Jaguar/Daimler: Jaguar’s ‘new’ Lightweight E-Type

16 June, 2014

 


Back in the ’60s, Jaguar built 12 examples of marque’s famous Lightweight E-Type — a car that featured an all-aluminium body and engine block and a stripped-out interior. At the time, Jaguar had expected to construct a series of 18 examples between 1963 and 1964 but, at the time, they only got around to producing 12 — finally, fifty years later, Jaguar’s Heritage division is planning to complete the originally proposed run of 18 by building six more Lightweight E-Types using chassis numbers assigned but unused in the 1960s.

Originally produced specifically for racing, the Lightweight E-types were designed to take the fight to rivals from Ferrari on the track.

The six ‘new’ models will be built to the exact specifications of  ’60s originals – including the all–aluminium 3.8-litre straight–six engine and aluminium body.

Pricing information will be revealed closer to the car’s launch later this summer but don’t expect these cars to be cheap, bearing in mind that one of those genuine Lightweight E-Type from the ’60s would set you back several million bucks.

The originals – the Ledgerwood Collection

Thanks to Central Otago’s dry climate, it’s no surprise to find that Wanaka couple Jim and Daphne Ledgerwood are steadily developing an incredible collection of amazing coupes. ‘The Originals’ they have are as per factory new condition, and their aim is to keep them for everyone to see how it was done back in the day—pure nostalgia.
An occasional email from Jim usually reveals another gleaming addition. The collectors also have an impressive display of American pickups. It’s our gain and US enthusiasts’ loss, as car agent’s adverts proclaim, “Sorry you missed out. Gone to New Zealand!” Some of Jim and Daphne’s cars are almost part of the family, hence their nicknames.

To finish first, first, you must build a winner

Can-Am royalty
Only three M20s were built, including the car that was destroyed at Road Atlanta. This car was later rebuilt. All three cars were sold at the end of the 1972 season. One of the cars would score another Can-Am victory in 1974, driven by a privateer, but the M20’s day was done. Can-Am racing faded away at the end of that season and was replaced by Formula 5000.
These days the cars are valued in the millions. It was unlikely that I would ever have seen one in the flesh if it hadn’t been that one day my editor asked me if I would mind popping over to Taranaki and having a look at a pretty McLaren M20 that somebody had built in their shed.
That is how I came to be standing by the car owned and built by truck driver Leon Macdonald.