Eagle launches production of its Lightweight E-Type replica

The Eagle Lightweight GT is a painstaking imitation of the iconic Jaguar E-Type, and the tuner only has the capacity to produce a few units per year.

On the outside, the Eagle Lightweight GT looks nearly identical to its source of inspiration, but in fact has an all-new aluminum body. The glass is more distinctly slanted, and the side sills are higher up. The new 16-inch magnesium-alloy wheels clad in Dunlop tires prompted Eagle to enlarge the wheel arches as well.

The rear differential and transmission housings, the engine sump and the rear hubcaps are also made of magnesium alloy. As a result, the replica weighs in at just 1,017 kilograms (2,242 lbs), putting it mere 57 kilos (126 lbs) above the standard Jaguar Lightweight E-Type.

The cabin has also been redesigned fairly extensively for comfort and utility. The ride height, pedal mounting points and the rear panel have been changed. The new low seats sport modern ergonomic profiles and fine leather trimming.

The cars come equipped with OEM Jaguar I6 engines heavily modded for performance. This includes a new aluminum cylinder block instead of the usual cast-iron assembly, heavy-duty crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons, a new distribution shaft and different valves. The displacement volume rises to 4.7 liters, and the output amounts to 385 hp (285 kW) and 508 Nm (375 lb-ft) of torque.

The model utilizes the classical five-speed manual transmission design with certain improvements. Ohlins-branded adjustable shocks strive to maintain a balance between steering ease and comfort.

How much does the Lightweight GT cost? Eagle does not reveal any kind of pricing, but has a record of charging around £700,000 for similar works. This shouldn’t be surprising, given that the car body alone takes 2,500 hours to build and the entire car closer to 8,000 hours.