Jaguar has released these official pics of the new lightweight E-Type model crafted by its Special Operations division and due for unveiling next weekend in Pebble Beach, California.
As detailed here a few weeks back, Jaguar is building six of the recreations of the 1963 ‘Special GT E-type’ to complete the production run of 18 vehicles in total which was halted in 1964.
It’s a faithful recreation of the original – right down to the aluminium bodyshell, doors, hardtop, bonnet and bootlid and the 3.8-litre six-cylinder XK engine with an aluminium block, wide angle aluminium cylinder head, chain-driven twin overhead camshafts, three 45DCO3 Weber carburettors and dry sump lubrication.
The engine is a development of the engine which powered a Jaguar D-type to victory in the 1957 Le Mans 24-hour race. Maximum power is 254kW at 6500rpm and peak torque of 380Nm is delivered at 4500rpm.
Wishbone suspension is fitted front and rear and the 15-inch wheels with Dunlop racing tyres are seven inches wide at the front and eight inches wide at the rear.
Each car will be hand-crafted right where the originals were – Jaguar’s Browns Lane plant in Coventry, England.
For example, inside are authentic aluminium lightweight seats trimmed in Connolly leather.
And just as the first 12 cars were built for racing, so the remaining six will be sold as competition vehicles suitable for FIA homologation for historic racing.
And in order to meet homologation requirements, the ‘new’ E-types don’t use modern materials (like high-strength steel or alloy) or fixing methods – even panels which are unseen within the structure have been faithfully reproduced thanks to modern digital capturing processes.
