One of the world’s most famous sports cars turned 50 earlier this year – Jaguar’s E-Type. In my book it is, and will always remain, a classic piece of design and engineering.
The E-Type was launched in 1961 at the Geneva Motor Show and almost immediately received universal acclaim. It was recognised for both design and performance and turned the heads of other prestige car manufacturers.
“The most beautiful car ever made”. – Enzo Ferrari
In the swinging 60′s the E-Type became the car of choice for celebrities such as George Best, Brigitte Bardot, Steve McQueen and Tony Curtis. But at a purchase price of £2000 it wasn’t completely out of reach for the regular car lover. Between 1961 and 1974 over 70,000 E-Types were produced.
The design of the E-Type has been recognised in more than just automotive circles – with New York’s Museum of Modern Art having an E-Type on permanent exhibit and London’s Design Museum dedicating an exhibition to all things E-Type earlier this year.
Much of the design magic of the E-Type is due to the genius of aircraft and car designer Malcolm Sayer. He was a 20 year veteran of Jaguar when he pasted away in 1970, and even though he played a part in the design of the C-Type, D-Type, XJ13 and XJS, the E-Type Jaguar most likely remains his most iconic design.
But E-Type is not just a care of the 60′s… it still has a place in the language of automotive design today.
“The E-Type is a design that even today continues to inform the work we do in styling the Jaguars of the future.” – Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar
