The Jaguar Lightweight E-Type Sports Car

                                                    Lightweight E-Type         Image

                                             from Classic to Modern                                    

The Low Drag Racer

     The E-Type sports car. In 1962, Jaguar cars considered the idea of building a low drag racer, based on the D-Type, which had been discontinued five years before.

     The concept was tested by designing a fixed head coupe, with a monocoque structure, which would be rigid enough to withstand the stresses of racing.

     Lightweight aluminium body panels would be used, whilst the front sub-frame supporting the engine and front suspension would be made of steel.

     The incline of the windscreen was increased, and cooling vents for the rear brakes were added near the rear windows.

     Apart from the windscreen, perspex replaced the use of glass elsewhere.

     It was powered by a tuned version of the 3.8 litre XK engine as used in the later versions of the D-type Jaguar.

     Only one prototype was built, and although it produced improved performance over the production E-Type, the increase was not sufficient to warrant development, and the project was shelved.

                 Lindner-Nöcker 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Low Drag

                                      1963 Jaguar E-Type 'Low Drag' x 2

The Lightweight E-Type

     In 1956, Jaguar made the decision to exit car racing. However, when the E-Type was launched in March 1961, it was at a time of growing interest in GT cars.

     Compared with purpose-built race cars like the Ferrari 250 GTO, the E-Type was completely outmatched. What was needed was to create a lighter version of this road car.

     Consequently, the company decided to re-enter sports car racing and, in early 1962, instigated a project to develop a lighter version of the E-Type for endurance racing.

     The result was a decidedly beautiful GT car, which featured a low drag roof and rear section.

     It first ran in May 1962, but was sidelined since the FIA would not include the GT Class in the Sports Car World Championship.

     However, a private motor dealer prepared a convertible which became Jaguar cars principal development E-Type, and was progressively modified with a lighter gauge steel body, and an engine with a wide angle head.

     The result was the Lightweight E-Type Jaguar sports car and, in October 1962, work began on producing the first car which was intended to be the prototype for a short run of similar cars.

     In the end, 12 factory Lightweights were built, with all but one being delivered in 1963, along with two semi-lightweight versions.

     In many ways, the Lightweight E-Type was the natural evolution of the Low Drag Racer.

     Originally based on the D-Type, the specification of the Lightweight varaint consisted of:

  • An aluminium monocoque body
  • An alloy 3.8 litre XK engine with a wide angle D-Type head and dry sump lubrication
  • Lucas fuel injection
  • 5 speed ZF gearbox 
  • Disc brakes from the Mark 9 saloon
  • Aluminium hardtop, bonnet, doors, and boot lid
  • Wider rear track
  • Modified front suspension with anti-dive characteristics
  • Lowered steering rack
  • Racing seats and alloy wheels

     With the Lightweight now 600 pounds lighter, and developing 340 bhp, it was now ready to take on the Ferrari 250 GTO's.

     However, for improved reliability, the basic D-Type cast iron engine with a Moss gearbox replaced the original units.

     Unfortunately, the company never gave the car the development it needed and, by 1964, the project was cancelled. Jaguar cars performance:

Technical Data                       Lightweight E-Type     Standard E-Type
Production                                   1963-1964                 1961-1964
Engine, cc                                         3781                           3781
Cylinders, bhp                                 6, 344                         6, 265
Top Speed mph                                 170                              150
0-60 mph, secs                                 3.9                               6.9
Torque ft/lbs                                    314                              260
0-100 mph, secs                               9.1                              16.2
Standing 1/4 Mile, secs                    12.3                             14.7

                                          Jaguar Lightweight E-Type                                                                            Evolved from the Low Drag Coupe, this 1963-64,                                                             300 bhp, 3.8 litre, S6 racer produced a successful                                                                     track record in the hands of the privateer.                                                                           Generated lots of admiration at the show

                                          E-Type Competition Roadster        Image

                                            Jaguar E-Type Lightweight             Image

                                                                                      Full Screen                                                                                                                                                                  Full Screen

                                                                                                                                           Full Screen 

An original Lightweight, driven by Lindner & Nocker             in 1964 Le Mans, later wrecked, now restored

     Two of the 12 Lightweights were converted into the low drag racer, with one of them taking fifth place in the 1962 Le Mans race.

     Both were raced all over Europe, but were dogged by mechanical problems due, in part, to the lacklustre support from the company,

     A production E-Type with a D-Type engine took fourth place in the 1962 Le Mans, which was the best ever result for an E-Type.

     It was the efforts of numerous privateers, particularly in the US, that kept the Jaguar cars name alive.

     In hindsight, had Jaguar produced a competition version of the E-Type in 1962, and provided suitable backup, the Ferrari GTO would probably not have dominated the International GT Class in the way that it did.

     In all, Jaguar made 18 of these aluminium bodies, of which 12 were used for the cars produced in 1963, with another four being used for repairs, and the remaining two being sold privately.

     The E-Type Jaguar was highly successful in SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) production sports car racing, with a Series 3 V12 racer taking the B-Production Championship in 1975.

     Originally, 18 Lightweights were scheduled to be built but, in the end, only 12 were produced.

     Consequently, in May 2014, Jaguar's Heritage Business indicated that it was to hand build the six remaining Lightweights to the exact specifications of the originals.

     Jaguar for Sale

     In terms of sales of these Jaguar cars, in 2005, a beautiful example of an authentic 1963 Lightweight E-Type, which had been owned and driven by the racing driver Peter Sutcliffe, was put up for auction in the UK, with a guide price of between £1 million and £1.2 million.

     Amongst the numerous Jaguar cars, this model will always stand out. 

SPORTS CARS FOR SALE

     A 1963-64 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Racer, in superb condition and with a pedigree, would command in the region of £300,000/$480,000.


                                                           .














         

                                           see All My Reviews


› Jaguar Lightweight E-Type Sports Car


                           Got an interesting Sports Car story  to tell?


New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.




                                                      Top of the Page

JAGUAR LINKS

Jaguar History

Jaguar SS100

Lister Jaguar

Jaguar XJR-9LM

Jaguar XK120

Jaguar C-Type

Jaguar D-Type

Jaguar XKSS

Jaguar XK140

Jaguar XK150

Jaguar E-Type Series 1

Jaguar E-Type Series 2

Jaguar E-Type Series 3

Jaguar Lightweight E-Type

Jaguar XJ220

Jaguar XJR-15

Jaguar XJ13

Jaguar C-X75

JAGUAR LINKS END

 .

 .