Jaguar Heritage to build 6 new Lightweight E-types...

[PeterMorley]

What I've started wondering is why make lightweight Es, wouldn't it be better/more profitable to complete the run of XKSSs, at least there would be no argument about the fact that they once intended to make them.

[Belmondo]

I've wondered why they don't build an XJ13 for historic racing. I'm sure with factory blurb they'd admit it at Goodwood etc.

[275 GTB-4]

How will the new oil leaking system be implemented in an environmentally friendly and acceptable manner? anyone?

[simon drabble]

Originally Posted by Belmondo

I've wondered why they don't build an XJ13 for historic racing. I'm sure with factory blurb they'd admit it at Goodwood etc.

Would be fantastic but they would be like Chevron B8's a very pretty car that is uncompetitive in current historic races (too late for pre 66 and too early to play with the big boys) and of course never run at Le Mans (mind you nor did 65 911's so I guess that is less important for LMC!)

I hope this is not history repeating itself. Last time Jaguar commissioned a small run (XJ220) that was the top of the market......

[midgetman]

Frankel's take on it in Motor sport is, as ever, interesting.

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ra...-the-classics/

[zefarelly]

I might be able to sell this to Jag. I have a few jars, new old stock.

[Tim the Grey]

I'm pretty sure they cannot build XKSS anymore, as the allocated numbers WERE built, then destroyed in an unfortunate fire in a building stuffed with unsold cars that nobody wanted, plus a large quantity of spares for older Jags that had been over ordered for production 10 years earlier. I believe there were several D Types as well. All having been WELL insured first.

Or so I was told when I worked there, in the early noughties.

[Tim Falce]

Jaguar wouldn't need to build any more XKSS or Dtypes, there's already far more genuine ones than were ever built in the first place.

[morninggents]

So very true. But why then bother with 6 more lightweights?

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

I'm pretty sure they cannot build XKSS anymore, as the allocated numbers WERE built, then destroyed in an unfortunate fire in a building stuffed with unsold cars that nobody wanted, plus a large quantity of spares for older Jags that had been over ordered for production 10 years earlier. I believe there were several D Types as well. All having been WELL insured first.

Or so I was told when I worked there, in the early noughties.

Hmm, going back to my college days the Browns Lane fire was a source of education in terms of fire management. IIRC it was an example of a factory that was built with escape in mind. Basically they installed vents in the roof so in the event of a fire, the smoke would escape, giving the occupants a better opportunity to get out.

Then again didn't the fire start at night when the place was empty?

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by morninggents

So very true. But why then bother with 6 more lightweights?

I suppose if Jaguar don't have them built then someone else will do.

[Peter Mallett]

Hasn't that already happened?

[henk4]

Some years ago an very original Lightweight came on the market and to the Revival (the cream one with some red stripes, #850660). It made Simon Hadfield ask the question: "Now if that is how an original Lightweight look, why don't they all look like that?" So if we will get 6 more "original Lightweight" they will be backmarkers in any current race, and if they are going to be treated, say in the way Adrian Newey has done, they are no original lightweights any more.

So why buy them or even bother?

[Alan Cox]

Originally Posted by simon drabble

Being the anorak that I am I have read several books about the lightweights and I don't recall the extra chassis numbers being previously discussed. I guess if correct it's no different from the DB4GT Zagato's a few years back.

If you have read Philip Porter's definitive work on the subject, "Ultimate E-Type", you will find, on pages 149-150, reference to the fact that 18 numbers were allocated in a document issued by the factory's Roland Abbott. The 18 numbers were taken from the production run and prefixed by an 'S'.

[Mike Bell]

According to one source, the cars will be built by CPP (Coventry Prototype Panels), who are now part of the Envisage Group. They are supposedly also building the 'new' Jensen Interceptor and are behind the Aston lookalike 'Speedback GT'. Although in Binley, Coventry, CPP were rumoured a while back to be creating a new facility in Browns Lane. No idea if that happened. Apparantly JLR are already a client.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Alan Cox

If you have read Philip Porter's definitive work on the subject, "Ultimate E-Type", you will find, on pages 149-150, reference to the fact that 18 numbers were allocated in a document issued by the factory's Roland Abbott. The 18 numbers were taken from the production run and prefixed by an 'S'.

Surely Philip Porter's definitive work on the E-Type is Jaguar E-Type a the Definitive History.
On p298 of this book he states

Originally Posted by Philip Porter, Jaguar E-Type a the Definitive History, p298

Initially it was intended to build 18 cars and that they would be given special numbers. This decision was rescinded and, possibly for homologation purposes, the special cars were given ordinary production chassis numbers from the period.

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by morninggents

So very true. But why then bother with 6 more lightweights?

I'm guessing it's a two-word reason:

Cash grab.

[Adam43]

and publicity.

[Al Weyman]

On a miniscule scale I have had a similar experience with my Penske IROC camaro. To celebrate 25 years of the series Penske recreated an extra car that had never raced and was then sold to appear on a website later valued at $100000 and claiming to have the chassis number of my car! Needless to say I put them right and the changed it several times before settling on number 8. The car is now in a museum claiming to have been raced by Andretti and others what a joke!

[XJ13]

Originally Posted by Belmondo

I've wondered why they don't build an XJ13 for historic racing. I'm sure with factory blurb they'd admit it at Goodwood etc.

I live in hope ....

At present I fall foul of FIA's Appendix K for a HTP because the original never competed in period - but our American cousins take a much more enlightened view and there is a good chance I would be allowed to race there. Would prefer to see it on track in the UK though ...

Neville
www.xj13.eu

[Alan Cox]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Surely Philip Porter's definitive work on the E-Type is Jaguar E-Type a the Definitive History.

As 'The Ultimate E Type' is purely about the lightweights, and extends to more than 500 pages on the model, I feel it probably is the definitive book on the subject.

[Nick JM]

With so many facsimile's GT40's, Cobras, Élan 26r's as well as E Types racing it does seem we can no longer ignore them and must assume they are here to stay.




You are forgetting the recent Knobbly Listers too!

[Mike Bell]

Well, the question over who will build the cars appears to have been answered. According to Autocar, Jaguar Land Rover are creating an 'SVO' Division, to be based at a new independent premises in the West Midlands. As well as doing work on new cars for presumably well-healed customers, it will carry out 'heritage' servicing and restoration, recreate some unavailable parts and build the six lightweights.

A slight contradiction then suggests that the 'Heritage' arm will be based in a workshop at Browns Lane still owned by the company, and apparently a team of Classic car experts are already employed with access to heritage tools and original workshop documentation.....

[Clive Brown]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

well-healed customers

I'm ever so sorry; I hadn't realised that they had ever been injured or unwell in the first place.

[john ruston]

Could the new factory be somewhere near Bridgenorth?