Highlights
- A one-of-one bespoke customer commission
- At just 930kg, the Lightweight GTR is more than 30% lighter than a standard E-Type roadster
- Built from lightweight materials including aluminum, magnesium, titanium, Inconel, carbon and lithium
- A road-legal GT, but one with the heart, soul and performance of a racer
- The 4.7-litre engine with wide-angle head revs harder with titanium rods and a lightened flywheel.
- Features carbon ceramic brake discs with AP Racing calipers
- Revised suspension with Öhlins dampers and drastically-reduced unsprung weight provides a comfortable and compliant ride as well as high performance
- Has a race-car minimalist interior in black Alcantara – stripped back with intent
- The spacious and comfortable cabin includes air conditioning and heated front glass
- Myriad bespoke details like platinum switches with mother of pearl inlays elevate craftsmanship to art
The E-Type lives on
Eagle E-Types from Sussex, England are globally recognized as the leaders in the restoration and further development of the Jaguar E-Type, the iconic British sports car. Their E-Type Special Editions (Eagle E-Type, Speedster, Spyder GT, Low Drag GT and Lightweight GT) have received worldwide acclaim and appeared in publications and on screens around the world.
The Eagle Lightweight GT is the road-going evolution of one of the world’s rarest and most beautiful race cars. The Lightweight E-Type was Jaguar’s intended racing follow-up to the D-Type, with eighteen planned but just a dozen built in period. Now, in a commissioning client-led mission to bring the Lightweight GT closer to its uncompromising racing heritage, Eagle have used thoughtful engineering and carefully selected materials to reduce weight to just 930kg, without compromising Eagle’s legendary commitment to comfort and solidity.
Saving weight, developing performance
Every body-line of the original has been carefully re-sculpted for a more purposeful, hunkered stance and the GTR features bespoke raked glass, a lowered roofline and exquisite craftsmanship throughout – from precise panel gaps to hidden weather seals and a flush-bonded rear screen. Distinctive details include painted badges beneath the lacquer, a flush-mounted aluminum fuel cap and auxiliary switches integrated into the bulkhead.
The Lightweight GTR’s all-aluminum 4.7-litre straight-six with wide-angle head, titanium con-rods, and triple Weber carburetors develops a power-to-weight ratio in excess of 430 bhp/ton. All transmission casings are magnesium and the exhaust system is constructed from Inconel and titanium. The independent suspension geometry is revised, hardware including hubs has been remanufactured from titanium and the dampers are adjustable Öhlins fitted with bespoke-rated springs. Brake discs and pads are carbon-ceramic in conjunction with servo-assisted AP Racing calipers. The titanium con-rods raise the rev ceiling by 500rpm, making it easier to enjoy and exploit the distinctive power band through gear changes.
Inside, the GTR is trimmed in black Alcantara and the lightweight aluminum seats echo period racing designs. Four-point harnesses and an integrated fire suppression system contribute further to the race-car minimalist aesthetic. A floating binnacle houses auxiliary switches hewn from platinum with mother of pearl inlays, along with a magnetic phone dock. Heated glass, air conditioning, and carefully-considered sound and heat insulation ensure long-distance comfort remains uncompromised.
The curb weight of just 975kg with fluids is more than 30% lighter than a standard E-Type Roadster and this combination of power delivery and extreme lightness delivers thrilling performance and extraordinary agility. Key decisions on the GTR, including detailing and bespoke features, have been driven by the client. This ability to define core features as part of the specification and build is what makes each Eagle truly unique – and what makes this Lightweight GTR truly a ‘One of One’.
Client comments
“Today’s performance cars are getting increasingly big and heavy, relying on advanced electronics to disguise the mass. I’m not sure those cars will age very well, so I commissioned Eagle to build me the antithesis: a car that is as light as possible without sacrificing comfort, devoid of screens or other electronics. With incredible performance, long-distance comfort and timeless beauty, I couldn’t be happier with the result.”
Paul Brace from Eagle says:
“We have been working with E-Types for over 40 years and one thing has always been true – we couldn’t do it without enthusiastic customers having supreme faith in us, our philosophy and our abilities. The owner of the Lightweight GTR came with carefully-considered ideas and considerable passion for the project. It has been an absolute joy to work with him and to help realize his vision in such a successful way. Not only has he achieved his automotive dream, but he has enabled us to push the envelope of what is possible. We are immensely proud of the result.”
The result of a collaboration that brings together the experience and expertise of Eagle with the focus and vision of the client, the Eagle Lightweight GTR represents the pinnacle of Eagle’s philosophy. It is a combination of the timeless beauty of the E-Type, the very best of modern engineering and client-led bespoke features and details that have resulted in a true ‘One of One’.
Above contents © 2025 Eagle E-Types Ltd., reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee , @rexmcafee
