Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations recreates its legendary Lightweight E-type
![Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VZo53PKdrXkKpLHQvGvDNa-415-80.jpg)
Jaguar Land Rover continues its push to the upper echelons of the market with the announcement of its most exclusive production car to date, the new Lightweight E-type. Built entirely by JLR's Special Vehicle Operations, a department dedicated to all kinds of customer requests, however outré, the Lightweight E-types make a neat bridge between the company's racing past and its ongoing expertise in the field of aluminium construction.
SVO gives the company license to embellish its designs and provide a more personal service. Within SVO sits another new venture, Jaguar Heritage, which will hand-make the cars in a new facility at Jaguar's historic Browns Lane site. Many marques maintain a close link with their heritage. Mercedes-Benz runs a Classic Centre in Fellbach, while Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell keeps post-war cars ticking over. Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Bentley and more all keep tabs on the glories of their past. Actually recreating the past from scratch is a far more specialist occupation, usually the preserve of small workshops, deep pockets and an inner circle of collectors.
Jaguar can lay claim to some of the most significant sporting victories in motor racing history and the cars' that achieved then have ascended to legendary status. Few are more evocative than the original E-type, and few E-types are more collectable than the 196x Lightweight. Just 12 cars were made, out if a planned production run of 18, and today they are the Rothkos of the classic car market, scarce and hugely valuable.
Now the final six cars - and one prototype for itself - are being lovingly built from scratch by a dedicated team in Jaguar Heritage. Six lucky customers - all of whom have been carefully sourced - will soon be eligible for all manner of classic rallies and racing thanks to the rigorous attention to detail going into these 'new' cars, and the fact they'll bear the missing chassis numbers from the original run.
The original cars were pioneering in their use of aluminium and the six modern iterations have been derived from a carefully scanned original. The resulting digital model ensures absolute fidelity to the original design. Historic fidelity is everything, right down to the classic racing graphics (should the customer desire), ensuring these six cars are an authentic new chapter in the E-type story.
The Lightweight E-type bridges the company's racing past and its ongoing expertise in the field of aluminium construction
Each car will be unique with customers able to request from a multitude of bespoke interior and exterior options
The inclusion of original features, such as this exterior leather buckle, pays homage to the car's design heritage
The new E-types are built from the same blueprint as the original 12 vehicles constructed in 1963
Each car is handmade by skilled craftsmen in a new facility at the company's historic Browns Lane site
The original cars were pioneering in their use of aluminium and the six modern iterations have been derived from a carefully scanned original
An all-aluminium body makes the Lightweight the favoured choice for racing
Wallpaper* Newsletter + Free Download
For a free digital copy of August Wallpaper*, celebrating Creative America, sign up today to receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Commune’s sustainable personal care products look ‘quite unlike anything else’
Commune’s Somerset-made products stand out in the sustainable skincare crowd. Madeleine Rothery speaks with the brand’s co-founders Kate Neal and Rémi Paringaux
By Madeleine Rothery Published
-
‘Hedonistic and avant-garde’: Rabanne’s Julian Dossena on the legacy of the chainmail 1969 bag
Paco Rabanne’s 1969 chainmail handbag encapsulates the late designer’s futuristic, space-age style. Current creative director Julien Dossena tells Wallpaper* about the bag’s particular pleasures
By Jack Moss Published
-
Postcard from Paris: Olympic fever takes over the streets
On the eve of the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, our correspondent shares her views from the streets of the capital about how the event is impacting the urban landscape.
By Minako Norimatsu Published
-
Helm’s meticulously re-imagined Jaguar E-Type features a finely crafted interior by Bill Amberg
Helm transforms the legendary E-Type into a thoroughly modern machine, upgrading every aspect of Jaguar’s pioneering sports car to an exacting brief
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Zoute Grand Prix is a car fest like no other at a pristine Belgian beachside town
Amy Serafin takes to the well-heeled streets of Knokke-Heist to experience the Zoute Grand Prix, its annual cavalcade of classic car-related events, from a rally to an auction
By Amy Serafin Published
-
Jaguar F-Type 75 special edition is the last of its kind as the marque hints at a radical future
The Jaguar F-Type 75 will be the last ever V8-powered Jaguar; is it also the end of conventional sports cars for this legendary British marque?
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Peugeot’s sparky 308 gets hybrid power and handsome lines
The Peugeot 308 proves that mass-market design needn’t be dull, blending hybrid power with sharp lines and excellent detailing
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
BMW Motorrad brings out the big guns for its newest cruisers
BMW Motorrad R 18 Bagger and Transcontinental set the tone for high-voltage cruising with a brand collaboration with speaker specialist Marshall
By George Chapman Last updated
-
Dacia’s new Manifesto concept is a true outdoor utility vehicle
Utilitarian auto brand Dacia sets a bold new agenda with its Manifesto, a concept car pitched at the active outdoor market
By Jonathan Bell Last updated
-
The sun sets on traditional supercars at California’s Monterey Car Week
Monterey Car Week, the world’s most prestigious car gathering, is showcasing ever-more extravagant special editions, coachbuilt cars and all-new electric concepts. Here are seven key machines from 2022
By Rory FH Smith Last updated
-
Is McLaren’s GT a sports car, a tourer, or the best of both?
The McLaren GT is a capable all-rounder dressed up in svelte supercar clothes. It might also be the last of its type
By Jonathan Bell Last updated