50 Years of the Jaguar E-Type
Jaguar E-Type series 1, 1961.
07 February 2011 – 07 March 2011
Free display
The Design Museum celebrates 50 years of the iconic Jaguar E-Type with a display in the Design Museum Tank.
Originally launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, the E-Type’s caused an instant sensation. With a 3.8 litre XK engine, a top speed of 150 miles per hour and a price of £2000, the E-Type was an accessible dream and signalled the new era of modernity of the 1960s. Between 1961 and 1974 over 70,000 E-Types were produced.
The bullet-like design of the E-Type was the result of the mathematical and engineering talent of Malcolm Sayer and the E-type was the first large-scale production road car to be developed from the study of aerodynamics. The founder of Jaguar, Sir William Lyons combined his flare for style and luxury with his business and marketing skills to ensure the E-Type became the car of celebrities from George Harrison of the Beatles to footballer George Best.
The E-Type on display was manufactured in 1961 and has been provided by Classic Motors Cars Limited of Bridgnorth, Shropshire.
