E-Type UK Cars Are Off To Geneva!
March 2011
Ahead of the delegation of 50 owner-driven E-Types that headed to Geneva from Britain, Jaguar lined up a juicy selection of cars at the Hotel du Parc des Eaux Vives which included these two E-Type UK cars. The idea was to kick off local celebrations for the famous sportscar's 50th anniversary.
Legendary Jaguar development engineer Norman Dewis was guest of honour at a 50th anniversary dinner, and he entertained guests with tales of his famous overnight 11 hour dash from Coventry to Geneva for the
E-Type's first motor show.
Setting off from Coventry at 7.45pm, he arrived the following morning at Hotel du Parc des Eaux Vives twelve minutes before his 10am deadline - averaging 68mph. The hotel was used as a base for demo drives for potential customers wowed by the E-Type at the show - drives which according to Norman got faster and faster as the E-Type competed with demo drivers from Mercedes and Ferrari. "At the end of the week we were really going for it, and customers were getting out with white knuckles," he quipped.
Jaguar design boss Ian Callum was also at the event to sing the praises of the E-Type's design. "I've often wondered what made the E-Type so special, and it's this - Malcolm Sayer the designer went back to first principles, wrapping the mechanicals as tightly as possible, and keeping the form pure."
Image above right: White E-Type UK car, 1965 S1 4.2 FHC, stands proud in the E-type line-up outside the Hotel du Parc des Eaux Vives.
Above left: E-Type UK owner Harry Fulford with Norman Dewis.
Below: PWP 123E the E-Type UK demonstrator e type was on display with various other jaguar models and E types outside of the famous hotel.
