Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the Jaguar E-Type, which is regarded by many auto aficionados as one of the most beautiful cars ever made. To celebrate, Jaguar Classic is creating six matched pairs of the iconic sports car that will form the 'E-type 60 Collection.' Each pair of the E-type 60 Edition cars pays tribute to the famous '9600 HP' and '77 RW' models that debuted in Geneva back in March 1961.

Finished in Opalescent Gunmetal Grey, the 3.8-liter Fixed-Head Jaguar E-Type Coupe registered '9600 HP' was one of the first two E-Types shown off to guests at the Parc des Eaux Vives in Geneva. The night before the car's launch, public relations manager Bob Berry drove flat out at 150 mph from Coventry in the UK to Switzerland and arrived with only minutes to spare for demonstration drives.

Demand for the E-Type was so unprecedented that legendary Jaguar Test and Development Engineer Norman Dewis was also told to 'drop everything' and drive a 3.8-liter E-Type roadster finished in British Racing Green and registered '77 RW' overnight from Coventry to Geneva. Both cars were also subsequently used for media road tests.

Each E-Type 60 Edition built by Jaguar Classic will be based on an existing 1960s Jaguar E-Type with a 3.8-liter straight-six engine fully-restored to an exclusive specification celebrating the classic sports car's 60th anniversary. Each E-type 60 Collection pair will include a '9600 HP' coupe finished in 'Flat Out Grey' and one '77 RW' roadster finished in 'Drop Everything Green.' Both cars will also feature "unique paint formulations" and "exclusive commemorative design details" created in collaboration with Jaguar Design Director Julian Thomson.

Like Aston Martin's $8-million DBZ Centenary Collection that pairs the Aston Martin DBS GT Zagato with the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation, these commemorative E-Types won't be available to buy separately.

"The Jaguar E-type is a genuine icon, as sensational today as the moment it was unveiled in 1961. It's testament to the E-type's advanced design and engineering that it can still be enjoyed and admired as passionately almost 60 years on," said Dan Pink, Director of Jaguar Classic. "The E-type 60 Collection is a lasting tribute for E-type admirers, honouring the car's legacy and the achievements of the team that created it - many of whom have descendants working for Jaguar Classic today, expertly restoring, maintaining and future-proofing enjoyment for generations to come."

Jaguar is already accepting orders for the E-Type 60 Collection. Pricing hasn't been announced, but Jaguar Classic's Reborn E-Type costs around $355,000 so the new E-Type 60 Collection will likely cost double that.