More than $8m worth of classy cars cruised into Mount Gambier on the weekend, to celebrate a special anniversary.

The Blue Lake city hosted a group of E-Type Jaguars for the famous vehicle’s COVID-delayed 60th diamond anniversary.

More than 40 of the motoring gems owned by members of the Jaguar Car Club of Victoria and the Jaguar Drivers Club of South Australia spent the weekend in the Limestone Coast, including holding a display at the Mount Gambier Visitor Information Centre on Saturday morning.

Event spokesperson Gail Bradley said the clubs had planned to meet in Mount Gambier last September, however COVID border closures had forced the event to be rescheduled.

“While E-types are famously collected by rock stars and millionaires around the world, our club members know they’re just the caretakers of the priceless vehicles, maintaining a legacy for the next generation of fans,” she said.

“Many of their cars still travel at well over 100kph when allowed, and some are still raced.”

Ms Bradley said the vehicles were ranked by series and proudly lined up in front of the Lady Nelson reinforcing a strong sense of Britishness.

“Many of the cars have been restored to, or maintained in, their original condition – every owner recognising their vehicle is not so much ‘theirs’, as a legacy to be passed in perpetuity to the next generation of grateful and admiring owners,” she said.

“2021 was the 60th diamond anniversary of the launch of the E-Type, back in Geneva.”

Ms Bradley said the club members gathered at The Barn on Saturday evening for a gala dinner to celebrate the anniversary.