As regular readers will have noticed. we have been traveling in Europe with Jaguar, where we have so far driven the svelte new XF and thoroughly enjoyed the great Goodwood Festival of speed that saluted the 50th anniversary of one of the Jaguar E-Type as it's main theme.
We also had the chance over the weekend to get up close and personal with one or two most significant E Types as well as that's car's great XK150 forebear and the original 2.4 saloon.
Arguably one of the most famous and desirable cars in automotive history the glorious E-Type was launched in 1961 from where it in essence became an instant icon thanks to a never before experienced level of performance, style and purity of line. E-Type set new standards when launched and Its influence is still apparent in Jaguar’s modern range: cars that offer a peerless blend of performance, comfort, cutting-edge technology and award-winning design.
“Half a century of progress has not diminished the significance of the E-Type,” Mike O’Driscoll, Managing Director Jaguar Cars and Chairman Jaguar Heritage pointed out. “It was a sensation when it was launched, and remains Jaguar’s most enduring and iconic symbol. The E-Type is simply one of the most exciting cars ever created and a legacy to the genius of Jaguar’s founder, Sir William Lyons.”
E-Type owners over the years have included celebrities such as George Best, Brigitte Bardot, Tony Curtis and Steve McQueen and the sports car became as synonymous with the Swinging Sixties as the Beatles and the mini skirt and of course, the mod era.
