Letters

E-types! Pop star cars, police backhanders, stuffing shoes into air intakes...

John Fitzpatrick’s reminiscences of his E-type 2+2 (The Insiders, January 2021) and the advantage of a back seat reminded me of my E-type.

Six weeks after becoming a father in 1975 I bought a 1967 open two-seater. I didn’t consider the 2+2 because of its looks. But that didn’t stop me using the E-type as family transport. It’s amazing how much you can cram in with a little creative thinking. With the hood up, a carry cot could squeeze behind the seats, wedged in with coats and jumpers. Several pairs of shoes went in the air intake in front of the radiator and lots of nappies could be packed around the spare wheel. This left the boot free for everything else needed for a week’s self-catering holiday. The E-type was also effective at getting a restless baby to sleep – full throttle acceleration in second and third gears usually did the trick. Later on I fitted a towbar – overtaking with a caravan attached was very satisfactory!

In nine years the E-type took us on several holidays before I had to admit space was lacking and trade it in for a Daimler Sovereign Coupé.