This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E-Type, a car widely considered to be one of the most beautifully designed of all time.
Long, lean and aerodynamic, there is certainly no mistaking the lines of the Jaguar E-Type. When introduced in 1961 at the Geneva Motor Show, it was claimed “the most beautiful car ever made.” Fifty years later, the E-Type has a timeless mystique. It is even believed Frank Sinatra said “I want that car and I want it now,” the first time he saw an E-Type.
Sayer gets full credit for designing a stunning car in the early 1960’s. Designed inspiration came from Jaguar’s C-Type and D-Type racing cars. However, claims to fame are monocoque shell, disc brakes and a fully independent rear suspension. What’s actually under the hood of the E-Type dates further back in Jaguar’s history.
Production of the E-Type had a 14-year span, from 1961 to 1974. Over that time, the car came equipped with a 3.8-L and then a 4.2-L XK engine in the Series 1 cars (1961 to 1968). The 4.2-L engine also powered the Series 2 E-Types from 1969 to 1970, before the introduction of the 5.3-L V-12 engine in 1971.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary, Jaguar has commissioned a beautiful “Collector’s Edition” coffee-table book to mark the entry of the car that stopped the automotive world in its tracks – the E-Type. Jaguar has also commissioned a 91 foot, 150 ton, E-Type statue made out of steel tubes near Goodwood house.
The company will go on to celebrate at Goodwood’s Revival and Festival of Speed, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Nurburgring Old Timer Grand Prix and many other Jaguar customer, dealer and lifestyle events around the globe.
If you would like join in on the celebration, stop by Jaguar North Scottsdale to relish in the long history of Jaguar, check out the new models and see what is in store for the future of the brand.
