Norman Dewis OBE

Former Jaguar test driver, Norman Dewis OBE, died at the age of 98. Over a thirty-three year career with Jaguar, his talent and experience enabled the automobile maker to develop multiple iconic, high performance machines. These included the Le Mans-winning C- and D-type cars, the legendary E-type (including the Lightweight E-type), the XJ13 mid-engineered prototype, the world-class XJ saloons, the XJ-S and the XJ40.

One of his first and greatest involvement with the automotive industry was the development of a revolutionary braking system, the disc brake.

In 1953, he set the speed record for a production car in a modified Jaguar XK120 by reaching 172.412 mph. Later, he topped that speed by driving a D-type at 190 mph in the 1955 Le Mans 24-hour race.

In recognition of his services to Jaguar and the British motor industry, he received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2014.