JAGUAR E-TYPE: ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CARS OF ALL TIME

The Jaguar E-Type, or the Jaguar XK-E for the North American market, is a British sports car that was manufactured by Jaguar Cars Ltd between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of beauty, high performance, and competitive pricing established the model as an icon of the motoring world.

The E-Type's claimed 150 mph (241 km/h) top speed, sub-7-second 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration, unitary construction, disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering, and independent front and rear suspension distinguished the car and spurred industry-wide changes.

The E-Type was based on Jaguar's D-Type racing car, which had won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three consecutive years beginning 1955, and employed what was, for the early 1960s, a novel racing design principle, with a front subframe carrying the engine, front suspension and front bodywork bolted directly to the body tub.

On its release in March 1961, Enzo Ferrari called it "the most beautiful car ever made". In 2004, Sports Car International magazine placed the E-Type at number one on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s. In March 2008, the Jaguar E-Type ranked first in The Daily Telegraph online list of the world's "100 most beautiful cars" of all time.

Outside automotive circles, the E-type received prominent placement in Diabolik comic series, Austin Powers films and the television series Mad Men.

THE FIRST CORVETTE WAS ASSEMBLED IN FLINT JUNE 30 1953

On June 30th 1953, workers at a Chevrolet plant in Flint, Michigan, assemble the first Corvette, a two-seater sports car that would become an American icon. The first completed production car rolled off the assembly line two days later, one of just 300 Corvettes made that year.

The idea for the Corvette originated with General Motors’ pioneering designer Harley J. Earl, who in 1951 began developing plans for a low-cost American sports car that could compete with Europe’s MGs, Jaguars and Ferraris. The project was eventually code-named “Opel.”

In January 1953, GM debuted the Corvette concept car at its Motorama auto show at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. It featured a fiberglass body and a six-cylinder engine and according to GM, was named for the “trim, fleet naval vessel that performed heroic escort and patrol duties during World War II.” The Corvette was a big hit with the public at Motorama and GM soon put the roadster into production.

On June 30, 1953, the first Corvette came off the production line in Flint. It was hand-assembled and featured a Polo White exterior and red interior, two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, a wraparound windshield, whitewall tires and detachable plastic curtains instead of side windows.

The earliest Corvettes were designed to be opened from the inside and lacked exterior door handles. Other components included a clock, cigarette lighter and red warning light that activated when the parking brake was applied–a new feature at the time. The car carried an initial price tag of $3,490 and could go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 11 or 12 seconds, then considered a fairly average speed. READ MORE

NEW DOCUMENTARY ON PAUL NEWMAN'S RACING CAREER!

Paul Newman had a fifty-plus year career as one of the most sought after and talented actors in American Film. Yet few knew the passion for auto racing that became so important to Paul.

His car racing career lasted for thirty-five years, and he won four national championships as a driver and eight championships as an owner. That is amazing considering that he didn't start racing until his late 40's. Newman's first professional event as a racer was in 1972.

In the early 1980s I was one of the first Nail Technicians working in Ann Arbor, MI. One of my favorite clients was the wife of  an Indy Car Racing Team.  I often went to her home to do her nails as she lived far from my salon.

 
One time when I was out there she took me into her husband's racing office and there was Paul Newman! She knew I was a HUGE Paul Newman fan and wanted to surprise me. Driver Danny Sullivan was there too but was just getting started in his career. I was just stunned by Paul's down to earth demeanor and sense of humor. One of the best moments of my life!

I saw Paul again at Michigan Speedway in the pits with the Shearson crew. He was just wonderful...Wish I had a camera back then! I did get  a poster....

There is a new documentary coming out May 22, 2015 and I can't wait to go see it...here is some information on Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman

"Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman" is a feature length documentary that chronicles the storied 35 year racing career of Paul Newman.

Documentary chronicles the 35-year racing career of actor Paul Newman, who died in 2008. It showcases Newman's racing career as both a driver and an owner. As a driver, he won four SCCA National Championships, 24 Hours of Daytona, took true second at Le Mans (winning his class) and won multiple professional Trans Am races. Newman also owned Newman/Haas Racing with Carl Haas, and together with drivers Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, Sebastien Bourdais and others, they were one of the most prolific Indy car teams in history.

Starring: Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, Joann Woodward, Patrick Dempsey, Jay Leno, Robert Wagner, Mario and Michael Andretti, Sebastien Bourdais, Bob Sharp, Sam Posey and many others who raced with, and for Paul Newman.

Directed By: Adam Carolla & Nate Adams

Do you want to see 'Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman' before its official release on 5/22 on video on demand? Buy it for 9.99 from my Amazon Store buy clicking the link below...