CLASSIC GR.3 - Jaguar E-type Lightweight 1963

Jaguar built the Lightweight E-Type Competition Roadster as a follow up to the hugely dominant D-Type, which claimed victory at the famed Le Mans 24 Hours three years consecutively. These Lightweights featured revised bodywork, which was manufactured from aluminium instead of the standard steel E-Type panels, and fitted with a race-tuned aluminium block with a ‘wide-angle’ cylinder head and a Lucas fuel-injected, 3.8-litre, straight six-cylinder engine, which could produce in excess of 300 bhp,

For the standard road-going E-Type, Jaguar chose to fit a steel body to reduce costs, allowing the car to be more accessible to a larger audience and leading to increased sales. It was important for Jaguar that the E-Type road car was a success; however, when the car took to the circuit, the steel proved to be too heavy, especially when the car was lined up next to the aluminium-bodied Ferrari 250 GTO, Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato and Shelby Daytona Coupes.

For the competition-focused Lightweight E-Type, Jaguar built a special aluminium monocoque with aluminium doors, bonnet and boot lid, making the car an impressive 250 lb lighter than the road car and, importantly, 100 lb lighter than its Italian rival, the Ferrari 250 GTO. To increase rigidity further, Jaguar fitted steel reinforcements in several locations, along with an aluminium hardtop, which also gave the car a fabulous, low, sleek and purposeful look.

Not only was the body heavily enhanced, so was the engine, with the block now cast from aluminium, not iron, which significantly reduced weight. The engine modifications also included a ‘wide-angle’ aluminium head with larger inlet and exhaust valves, a dry-sump oil system and competition flywheel. State-of-the-art Lucas fuel injection was also fitted, which led to an increased power output in excess of 300 brake horsepower, which was fed to the road through a four- or five-speed close ratio gearbox and limited slip differential. To save further weight, the wheels were manufactured from magnesium.

In competition, the Jaguar Lightweight E-Type was formidable, with greats including Graham Hill, Briggs Cunningham, Jackie Stewart, Dan Gurney, Roy Salvadori, Dick Protheroe, Bruce McLaren, Jack Sears, Walt Hansgen and Brian Redman choosing to take to the wheel.

Inline 6 cylinder with aluminium alloy block
3781cc capacity
DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder
Aspiration natural with 3 x Weber 45DCO3 carburetors or Lucas Mk I mechanical fuel injection
Power output, 344 bhp @ 6800 rpm