Exactly 50 years ago, the iconic Jaguar E-Type sports car was first unveiled in Geneva at the Hotel du Parc des Eaux Vives. And on the eve of the 81st Geneva Motor Show, senior executives from Tata Group and Jaguar Land Rover got together to celebrate 50 years of Britain’s most loved sports car. The phenomenal design of the E-type received praise from the entire automotive fraternity, and Enzo Ferrari himself called it, “The most beautiful car ever made.” The Museum of Modern Art also recognized the significance of the E-Type’s design in 1996 by adding a blue roadster to its permanent design collection. The E-type is one of only two automobiles to have ever received this distinction. The E-Type looks modern even today, and oozes the same level of sex appeal now as it did when it first took the world by storm half a century ago.

Present at the gala event were Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Sons, Mr. Ravi Kant, Vice-Chairman of Tata Motors, Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover, and Mr. Carl-Peter Forster, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tata Motors. They met with E-Type owners, and had the opportunity to drive pristine examples of the classic sports car.

Witnessed by a small group of owners, journalists, and enthusiasts, Mr. Carl-Peter Forster, accompanied by Mr. Ratan Tata, drove a classic Jaguar Series 1 on the very same route taken by journalists at the press launch in 1961 to relive the moment the E-Type first hit the road.

The drive formed one part of the celebrations taking place to mark the special anniversary. The legendary Jaguar E-Type will also be honored at the 2011 Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival. In addition, the British car manufacturer will also celebrate 60 years since the marque first triumphed in the grueling Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race.