Want to buy a new, old E-Type?

Back in 1963, Jaguar allocated 18 chassis numbers to a series of all-alloy, racey, lightweight E-Types, but only ever got round to building twelve. But, 51 years later, it's decided to finish off the run.

Why? Accidental aluminium over-order? Work experience kid finished his photocopying? Frankly, we don't know and we don't care because each one'll be built to the exact spec they were in the Sixties, including the dry-sump aluminium-block 3.8-litre straight six engine, and lightweight alloy body.

There's also minimalised interior trim, deleted chrome, and super-slim windows to keep the kerb weight 114kg under the regular E's, exactly as it was. Worryingly though, Jag's kept the state-of-the-Sixties Lucas mechanical fuel injection system, which is slightly less reliable than Wikipedia.

Which may explain why the lightweight E was never much of a success on track. Even though they were raced by Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Roy Salvadori and Briggs Cunningham, they failed to win at Le Mans or Sebring, unlike the C-Type and D-Types. That said, racing in contemporary classic series, the E-Types proved that they're a pretty close match for the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO.

Just as well, really, because you'll only be able to drive it on track. And while prices won't be announced till summer, we can't see it being cheap - the last few original cars have changed hands for well over £1,000,000.

Perhaps, then, we can interest you in the eminently roadworthy low-drag Eagle E-type?