Eagle Lightweight GT

[Series1 Stu]

I've just come across this. Forgive me if it's been seen before.

Great coverage. Their cars always leave me in a quandary. Love the engineering and build quality but they just aren't E Types.

Maybe I should get over it.

Regards

[malcolm]

Know what you mean Stuart, but I'd still like one!

[Nickleback]

Great clip filmed on the roads around Goodwood
As for the car, superb engineering at it's best, just not feeling it !
They only built seven of each of the specials before so ? and at what price - exclusivity

[chrisfell]

“ and at what price - exclusivity ”

BIG numbers, eye wateringly big numbers. I think around 1/2 or even 3/4 of £1 million.

[Series1 Stu]

I've been thinking about this a little more.

If someone is looking to spend half a million plus on a car then what are their choices, assuming they don't want an old classic?

The current crop of supercars leave me cold,. They all look the same and just don't excite me. So maybe there is something there.

Just don't think of them as a 'proper' E Type and then they make more sense. Not that I'm in a fortunate enough position to have that sort of choice.

Regards

[christopher storey]

Personally, I think that the Eagle products are ( and always have been ) hideous and a complete waste of money. They remind me of the Docker Daimlers of the 1950s . If you want to show you have bad taste, I am sure you can do it more cheaply

[Series1 Stu]

There's the old saying that wealth will betray your taste.

Maybe you're right Christopher.

Regards

[Tom W]

I wonder how much of these limited edition Eagle cars came out of the Jaguar factory originally, or are even new manufactured parts to Jaguar specs? None of the major components, by the sound of how they’re all upgraded.

I generally like the look of it, but the low angle photos they insist on using for all the official shots don’t show the shape to its best advantage.

[max-it-out]

Looks good - not sure about those white painted wheels though
If I had that kind of money I think one of the Lindner/Nocker low drag replicas would be better , or , for the same price you could have a Ferrari and a concourse E roadster .

[dxke38]

I'm sure the engineering is very good but to me it looks like a Wildcat or similar kit car/replica. Nice to drive probably but without the patina and elegance of an original car. Sorry but I'm a purist.

[mgcjag]

I really dont know how they get these cars registered......even the Jaguar continuation light weight E types and D types couldnt be registered with the DVLA for use on UK roads.....these car are not just a rebodied E type......So my assumption is they are not registered...maybee the "doner" E type is registered but there is not enough of the original car or a replacement body the same as original spec to get this Eagle registered exept as a Kit converted vehicle......same as the C type im building....but it wont be "Historic" and will need an IVA inspection.....Steve

[Barry]

Well guys. I can tell you from experience Eagle are THE best Jaguar specialist. I know because I am a customer, and have used many respected Jaguar specialists in the past few years! The quality of engineering in these cars is second to none. Bear in mind, they are what people call Resto-mod, and whilst not to everyone’s taste, Eagle produce an E-type that performs and drives better than many current super cars. You only need to read articles by the respected magazines to understand how special they are. If you don’t like the way they create cars like their Spider, Low Drag and Lightweight GT, you can buy an Eagle restored E-type which sticks to originality, and choose from a wide range of developed mods to suit your individual requirements. The new Lightweight GT may er away from originality, but looks sensational correcting a few of the S1 E-type’s inherent design faults, the main one being the windscreen rake, and skinny wheels inside huge wheel arches. Don’t knock Eagle until you have had an opportunity to try their cars. Drive them, and you will realise how arthritic your original Series 1 3.8 really is! It may be above the pay grade of many who criticise, but quality doesn’t come cheap, including the best.

[chrisfell]

A friend bought a standard spec car from Eagle. Took it back for upgrades a few years later (brakes suspension engine breathed on), and sold it through the them two or three years ago during what may prove to have been peak E-Type. He had a very special car for almost 20 years, and when it was gone he’d had free ownership and a very healthy addition to his personal pension fund.

It might be beyond my budget, but I don’t despise them for selling expensive cars or anyone for buying any car of any price from them.

[Series1 Stu]

Barry,

I don't think anyone is knocking Eagle, or doubting the build quality of their output. You could maybe even argue that they are value for money, but it is perfectly legitimate to express opinions on the virtue of the product.

One man's meat is another man's poison.

Regards

[Barry]

Quite right Stuart, one man’s meat is indeed another man’s poison, but it is annoying when comments linking too much money and bad taste and Eagle! A somewhat fatuous comment! I am only defending Eagle for their engineering, design, quality and finish in what they do, which is par excellence. Stay Safe,
Barry

[steve3.8]

Barry , Ive seen your car before eagle had it and very nice it was too, but could you say what eagle actually altered to make it "better" than when i viewed it? .

[christopher storey]

Isn't it strange ? I ( obviously mistakenly ) thought I was entitled to express an opinion. I am not interested in what are tantamount to kit cars - and frankly when I watched the video of this so called GT the interior resembles very closely a Triple C Challenger ( although the Challengers are less tasteless). And , like Steve, or was it Stu, I am at a loss to understand how these can be road registered in the UK

[chrisfell]

Isn't it strange ? I ( obviously mistakenly ) thought I was entitled to express an opinion.

You are not mistaken, you can express an opinion, and so can I. You think Eagle specials are kit cars, I am convinced they are highly developed and modified original E-Types, even down to an original chassis number.

If I had the funds, and the desire to own one, I would. I don’t have either and so I won’t.


I applaud anyone who spends time and effort building special or individual cars out of otherwise unloved E-Types. Friends on this and Jag-Lovers forums have been busy in recent weeks and months (and years) creating a low drag re-creation, a low roofline LWB to be fitted with a quad cam V12. Others have fitted long stroke crank engines of 4.5 litres, high lift cams, home made upgrades for instrument lighting, fuel injection, electronic ignition. Others fit five speed gearboxes, radios with blue teeth and phone connectivity, intermittent wipers, high-torque starter motors.... Someone even fitted MX5 seats to his bag-of-nails S1 2+2!

My point is, we all modify our cars to our tastes. However, only a few of us would have the self confidence to choose to use words like “hideous” or “bad taste” to describe the choices others have made.

[mgcjag]

Chris....you cannot use the original body/chassis number unless...... (below extract from DVLA)

DVLA can only recognise your vehicle as a reconstructed classic vehicle if it meets certain criteria. It must be:
Built from genuine period components from more than one vehicle, all over 25 years old and of the same specification as the original vehicle
a true reflection of the marque

A rebuilt vehicle can keep its original registration number if you can prove you’ve used:
The original unmodified chassis or bodyshell (car or light van) or
a new chassis or monocoque bodyshell of the same specification as the original (car or light van)

An Aluminium body does not meet the conditions above

[rswaffie]

Looking at the description of how they developed the E-Type into their ‘speedster’, (copied from their site below), there appears to be significant changes to the original specification. And that’s before the alloy 4.7 engine and 5 speed gearbox, moving of the handbrake etc. Yet the car has a registration plate that states it’s a 1965 4.2 E-Type, registered 2011. Now, it may be that they just use that plate for adverts, but for me that development has substantially changed the original car and as such should go through the same testing and registration as other (and I hate using the term ‘kit’ cars as that would be doing Eagle a disservice) new builds or developments and not be registered as an E-Type. DVLA made me go through the SGS process to get mine registered and assigned a ‘63 plate, to ensure that it had been restored in line with manufacturer’s specification and had not been substantially altered in terms of body, chassis, suspension and drivetrain. I had a good conversation with the SGS guy about what constituted a Q plate designation in relation to changes to original specs and I have to say that the speedsters look to be on dodgy ground on paper. If the speedsters produced by Eagle are being registered as E-Types based on chassis numbers on the frames, then that seems very wrong to me.

The custom-built windscreen is lowered and raked back with shaped wind-down side glass and hidden ‘A’ posts.

Lowered Floor Pan. The deeper sills & lowered floor pan effortlessly increase the more muscular appearance of the all-aluminium bodyshell and lowers the drivers seating position.

The rear decking extends further centrally and drops into the cockpti creating a 'waterfall' console, mirroring the smooth external lines into the cockpti.