODY TRIM & HARDWARE

Body in white & closures

Aluminium monocoque with stiffened front sub-frame for race engines above 300bhp

Riveted and welded aluminium construction

Aluminium body closures (bonnet/doors/trunk-lid)

Aluminium detachable hard top roof

21 louvre bonnet air intakes

Black powder-coated roll cage

Front brake cooling ducts integrated with bonnet structure

Exterior trim

Side bonnet-release handles

‘Long range’ aluminium quick release fuel cap

Body colour cabin ventilation air intakes

Protective car cover (non-waterproof)

Centre bonnet catch

Oval door mirror upgrade

Interior Trim

Aluminium bucket seats with increased backrest angle and padded cushions

Rear-view mirror

Leather selection from Connolly palette

Wood-rimmed steering wheel

Aluminium gear knob and standard hand brake

Machined metal toggle and push button starter

Five-point seat belt

Black instrument panel with glove box

Bonnet and boot stands

Glass house

Clear laminated front screen

Perspex side windows and rear screen

Manual slide side windows

*Figures are manufacturer’s estimates, subject to change according to customer specification