SIXTIES FAVOURITES

Auto Express team members name their pick of the cars from the decade of The Beatles and the miniskirt

- ALASTAIR CROOKS MAX ADAMS

JAGUAR E-TYPE

IF Enzo Ferrari claims that your new sports car is the most beautiful in the world, then you're probably on to a winner. That's what happened when the Ferrari boss nicknamed Il Commendatore saw the Jaguar E-Type at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show, where the model made its debut.

There's no arguing that the Malcolm Sayer-designed two-seater was an elegant machine in coupé or roadster guises, but it had the performance to back up those looks, courtesy of a 3.8-litre straight-six derived from the Le Mans-winning D-Type.

Okay, so a bit of tuning was needed for the E-Type to hit 150mph, but with a price tag that was a couple of thousand pounds less than for an Aston Martin or Ferrari with the same performance, few buyers were likely to complain.

DEAN GIBSON

FORD CORTINA

A STAPLE on British roads for more than 20 years, the Cortina was a monumental sales success for Ford, with more than 2.8 million finding homes during its five-generation life.

But the Mk 1 model, with its round front wings and piechart/ban-the-bomb-style rear lights, was the one that kicked it all off for the manufacturer in 1962.

Named after the Italian ski resort that hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics, the car was actually driven down the town's bobsled run as part of its launch promotional activity.

I'm biased, because it was the vehicle I spent most of my formative years being driven around in, but it was a bona fide classic, even before Lotus sprinkled some magic and turned the Cortina into a fine-handling touring-car icon that sells for more than £50,000 today.

PAUL BARKER

PORSCHE 911