Happy 50th Jaguar E-Type!

Jaguar has a few surprises planned to mark the 50th anniversary of the E-Type.

Car companies are rarely laconic about the iconic, so it's no surprise that Jaguar has already announced it will embark on a 50th birthday bonanza for the E-Type from March.

The Geneva Motor Show in 1961 was when the now legendary Jaguar E-Type was brought to the world, and so for this year's show Jaguar is planning something special.

We're not sure what it is yet, but we do know that it'll be the first of a few things Jag is doing to mark the half century, including shindigs at the Goodwood Revival and Festival of Speed, the Nürburgring Old Timers race and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

The E-Type was produced between 1961 and 1975, in that time reaching more than 70,000 owners - a fact Jaguar says makes it the world's first mass production sportscar.

It had some famous fans too, with owners including George Best, Steve McQueen and Brigitte Bardot. Heck, even the great Enzo Ferrari once called it "the most beautiful car in the world."

Jag MD Mike O'Driscoll said: "It was a sensation when it was launched, and remains Jaguar's most enduring and iconic symbol. The E-Type is simply one of the most exciting cars ever created and a legacy to the genius of Jaguar's founder, Sir William Lyons."

Published on: January 26, 2011