E-TYPE 60
Jaguar Magazine|Issue 205
IT IS TIME TO CELEBRATE THE E-TYPE WAS SEEN AND PUT ON SALE 60 YEARS AGO. IF YOU STILL WANT ONE SOME CAN BE QUITE AFFORDABLE.
LES. HUGHES
E-TYPE 60

ITS CREATOR

SIXTY YEARS INTO ITS LIFE THE E-TYPE STILL LOOKS beautiful. Enzo Ferrari called it: The most beautiful car ever made. What an astounding statement.

Its looks and mechanical designs are directly related to the 1954 D-Type which shocked the motoring world because the racer did not have a stand-alone chassis as did its competitors.

Instead, it employed a monocoque structure, a French term for 'single shell'. When Aussie Ron Gaudion joined Jaguar in 1955 to build D-Types, he told us recently he had no understanding of the car he was fabricating.

The technology was first employed in early boats, then aircraft, and Jaguar's Malcolm Sayer was previously an aerodynamacist with the Bristol AircraftCompany. He is the man who introduced aircraft technology to racing cars, via the D-Type. He was quietly spoken, created the dual Le Mans-winning C-Type in 1951 - and never referred to himself as a 'designer'. An aluminium monocoque was not used on an F1 machine until 1962 (Lotus).

At 17 Malcolm won the prestigious Empire Scholarship, and attended Loughborough College (later Loughborough University) in its Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, earning first-class honours.

The D-Type was tested in a wind-tunnel and featured the characteristic vertical fin to provide high-speed stability. Low (only 32 inches or 810 mm) and sleek, it was extremely fast. The 3.4 litre straight-six XK engine was redesigned and tilted at 8 degrees and developed 250 bhp with a top speed over 270 km/h.

This story is from the Issue 205 edition of Jaguar Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Issue 205 edition of Jaguar Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM JAGUAR MAGAZINEView All
LE MANS HINTED-MAYBE
Jaguar Magazine

LE MANS HINTED-MAYBE

THIS CONCEPT WAS FOUNDED ON A VIDEO GAME CAR CREATED BY JAGUAR'S DESIGNERS AND ENGINEERS. WHAT IS IT'S FUTURE?

time-read
6 mins  |
Issue 208
TIME TO GET YOUR X351
Jaguar Magazine

TIME TO GET YOUR X351

We are often asked for advice on the best value modern used Jaguar, and also what is a future classic. There is one answer to both - the last XJ.

time-read
6 mins  |
Issue 208
XJ220 MISSION
Jaguar Magazine

XJ220 MISSION

KERRY MANOLAS ORDERED THE FIRST XJ220 IN AUSTRALIA. IAN CUMMINS PICKED IT UP WITH HIM.

time-read
7 mins  |
Issue 208
IT'S ON THE MARKET
Jaguar Magazine

IT'S ON THE MARKET

It's a famous and unIque Australian-raced Jaguar whIch Is now sellIng In the UK

time-read
9 mins  |
Issue 208
DEFINING ITS MYSTICAL...ESSENCE
Jaguar Magazine

DEFINING ITS MYSTICAL...ESSENCE

What is it about Jaguar that makes it so loved and how did that come to be?

time-read
8 mins  |
Issue 208
Monaco Historique 2021
Jaguar Magazine

Monaco Historique 2021

12th Grand Prix de Monaco historique

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 207
OR DOES IT NEED-AN EPIPHANY?TO ENSURE IT'S SURVIVAL
Jaguar Magazine

OR DOES IT NEED-AN EPIPHANY?TO ENSURE IT'S SURVIVAL

WHAT IS COMING FOR JAGUAR CARS IN THE NEAR FUTURE? IT WILL BE A PIVOTAL FEW YEARS AHEAD.

time-read
8 mins  |
Issue 207
SERIOUS UP-DATES MAKE IT BETTER - AND IT'S DIESEL F-pace next level
Jaguar Magazine

SERIOUS UP-DATES MAKE IT BETTER - AND IT'S DIESEL F-pace next level

THE F-PACE IS JAGUAR'S BEST SELLING MODEL AND continues to improve in all ways. The 2021 upgrades are sensational to the point where it now feels close to an XJ from the driver or passenger seats. It is that luxurious. It is multi-purpose too, so aside from family duties, it will handle the dirty stuff like a dedicated SUV and, encouragingly, Jaguar really has got its head around what the F-PACE was capable of achieving from its inception.

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 207
JAGUAR SMATTERINGS
Jaguar Magazine

JAGUAR SMATTERINGS

Should historic cars be raced at full tilt? Make up your own mind after learning how this ex-Australian C-Type was virtually destroyed.

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 207
 QUIETLY FAMOUS
Jaguar Magazine

QUIETLY FAMOUS

The first XK120 despatched by Jaguar Cars spent its first decades around Sydney.

time-read
6 mins  |
Issue 207