The Jaguar E-Type was introduced to the world on March 15 1961 at the Geneva motor show. It turned heads, wowed the sports car community, impressed manufacturers and became one of the most loved and iconic cars ever built.
At its launch it wasn’t cheap, around £2,000, but it gave cars that cost twice as much money from the likes of Aston Martin and Ferrari a real run for their money.
Exquisite to look at and wonderful to drive, the legendary Enzo Ferrari, who knew a thing or two about good looking fast cars, described the Jaguar E-Type as “the most beautiful car in the world”.
Steve McQueen, George Best and Brigitte Bardot each owned a Jaguar E-Type
Celebrities joined the clamour to buy an E-Type Jag and Steve McQueen, George Best, Sir Jackie Stewart, Brigitte Bardot, Frank Sinatra, George Harrison, Mick Jagger, Bruce McLaren, The Duke of Kent, Charlton Heston, Peter Sellers, Tony Curtis and Princess Grace were among the A-listers who invested in one.
The E-Type Jaguar remains one of the most sought-after classics ever made. Mint condition restored models fetch astronomical prices at auction and even barn finds in poor condition are snapped up for megabucks.
The E-Type was developed for racing
The E-Type Jag was originally developed as a racing car but the manufacturer decided to put it into production as a road car and Roadster and Fixed-head Coupe (FHC) versions were developed.
It was designed by Malcolm Sayer, who had formerly worked in the aerospace industry, with Jaguar Cars’ supremo Sir William Lyons also having a fair measure of influence over the end product..
The original 265bhp 3.8-litre version delivered blistering performance, managing the 0-60mph sprint in seven seconds and could reach a top speed of 150mph.
Later in its life a larger 4.2-litre engine was fitted to the E-Type and a longer 2+2 version with rear seats was also developed.
The United States became Jaguar’s primary market and this is where almost 90% of E-Type Jags ended up.
Desirability of Jaguar E-Type endures today
The Jaguar E-Type’s legendary status shows no sign of waning and if anything its desirability is set to increase.
In November 2015 the E-Type beat the likes of Bentley, Rolls-Royce and McLaren in a worldwide poll to be voted the Best British Car Ever by classic car lovers at the inaugural Classic & Sportscar Show.
A host of special Jaguar E-Type anniversary events have been organised throughout the year, social distancing protocols allowing.
Jaguar E-Type insurance
If you are lucky enough to emulate the stars and own a Jaguar E-Type you’ll want peace of mind insurance to protect your prized asset. That’s where the team at Adrian Flux come in handy.
Adrian Flux brokers are not constrained by computer generated insurance quotes and have dozens of Jaguar E-Type insurance policies to choose from to ensure they find the right deal for you. And if you are a member of a Jaguar owners club you can even qualify for a generous discount.
If you are having trouble finding the right insurance cover, or you have been quoted in excess of £2,000, give them a call on 0808 167 6944 — 81.5% of all customers receiving an online quote in August 2022 could have obtained a cheaper quote over the phone, based on the information they provided.