Jaguar chief engineer celebrates E-Type’s 50th birthday

NORMAN Dewis is the test driver responsible for developing one of the most iconic cars in automotive history – the Jaguar E-Type. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the sports car and in honour of the occasion Mr Dewis talks about his proud association with a car still considered to be the most beautiful ever to take to the road.

Norman Dewis was chief development test engineer at Jaguar for 36 years and during his time with the firm played a major role in developing no fewer than 25 classic models.

However, one stands out above all the others – one that is still synonymous with the marque, even after half a century.

“I would say the E-type was one of the biggest breakthroughs in motor engineering history ever – not just for Jaguar,” said the 90-year-old.

“We broke all traditional methods of building a car and built it around aircraft principles rather than the normal concept of starting with a chassis and adding everything onto that.

“It was two years before Formula One (F1) cars started adopting our principles – so we were two years ahead of F1 with these cars which is an indication of just how much of a breakthrough this design was.

Jaguar E-Type“When the E-type was launched in 1961 we were selling a car that could do 150mph to the general public and there were not many people who could say that.

“Ferrari perhaps, but they only made a small number, so you would have to wait a long time, and they would be very expensive – we were selling this for £2,000.”

As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations – and in recognition of the role Coventry played in the success story – the Ricoh Arena will be hosting a tribute to the E-type with around 50 of the iconic sports cars on display inside the appropriately-named Jaguar Exhibition Hall.

Owners will be on hand to chat to people attending the exhibition, which takes place ahead of Coventry City’s Championship clash with Watford on Saturday, April 2.

Classic car owners are travelling from countries as far away as the United States and Germany to take part in the gathering. Many of those attending will also be participating in a 50th anniversary rally from Jaguar’s former Browns Lane site, where the car was created and developed, to the Geneva Motor Show.

The trip is a tribute to a legendary journey undertaken by Mr Dewis in 1961, when the E-type was launched at the Geneva Motor Show. Such was the media excitement and clamour for demonstration runs that Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons instructed chief test driver Norman Dewis to drive through the night from Coventry to bring another model to Switzerland.Jaguar E-Type

“Coventry to Dover took me two hours and I completed the run to Geneva in just 11 hours. I averaged 68mph and there were no motorways back then so it was quite a drive,” he said.

“It makes me feel very proud to think I was involved and played a big part in the development of such an iconic car.

“Seeing all these cars under one roof at the Jaguar Exhibition Hall will make the event very special.

“The E-type is a Coventry car. It was built, designed and tested by Coventry people and a lot of workers who played a part in producing the car will still be in the city and I am hoping a lot will come along and share their memories on the day.”

E-type – The facts:

•    The E-type was presented to the world’s press at the restaurant du Parc des Eaux Vives in Geneva on March 15, 1961. Such was the media excitement and clamour for demonstration runs up a nearby hillclimb that Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons instructed chief test driver Norman Dewis to drive through the night from Coventry to bring another model to Switzerland.

•    Even Enzo Ferrari admitted it was “the most beautiful car in the world.”Jaguar E-Type

•    The E-type’s straight-six engine had powered Jaguar to five Le Mans victories in the 1950s and by 1961 in 3.8-litre form produced 265bhp and 260lb ft of torque, making the car a genuine 150mph proposition and, like its XK120 predecessor, the fastest production car in the world.

•    At launch the E-type cost £2,256 15s, including purchase tax and the all-important optional wire wheels – the equivalent today of £38,000.

•    The E-type’s perfectly proportioned bodywork was the work of Malcolm Sayer, an aeronautical engineer by training who also applied his aerodynamic expertise in shaping the earlier Le Mans-winning C and D-type racers.

•    The E-type remained in production for 14 years, selling more than 70,000 units, making it Europe’s first mass-produced sports car.

 

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