DRIVING LIKE IT'S 1961 - DAY FIVE

 All this week, 50 classic Jaguar E‑type cars have been driving from Coventry, England to Geneva in Switzerland to celebrate the unveiling of Jaguar’s iconic 1961 sportscar. In his fifth and final blog, US auto writer Howard Walker reports on the Tour’s arrival in Geneva.

The elegant 18th century pastel‑pink Restaurant du Parc des Eaux‑Vivres, with its spectacular views across Lake Geneva, looks much the same as it did 50 years ago when Jaguar founder, Sir William Lyons unveiled the sensational new Jaguar E‑type to the world’s press.

Today could be March 15, 1961 all over again as Jaguar’s former chief test driver Norman Dewis, stands outside the restaurant, leaning nonchalantly against the very same E‑type roadster he drove through the night 50 years ago, to reach the event.

Dewis, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, poses for photos and talks to us, about his daring‑do drive from Coventry to Geneva in the brand new E‑type roadster, license plate 77RW, to reach the event on time.

It was Norman’s epic drive that inspired this Jaguar E‑type 50th Anniversary Tour. Fifty E‑type owners, co‑drivers and friends set off from Coventry early last Monday morning for the thrill of being able to drive their cars through the wrought‑iron gates of the Parc des Eaux‑Vivres and re‑live a little Jaguar history.

It had been a fabulous last day of driving 156‑miles to Geneva. Leaving a frosty Dijon, we followed the spectacular N5 road over the soaring mountains of the Haut Jura, with snow often piled six, seven maybe even eight feet high at the side of the road.

Then it was through the bustling city‑center of Geneva, alongside the shimmery waters of Lac Léman with snow‑capped mountains off in the distance, and in through the gates of the Parc.

Just as journalists had sat down for lunch with Sir William after the E‑type model's reveal, we had a celebratory lunch with Norman and Managing Director for Jaguar, Mike O’Driscoll, surrounded by lovely grainy black and white photos from the 1961 press introduction.

Our 1975 E‑type Series 3 V12, the last E‑type ever built, which normally spends its life in the Jaguar Heritage museum, ran flawlessly throughout the trip.

At the end of the lunch, when all the photos with Norman were taken, there was one more thrill in store for me. After having driven the last E‑type ever built all the way to Geneva, I got the chance to drive 77RW, one of the very first E‑type cars built and the very car that Norman had driven from England 50 years ago.

This fresh‑restored British Racing Green roadster is a true joy to drive. Yes, its unassisted steering requires big biceps to turn at low speed, its straight‑six 3.8‑liter engine hates idling in traffic, and its brakes feel heavy; but find an open road and the car comes alive, feeling amazingly quick and nimble.

These have been five fabulous days. It was truly wonderful to drive a great car with like‑minded Jaguar enthusiasts on some of Europe’s greatest race tracks and over some of its greatest driving roads.

Maybe the brand should do it again next year. Call it the 51st Anniversary Tour. I’d be there.