Continuation Jaguars... to finally fill in the 6 serial numbers set aside in 1963 that cars were never made for

Six will be built, each assigned a chassis number from the 1963 run “Special GT E-Type” project. Eighteen were scheduled, only 12 were built.

Like the original, the throwback Jag gets an aluminum body shell, doors, trunk lid, hardtop and hood. It also houses a classic 3.8-liter aluminum-block inline-six making 340 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, and a four-speed close-ratio transmission.

John Edwards, managing director, Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations. “To be able to complete the intended production run of 18, some 50 years after the last Lightweight was completed, was an opportunity we couldn't miss."

The Lightweights will be sold as competition vehicles suited for FIA homologation for historic races.

"Operating from a brand new workshop -- now open for the restoration and servicing of customer cars -- the building of six new, meticulously crafted Lightweight E-Type period competition cars by Jaguar Heritage is testament to the unique skills within the team,” said Derek Weale, director of Jaguar Heritage. “To know those same skills can also be utilized to the benefit of existing classic Jaguar owners means this is a very exciting time for Jaguar Heritage."

Jaguar says that even though there have been great advances in aluminum since the ’60s, it chose to use old methods to build the car so it would conform to the FIA requirements for historic racing. The outer surface of an original was scanned, and the information was transferred to the design department for tooling.

Photos from http://www.wired.com/2014/09/jaguar-e-type-lightweight/ info from  http://autoweek.com/article/pebble-beach-concours/jaguar-introduces-continuation-lightweight-e-type