Jaguar's sports car icon, the E-Type, celebrates its 50th Year.
The British-made classic, which set the standard for the modern sports car, was officially revealed to the world's media in Geneva, Switzerland, on 15 March 1961. The car caused such excitement, that a second vehicle had to be driven overnight from the manufacturing plant in Coventry, England, to assist with press runs up and down a local mountain road.
The Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Fixed Head Coupe Image: Ferrari |
Even Enzo Ferrari had to admit that the E-type, designed by a former aeronautical engineer, Malcolm Sayer, was "the most beautiful car in the world." Sayer had already designed the Jaguar C and D-types, but the E-Type became the symbol of luxury and speed for the 'Swinging Sixties'.
The E-Type had a number of engine options, the most powerful being a 3.8 litre straight-six cylinder, capable of powering the car to 150mph and hard top or convertible models were produced. Costing the equivalent of £38,000 ($60,300) at launch, some 70,000 vehicles were made during the E-Type's 14 year production life, creating Europe's first mass-produced sports car.
The car became the 'must have' mode of transport for film and sports stars around the world including Brigitte Bardot, Tony Curtis, Steve McQueen and soccer legend George Best. There is now an E-Type permanently exhibited in the New York Museum of Modern Art.
To celebrate the car's 50th anniversary Jaguar will be showing and racing examples of the car at major events and dealerships around the world this year.