Jaguar has marked the 50^th anniversary of the E-type with a special celebration in Geneva, where it was originally launched in 1961.

The company assembled E-types of all types, including a lightweight, the first convertible (77RW) and the famous E2A prototype, at the Parc des Eaux Vives in Geneva, scene of the first unveiling of the new car 50 years ago.

Norman Dewis, former Jaguar development driver, was on hand to recall his epic drive to the venue in an E-type, which he was asked to undertake in order to help satisfy demand for test drives in the newly-unveiled car.

Colleague Bob Berry had already driven one of the press cars to the Parc des Eaux Vives, but the company had under-estimated the sensation that the E-type would cause, and Jaguar founder William Lyons called on Norman Dewis to drop everything to drive an extra car to the Geneva show.

Pulled away from brake testing duties at MIRA Proving Ground, he just made it to the 10pm Dover-Ostend ferry and, after a three hour crossing, drove through the night to arrive just before 10am in the Parc des Eaux Vives, having averaged 68mph.

Talking about the drive today, he recalled that on his arrival ‘William Lyons walked over, said “Well done Dewis, I thought you’d do it” and walked off again!”

Octane editor David Lillywhite revisited the route around Geneva that Norman used in 1961 to demonstrate the new car to press and potential customers, driving a 1968 coupé. Meanwhile, international editor Robert Coucher is travelling down to Geneva in a convoy of E-types, due later this week.

More in the May issue of Octane.