Jaguar E Type Series One
INTO THE MIND OF THE DESIGNER – BY BILL PACK
It is easy to learn lots of facts and information about any automotive designer. We learn what great shops they worked for, what model of cars they designed and the innovations they have brought to the industry. We know about them, but we do not know them. With my imagery I attempted to get into the soul and spirit of the designer. By concentrating on specific parts of the car and using my lighting technique, I attempt to highlight the emotional lines of the designer.
JAGUAR E-TYPE – DESIGNED BY MALCOLM SAYER
Malcolm Sayer was born 21 May 1916 in Cromer, Norfolk, in the middle of World War 1. He was trained in automotive engineering and became an aircraft engineer during World War 2 and later an automotive aerodynamicist. In 1948 Malcom recognize the mathematical relationship to curve shapes and identity.
Malcom joined Jaguar in 1951 and went on to design the iconic trio, the C-Type, D-Type and E-Type. Each a work of art. When the E-Type was revealed to the world at Geneva Motor Show in March of 1961, Enzo Ferrari himself, declared the E-Type “The most beautiful car ever built.” At the same time several articles “suggested the beauty of his designs was purely coincidental; in following aerodynamic rules and flows, the shapes were merely a happy accident – or so they say.” Sam Sayer (Malcolms grandson).
“Malcolm Sayer shaped the E-Type with absolutely pure geometric lines. He wasn’t driven by aesthetics for the sake of it”. Jaguar Design Director, Ian Callum. I have to disagree with him. I would argue that Malcolm’s design was from the aesthetic point of view. Mathematics just happened to be his tool and language, which best expressed his vision. Mathematics was his paint brush that allowed him to express himself. In the same way coders today see the images in what they have written.
Mathematics was his visual pallet. To support this, look at the modern supercars and hypercars, designed by mathematics and code on the computer. Yes, the modern car is as aerodynamic as a car can be, but it lacks soul.
Only an artist, when he places form and function in the proper order, can create, soul. It is his passion and love of the line, that gives the E-Type, its soul. Why? Because it is human emotion, not calculations that produces a soul, that can be reflected in a machine. The reflection we see in the E-Type, is Malcolm Sayer. The images I have created, are images to reflect, and highlight the design and art of Malcolm Sayer. Enjoy.
