Jaguar E-Type Lightweight 2015 review - pictures

<span>We drive ‘Car One’ of the six Lightweight Jaguar E-Types created by Jaguar Heritage.</span>

<span>There’s no ABS, no traction control, and the windows on the Lightweight E-Type are operated by strange twirly handles…</span>

The original&nbsp;<span id="itxthook0p"><span id="itxthook0w">Lightweight</span></span>&nbsp;or ‘Special GT E-Type’ project was developed in ’63 and designed for international GT racing.

<span>In place of the steel body of a normal E-Type was a hand-crafted aluminium monocoque.</span>

<span>The Lightweight E-Type weighed just 960kg and for a short period it was a seriously competitive racecar.</span>

<span>Jaguar originally intended to build 18 of these cars, but in the end just 12 were produced between ’63-’64.</span>

<span>The six further chassis numbers assigned to the project remained unused, laying blank in Jaguar’s old production ledgers.</span>

<span>The engine in the Lightweight produces around 340bhp, whilst roaring and rattling.</span>

<span>The 3.8-litre straight-six ‘XK’ engine was dry-sumped and rated at over 300bhp and every detail was honed for racing.</span>

<span>Climbing through the narrow doors will be enough to get the heart pumping.</span>

Once you've unfolded yourself behind the wheel, you realise the car Lightweight feels absolutely tiny.

The view over the Lightweight's long louvered bonnet is stunning though...

<span><span>The unassisted steering of the Lightweight is heavy at low speeds, but provides a great&nbsp;<span>level of communication throught t</span></span>he large, thin-rimmed wooden steering wheel.</span>

The level of fit and finish on these Lightweights are far beyond the original cars though.

<span>&nbsp;The four-speed manual gearbox ont he Lightweight is a pleasure to operate.</span>

<span>The new Lightweights are hand built&nbsp;<span>using the same riveting and spot-welding technique as the originals from '63-'64.</span></span>

<span>Dunlop cross-ply racing tyres provide the Lightweight with plenty of grip.</span>

<span>'Car One' of the Lightweights is running the authentic and primitive fuel injection system, but&nbsp;<span>carbs are also an option - just as in ’63.</span></span>