Jaguar E-Type at 60
In March 1961, Jaguar E-type created history when the hand-built ‘77RW’ (Roadster) was driven from Coventry to Geneva to be launched alongside the ‘9600HP’ (Fixed Head Coupe) at the Motor Show. Never before had a car engendered such feelings of passion and British pride.
Designed by former aeronautics engineer Malcolm Sayer, a car that was appreciably faster than most vowel-laden exotica, boasted semi-monocoque construction and had all round independent suspension with disc brakes on all four wheels, yet it comfortably undercut them all.
Upon seeing its graceful shape for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show, Enzo Ferrari famously declared the Jaguar E-Type to be the most beautiful car in the world. But the backstory behind Jaguar’s conspicuous debut is one for the ages.
At its launch, on 15 March 1961, a fixed-head E-type could have been yours for £2160, assuming you didn’t mind joining the long waiting list. By way of contrast, a Ferrari 250GTcost about £6600. Heck, a Volvo P1800 was £400 more. It isn’t hard to comprehend why demand outstripped supply.
Series 1, 1½, 2 and 3 The 1st production Series 1, 3.8L E-Types were built from 1961 to 1964. There are some rather rare sub-types of Series 1 E-Types, particularly at the beginning and end of the Series 1 production. For example, the first 500
Two E-types were unveiled in Geneva on March 15, 1961: an Opalescent Gunmetal Grey fixedhead coupe, and a British Racing Green roadster. While their jaw-dropping shapes awed the crowd in attendance, their debut was a last-minute boondoggle that could have ended in a noshow. After the launch, New York’s Museum of art placed a replica on permanent display, saying the car was “a timeless shape of exceptional and enduring beauty”. Later in 1996, acquired and 1963 roadster.
Series 1 cars had flat floors and external bonnet latches. These are the desirable ones. From 1964 to 1968 the uprated 4.2L Series 1 E-Types followed, with the series ending with Series 1½, with open headlights. Series 2, 4.2L production started in 1968 ending in 1970, with various upgrades. Series 3, 5.3L V12’s with their 4 exhaust tips were built from 1970 and commercial manufacture of the E-Type ceased in 1974 with a black V12 roadster, registration HDU 555N.
Writer Deon Erasmus
