'The greatest crumpet collector known to man'

Enzo Ferrari proclaimed the E-Type Jaguar to be the most beautiful car ever built. Photo / Supplied

Jaguar celebrated its 75th birthday this week with a trip down memory lane - and a knees-up at London's Mayfair Hotel, where the first Jaguar was launched in 1935.

A convoy of 75 Jaguars left the factory in Coventry and made its way to the Goodwood Revival, Britain's largest heritage motor festival.

The convoy comprised privately owned Jaguars along with prized examples from Jaguar's own heritage collection, including the E-Type, C-Type, pre-war SS Jaguar saloons and a mix of more recent models.

The carmaker launched an iPhone and iPad app to coincide with the event. "Jaguar 75" (in iTunes) tells the company's story through its people and machines.

Featured cars include the SS 2.5-litre Saloon, XK120, C-Type, D-Type, XKSS, MKII, E-Type, XJ13, XJ6, XJ-S, XJR-9, XJ220, XK8, XK, XF and XJ.

Some facts:

Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons asked guests at the launch of the first Jaguar to speculate on how much the SS Jaguar 2.5-litre saloon would cost. The average guess was £632. In fact, the SS cost £385.

Lyons penned a coupe version of the SS100 for the 1938 British Motor Show. Its sweeping curves and art deco detailing proved a sensation, but the outbreak of war halted the project. The show car was the only one ever built.

Jaguar C-Types finished 1st, 2nd and 4th in the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1953. The company sent a telegram to Queen Elizabeth, dedicating its win to her in her coronation year. The Queen sent a congratulatory gram back.

Actor and racing driver Steve McQueen owned one of the only 16 XKSS models produced. He kept it for 10 years - and two driving bans - before selling it on. McQueen later bought the car back and owned it until his death.

Enzo Ferrari proclaimed the E-Type to be "the most beautiful car ever built", while America's Road & Track magazine reported it as "the greatest crumpet collector known to man".

The XJ220 was developed by an informal group of Jaguar employees known as the "Saturday Club" who dedicated their spare time to special projects.

Lyons' daughter, Pat, was the co-driver of NUB 120, the most famous competition XK120. Her husband Ian Appleyard drove it to three Alpine Cup victories and two RAC Rally wins.

Jaguar introduced disc brakes. They were first fitted to the C-Type raced by Stirling Moss and Norman Dewis in the 1952 Mille Miglia. Italian race officials were mystified by the technology and demanded a demonstration to prove it was a brake and not some illegal addition.

In his teens, Ian Callum, Jaguar's current design director, wrote to then chief engineer Bill Heynes enclosing some of his own designs for a Jaguar. Heynes replied, suggesting to Callum that to pursue his chosen career, he should learn engineering draughtsmanship and study industrial design.

The fastest-ever Jaguar was a slightly modified production XFR that reached 225.675mph (365km/h) at the Bonneville Salt flats in November 2009.

16 XKSS models produced
365km/h: speed reached by fastest ever Jag