Jaguar’s E-Type was a true icon of its time. It was loved by celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Brigitte Bardot and Steve McQueen in the ’60s and made its way onto film set in movies such as James Bond’s Thunderball and Audrey Hepburn’s How to Steal a Million. And, after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle drove off in an E-Type at their wedding in 2018, it earned a place as one of the best royal car choices ever.

Roaring through the Decade: Iconic Jaguar Cars of the 1960s

The rear-wheel e-type jaguar grand tourer was introduced in 1961 as a Fixed Head Coupe and an Open Two Seater Roadster, with a 2-plus-2 four-seat convertible version coming later. Based on the company’s successful D-Type racing cars, it was a beauty from every angle with streamlined Opalescent Gunmetal paintwork and perfectly-sculpted body lines. It was also a true revolution in the mechanics of automobile design with the independent rear suspension (IRS), which provided a smooth and comfortable ride, and superior handling.

But the E-Type didn’t just impress showgoers and fans – it made serious money for Jag. Its original launch price was a fraction of what a customer could pay for an Aston Martin DB4, and a third of the cost of a Ferrari 250 GT.

In fact, Enzo Ferrari himself was so impressed with Malcolm Sayer’s final design that he called it “the most beautiful car in the world.” This is a pretty big compliment, especially considering how much of an automotive icon the Italian exec was.