On this day, sixty years ago, at 7pm in the evening, Bob Berry got into the very first E-Type, 9600 HP and drove through the night from the factory in Coventry to the Geneva Motor Show. With no motorways or ring roads, he drove 800 miles through the night. Arriving at the Jaguar dealership in Geneva with 20 minutes in hand, the car was immediately cleaned and driven to the Parc des Eaux Vives where Sir William Lyons was waiting to present the car to 150 members of the world press. 14.03.1961 Berry departs Browns Lane. 15.03.1961 Presentation to the Press. 16.03.1961 Geneva Motor Show opens (Source: Philip Porter The Most Famous Car in the World)
And I can remember as a then 15 year old thinking to myself that it was a daft idea of Jaguar cars to replace the lovely looking XK150 with the E type.
I never have had good taste when it comes to buying cars. In the 70s I had a choice of car to buy for SWMBO - a choice between a second hand E type and second hand Stag, and I bought the latter! Earlier I had a choice of GT6 or Healey 3000 and I chose the Triumph on account of the Healey even then being old fashioned. I once bought an Austin Ambassador.
I need help.
