 A version of the car story seen elsewhere says that Jaguar were  indeed requested to supply the (then new) E type as an ideal  "typically British" steed for Simon Templar, also typically British  in the early sixties, Jaguar were bedeviled with strikes and parts  supply, and could not deliver on time. Commencement date was looming  and finally Roger Moore (I) (qv) volunteered his personal car, the  now famed Volvo P1800, although stylish it was hardly the racy image  needed (post production gave it the exciting exhaust note). For  Volvo it was a godsend 