50 Jaguar E-Types in convoy through London

The E-Type Convoy through London - in the rain

This isn’t the first story we’ve run this year with ’50′ and Jaguar E-Type in the headline, and it’s a safe bet won’t be the last either.

Unless you’ve been in Motoring purdah for the whole of 2011, you’ll know that this year is the 50th anniversary of the debut of the Jaguar E-Type at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, and Jaguar are making the most of the anniversary at every step.

But this time it’s not Jaguar who are making the most of the E-Type’s birthday, it’s the organisers of the 2011 Motorexpo in Canary Wharf, who’ve teamed up with the Jaguar’s Driving Club to drive fifty E-Types across London and out to Canary Wharf to kick of this year’s show.

Leading the convoy of privately owned E-Types was a team of professional cyclists who were joined by the owner of F1′s most famous (although it’s now gone) moustache, Nigel Mansell, in support of Motorexpo’s chosen charity, UK Youth.

It was a damp and chilly day in London today, but the site of fifty E-Types driving from the SMMT’s headquarters in Westminster, past Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, down the Embankment and out to Canary Wharf was enough to put a smile on the faces of soggy commuters and tourists.

Graeme Carver, CEO of Motorexpo said:

It’s been a terrific day and a fitting tribute to the E-type – we are incredibly grateful to the police and all the owners for providing their support to make it possible.  We all feel honoured to have taken part in such a key celebration of what was, and remains, a landmark car.

Motorexpo is on in Canary Wharf until Sunday.

Photos of the 50 Jaguar E-types drove in Convoy through London to open Motorexpo 2011.

6 Photos

A selection of photos of the iconic E-Type Jaguar to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2011

38 Photos

By Cars UK