With the greatest of Es

The E-Type is easily Jaguar's most famous model, and one of the best-known sports cars in the world.

Launched in 1961, the curvaceous E-Type was brilliant value for money, selling for half the price of the similar Aston Martin DB4. Yet it was also technically advanced, with a 198kW 3.8-litre powerplant, a lightweight monocoque body, and Jaguar's first independent rear suspension.

The original is generally acknowledged as the most beautiful, but the longevity of the model was assured by two major updates: 1968's series two, which introduced major safety and emissions changes in response to American regulations, and 1970's series three, which featured a controversial chrome-laden grille and flared wheel arches.

By the time the last long-wheelbase V12-engined model rolled off the line in 1975, the E-Type had evolved from an agile sports car to a luxurious grand tourer.