Beschreibung:

No matter what Jaguar might have built to succeed the XK 120/140/150 the marque's racing heritage, and the success of Jaguar sports cars in road racing around the world, would have guaranteed the new Jaguars' immediate appearance on the race track. When the XKE was introduced in early 1963 its advanced, almost D-type, specification guaranteed not only racing appearances but also racing successes. Independent suspension, semi-monocoque chassis, aerodynamic efficiency and the established power and reliability of the XK 6-cylinder engine all were hot buttons to racers who quickly seized upon the XKE's attributes. In fact the successful sedan racing teams of John Coombs and T.O.M. Sopwith (Ecurie Endeavour) received some of the first XKEs delivered and with these cars both teams were moderately successful in 1961, including Graham Hill's victory in Sopwith's XKE in the model's first race. Competition from Ferrari, first with the 250 GT SWBs and later with the 250 GTO, focused Jaguar's attention to developing a lightweight version of the XKE coupe for 1962. The so-called "low drag coupé" incorporated aerodynamic improvements but gained most of its performance by replacing its panels with lightweight aluminum fabrications and building ever more powerful engines. Eventually a total of fourteen, raced successfully by such figures as Roy Salvadori, Briggs Cunningham, Walt Hansgen, Dan Gurney, Graham Hill, Peter Lindner, Bob Jane and Augie Pabst, would be built. The E-type Lightweights' success never matched their potential as Jaguar hustled to respond to changing rules – notably a 3-liter displacement limit that played into Ferrari's hands and lumbered Jag's 3.4 and 3.8 liter straight sixes with an unexpected handicap – and fast-advancing racing technology that tested the ability of Coventry's small racing shop to adapt. The Lightweights' recognition, however, is secure. In fact, it's almost never necessary to explain "E-type Lightweight." The image of Cunningham's '63 Le Mans racers, the Lindner/Glockner Lightweight and others is indelibly fixed in the memories of fans, and in the iconography of the legendary GT wars of the Sixties. So, too, is the position of a few carefully constructed replicas that capture the seven-figure allure of the fourteen Lightweights in meticulous re-creations that duplicate the originals' construction, configuration and performance. 879127 was on the Jaguar assembly line in March 1963. Simultaneously the Lightweights were taking shape nearby. That confluence of calendars influenced 897127's owner in the late 90's to eschew a rebuild of its careworn chassis into a street car and instead to create a largely faithful replica of one of the Lightweights. Simon Dunford's Classic and Sports Cars in East Sussex built a meticulously accurate Lightweight monocoque and body from aluminum using period riveted panel joining techniques. The original reinforced Jaguar Lightweight front and rear subframes were exactly duplicated. While the original Lightweights used special 2" SU sand cast carbs racers subsequently favored the triple 45DCOE Webers installed on this Lightweight Replica's 4.2 liter 10.75:1 compression ratio engine built by Gran Turismo Jaguar. Modestly tuned they deliver just 369hp at 5,300 rpm and 375 lb-ft torque at 5,200rpm on the dyno. Other sophisticated tweaks include stainless steel headers, a lightweight flywheel with dual disc Tilton clutch, high capacity water pump with Racemate alternator, Accusump pre-oiler, TX51 five-speed transmission and Salisbury limited slip differential. The Lightweights had wider rear track, as does 879127, requiring new radius arms, control arms and half shaft spacers with adjustable HAL spring/shock units. Drilled hub carriers cool XJ6 vented brakes. Wheels are accurate one-piece reproductions of the unique pin drive magnesium wheels deployed on the original Lightweights. Other details of construction, equipment and features – like the custom Lightweight Moto-Lita steer