The Jaguar E-Type was a true eye-opener to the motoring world when it was
unveiled for the very first time at the Geneva Motor Show in June 1961. The modish,
sleek bodywork and powerful engine made it the fastest and most impressive
production sports car available at the time.
The Jaguar E-Type's great appeal lay in the fact that its looks and
specification owed so much to Jaguar's sports car racing successes of the
Fifties. But while there were strong overtones of the D-Type in the design and
the prototype and stillborn Jaguar XKSS in its presentation, this didn't
suggest the unattainable to the common man. Surprisingly what was almost as
stunning as the E-Type's looks and performance was the fact that is was
affordable.
At around the price of £2000 new in 1961, and straight off the forecourt of
a Jaguar Dealer, the E-type offered sports car performance, style and envy at
only half the price of an Aston Martin DB4 and only the third of the cost of a
Ferrari.
