A Hampstead man who was first inspired by the Ham&High to join a classic car club to drive his favourite sports car is preparing to show it off at one of the world’s largest motor shows.

Jonathan Silverman, of Harman Drive near Fortune Green, will drive the “iconic” Jaguar E-Type to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The 62-year-old will take part in the Regent Street Motor Show 15 years after he first saw the car in a Ham&High motoring feature.

“There was a great article in the Ham&High with a photo of the E-type offered by the Classic Car Club,” said Mr Silverman, a partner at the law firm Silverman Sherliker. “As a direct result of seeing that picture of that car I joined the club within a week.”

He has been fascinated by sports cars, and particularly Jaguars, since an early age.

Over the years he has owned or driven more than 40 classic cars ranging from the sensible to the sublime.

“I am an E-Type addict,” said Mr Silverman. “To put it into context, the car is an exhibit in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It is a design icon.”

Despite his love for the E-Type - which was first produced in 1961 and became a symbol of the swinging sixties - Mr Sullivan has no desire to own one.

“I’m far too sensible to spend �50,000 or �60,000 on buying one,” he said. “It’s even better to drive one without maintaining it.”

Instead he has a Smart car and a modern Jaguar for everyday journeys and pays a subscription to the Classic Car Club to use the E-type and other exotic cars from their luxury fleet.

On Saturday, November 5 he will drive the club’s silver E-Type from his home near Hampstead Heath to the Regent Street Motor Show, where it will be one of 50 E-Types on show to celebrate the brand’s 50th birthday.

Regents Street will be closed to make way for 300 cars from the history of motoring, including the Mini Cooper which is also 50 this year.