Jaguar to build 'missing' Lightweight E‑Types for racing collectors

The cat’s out of the bag… Jaguar has confirmed it will build six perfect reproductions of the original, race-bred Lightweight E-type that was created in 1963, and they’ll come with official FIA papers that allow them to compete in historic events around the world – including our very own Revival meeting.

The new cars are described as the ‘missing’ six vehicles from Jaguar’s Lightweight E-type project, which originally started in February 1963 with the objective of building 18 ‘Special GT E-type Cars’. Only 12 were ever built, leaving six ‘period’ chassis numbers for lucky owners with deep enough pockets to stand what we’ve heard on the grapevine will be a £1m price tag. (The price has not been officially announced, but we’re expecting that and many more details to be released when the first car is revealed later this summer.)

The new cars will be hand-built in-house under the auspices of the Jaguar Land Rover Individual Products Division headed by former Land Rover brand director John Edwardes. Each will be constructed to the exact specifications of their original 1960s forebears – including the 3.8-litre straight-six engine, although we’re told owners will be able to specify colours and trim.

Established Jaguar collectors, especially those with historic race car interests, will be prioritised amongst those potential customers who express interest, says Jaguar. But we suspect you might already be too late. ‘Little birds’ whisper that at least one Goodwood regular has bagged one of the cars, and we reckon the others might already have been claimed too…