Happy 50th anniversary to the iconic Jaguar E-Type
The year 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most famous and enviable cars in automotive history - the Jaguar E-Type. An icon of British motoring, the Jaguar E-Type was launched back in 1961, and this year, auto enthusiasts and Jaguar owners are expecting special events around the globe to commemorate the occasion. Jaguar has plans to kick off the proceedings at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the show where the E-Type turned heads back in March of 1961.
From there, the company will go on to celebrate at Goodwoods Revival and Festival of Speed, the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance, the Nurburgring Old Timer Grand Prix and many other Jaguar customer, dealer and lifestyle events around the globe.
This is what Jaguars MD Mike ODriscoll has to say about the car
It was a sensation when it was launched, and remains Jaguars 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 Jaguars founder, Sir William Lyons.
Ian Callum, Jaguar Design Director, said...
It is impossible to overstate the impact the E-Type had when it was unveiled in 1961. Here was a car that encapsulated the spirit of the revolutionary era it came to symbolise. The E-Type is a design that even today continues to inform the work we do in styling the Jaguars of the future.
High iconic status
The Jaguar E-Type set new standards in automotive design and performance when it was shown in 1961, and its authority is still obvious in Jaguars modern line-up. To speak of its popularity, the E-Type has got a permanent spot in the New York Museum of Modern Art. In March 2008, the Jaguar E-Type ranked first in Daily Telegraphs list of the 100 most beautiful cars of all time. In 2004, Sports Car International magazine placed the E-Type at number one on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s.
A look back Interesting facts:
On its release Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari called it The most beautiful car ever made.
The E-Type was presented to the worlds press at the restaurant du Parc des Eaux Vives in Geneva on March 15, 1961. It was initially designed and shown to the public as a grand tourer in two-seater coup form (Fixed Head Coup) and as convertible (Open Two Seater). A 2+2 version of the coup was added in 1966.
The E-types straight-six engine got Jaguar five Le Mans victories in the 1950s and by 1961, in 3.8-liter form produced 265bhp and 260lb ft of torque, making the car a genuine 150mph proposition and like its XK120 predecessor, the fastest production car in the world.
At launch, the E-Type cost 2,256, which translates to 38,000 as of today.
The E-Types stunning bodywork was the work of Malcolm Sayer, an aeronautical engineer by training. He began his career at Jaguar by creating two classic racing machines, the C- and D-types.
The E-type remained in production for 14 years, selling more than 70,000 units, which make it Europes first mass-produced sports car.
Via: IOL/MotorAuthority/Telegraph/Motorbeam/evo
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