Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations is showcasing its latest Lightweight E-Type prototype, as the model will be unveiled during this week’s Pebble Beach event.
The Lightweight E-Type series was announced way back in 1963, when Jaguar announced it planned to build 18 models. So far, only twelve of these have been released, so the British carmaker still has some work to do if it is to fulfill its promise.
Creating a vehicle according to modern standards, but also in the same vein as the decades-old original, isn’t exactly an easy undertaking, but the people of at JLR Special Operation have managed to acquit themselves of the task perfectly. The handcrafted exterior and features an aluminum monocoque, aluminum body closures (bonnet/doors/trunk), and a removable aluminum roof. On the inside, the prototype boasts Connolly leather seats, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, an aluminum gear knob, and machined switchgear.
The Lightweight E-Type is powered by an aluminum 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine with triple Weber carburetors which outputs 340 bhp (253 kW) and 280 lb-ft (380Nm) of torque, which is connected to a four-speed close-ratio manual transmission.
According to the manufacturer, these six cars are going to be “sold as period competition vehicles and all will be suitable for FIA homologation for historic motorsport purposes.”
[WorldCarFans]
