One of the greats of British motoring journalism has died. Despite a rich and hugely varied career former The Motor editor Charles Bulmer will forever be remembered as the man who conducted the original road-test on the Jaguar E-type, dispatched to Italy to try and top the magic 150mph on the Autostrada del Sole.
Last year C&SC reunited Bulmer with that very car – 77 RW – as well as reintroducing him to Norman Dewis, and we were astonished how humble, sprightly and enthusiastic he remained though just a year short of his 90th birthday.
With memories of that epic test with John Anstice Brown still as vivid as they were in 1961, Bulmer last year recalled: "It was incredible. The performance was out of this world for 1961. I hadn't driven anything like it before and I wanted one awfully badly."
C&SC's James Elliott was so fascinated by Bulmer's experiences that he instantly decided to conduct an impromptu interview on the journey back from Coventry.
To read the subsequent blog/story click here. To see the full story of Bulmer's remeniscences of the E-type test see the August 2011 issue of C&SC.
Below: Bulmer (right) chats about driving 77 RW flat out with Jaguar tester Norman Dewis
James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car