JAGUAR CLASSIC CREATES TAILOR-MADE XK120 FOR MALE MODEL DAVID GANDY

JAGUAR CLASSIC CREATES TAILOR-MADE XK120 FOR MALE MODEL DAVID GANDY

Jaguar Classic has completed a bespoke XK120 sports car restoration commissioned by renowned British male model and life-long Jaguar enthusiast David Gandy.

The 11-month project, which was a close collaboration between David Gandy and Jaguar Classic’s experts at its Classic Works facility in Warwickshire, took 2,700 hours to complete.

Following a brief to make it race-ready for classic motorsport events such as the Jaguar Classic Challenge, the car’s specification is inspired by the original XK120 Lightweight.

David Gandy said: “Having driven a Jaguar XK120 at the Mille Miglia in 2013 and 2014, I knew that I wanted to own one of these incredibly special cars. The team at Jaguar Classic have done such a remarkable job engineering this car and executing everything that I asked for and it was amazing to have such an in-depth involvement in its creation.”

Jaguar Classic’s dedicated sourcing team tracked-down a suitable 1954 base car in California, US, and has retained as much of the original car as possible.

The in-line six-cylinder unit was meticulously rebuilt over five and a half months, with the final objective to use the car for racing. The result is a performance upgrade from the original 180bhp output to 225bhp and enhanced durability for higher speeds, with items like the core plugs featuring steel bracing so they don’t dislodge during high-performance driving. An all-new, upgraded exhaust system features dual pipes instead of the usual single pipe.

Further improvements include the use of a faster-shifting racing-style gearbox which is more durable under high stresses and uprated brakes, with the front set-up now featuring disc brakes with four-pot callipers while the rear retains the original refurbished drum brakes. The suspension features fully adjustable dampers, allowing the Classic team to fine-tune the handling for specific events.

Calum McKechnie, Head of Jaguar Classic, said: “This unique XK120 showcases the expertise, skill and craftsmanship that Jaguar Classic makes available for all of its customers. Not only were we able to bring this iconic sports car back to life mechanically, but the attention to detail and the bespoke design of the interior sets David’s car apart.”

The design and finishing touches were created in collaboration with David, who chose the colour and materials at every step of the renovation. The exterior is finished in solid black, made up of 13 litres and four coats of paint, while additional exterior features include a racing-inspired flip-top fuel cap. The original split-screen windscreen has been replaced by twin aero screens, another feature synonymous with the XK120 Lightweight.

Inside, the car is just as unique. Finished in an Aged Saddle tan leather, the seats feature a bespoke lattice design with the seatbacks finished in aluminium rather than the usual fabric material. While two batteries would usually sit behind the driver’s seat, for this car the Classic team put a single battery behind the passenger seat to free up space behind the driver, to enhance comfort for 6ft 2inch tall David. This was also a consideration for the choice of steering wheel, which is smaller than normal to provide more legroom.

The finished car was handed over to its delighted owner, who intends to use it on road and in competition, ahead of last weekend’s Monaco E-Prix race.

For more details about Jaguar Classic go to www.jaguar.com/classic

FUNDRAISING ROUND BRITAIN COASTAL DRIVE TO RUN FOR FOURTH SUCCESSIVE YEAR

FUNDRAISING ROUND BRITAIN COASTAL DRIVE TO RUN FOR FOURTH SUCCESSIVE YEAR

The Round Britain Coastal Drive, created in 2016 as a one-off event to raise funds for the charity Prostate Cancer UK, is to run again in 2019 for the fourth successive year. The aim this year is to raise £45,000, in support of the shocking statistic that one man dies every 45 minutes as a result of prostate cancer.

The Round Britain Coastal Drive is open this year to all XK-badged and XK-engined Jaguars.

This year’s 3,400-mile drive around the circumference of the British mainland will feature some new start and finish locations. The event will be flagged-away from the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, on Monday 16 September and will conclude on Thursday 3 October at Lyndhurst in the New Forest National Park.

Most participants choose to drive one or several of the event’s 18 daily stages, but some “all-rounders” opt to drive the entire route. Renowned Jaguar parts specialists, SNG Barratt Group will be supporting the event once again, with a van full of spare parts. Technicians will provide assistance on all 18 stages, including CBR Motor Bodies of Walsall, the respected specialists in classic restoration, bodywork and repairs. Participants will also be assisted throughout by event hosts from the XK Club and ambassadors from Prostate Cancer UK.

Philip Porter, author, publisher, architect of the Round Britain Coastal Drive and co-founder of the International Jaguar XK Club, said: “We are appealing to owners of XK-badged and XK-engined Jaguars, in the UK and further afield, to join us in some or all of the Road Britain Coastal Drive. This is an enormously enjoyable way of driving your classic car, seeing fantastic scenery, socialising with like-minded enthusiasts, and raising money for a great cause.”

Gabriella Bailey, Interim Director of Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “The Round Britain Coastal Drive events are fantastic and have so far raised over £200,000 for Prostate Cancer UK, which is a tremendous amount. We are thrilled that Philip and his wife Julie have organised this event for the fourth year in a row, this time with XK-engined Jaguars.

“We are also so grateful that any funds raised through our partnership with the Jaguar XK Club this year, will be match-funded, pound for pound, by an anonymous partner. This generous offer will go towards supporting our Specialist Nurse services, the UK’s only telephone, email and Live Chat support specific to prostate cancer, at Prostate Cancer UK.

“Our Specialist Nurses are here for anyone living with or concerned about prostate cancer or prostate problems.

There are over 400,000 men living with the disease in the UK, which means this service will continue to act as a lifeline for so many. By doubling the value, we are doubling the difference to the lives of men and their loved ones.”

Anyone interested in taking part can find more information on the event website, https://www.roundbritaincoastaldrive.co.uk/xk-club-round-britain-coastal-drive.html, or by phoning the International XK Club on 01584 781588. Membership of the XK Club brings many attractive benefits and costs little more than a tank of fuel.

WORLD’S MOST SIGNIFICANT JAGUAR COLLECTION FOR SALE WITH PENDINE

WORLD’S MOST SIGNIFICANT JAGUAR COLLECTION FOR SALE WITH PENDINE

1935 Jaguar SS90 Prototype Zumbrunn-Schmid

Some of the world’s rarest and most historically significant Jaguar cars are to be offered for sale on the open market for the first time ever by Pendine Historic Cars, the UK-based specialists in historic cars for road and track.

The ‘Jaguar Sports Car Collection’ currently belongs to one of the world’s foremost collectors of sporting Jaguars and contains 12 of the most collectable and valuable Jaguars in existence. Among the collection is the first ever Jaguar sports car prototype, the first ever E-Type to be seen in public and the famous ‘lost C-Type’.

Offered for sale individually, the collection presents Jaguar and classic car aficionados with a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire an exquisite piece of Jaguar history, each in Concours condition and restored by the finest marque specialists.

“This is without a doubt one of the most impressive and important collections of Jaguars in the world,” comments James Mitchell, founder, Pendine Historic Cars. “Each car in the collection represents a key milestone through the marque’s early history. Not only have some of these incredible cars played important roles in automotive cultural history, but they are also among the best examples in the world.”

The ‘Jaguar Sports Car Collection’ is the automotive life work of a notable collector, Dr Christian Jenny. Since falling in love with the marque in the early 1970s, Christian has been dedicated to building a collection of Jaguar sports cars that spans the most definitive period of the company’s development. So significant is the collection, a hardback book titled ‘The Jaguar Sports Car Collection; A Personal Endeavour’, which tells the story of each individual car, was published in 2014.

1961 Jaguar E-Type 885005 Geneva Zumbrunn-Schmid

The 1935 Jaguar S.S. 90 Prototype for sale is the first ever Jaguar sports car made and the car that would launch Sir William Lyons’ and Jaguar’s successful motorsport campaign at the very beginning of the marque’s sporting history.

The 1961 Jaguar E-Type in the collection is the first E-Type ever seen in public when it was unveiled to the press and VIP guests at the Geneva Motor Show. As one of the very first hand built, pre-production prototype examples of the model which changed Jaguar’s history forever, this is considered one of the most important non-competition Jaguars in the world.

A hugely significant historic race car in the collection is the 1952 Jaguar C-Type, known as the ‘lost C-Type’ after it became the only one of the 53 examples unaccounted for between the late sixties until 1997. Today it is regarded as one of the greatest ever sports racing cars of the 1950s.

Also in the collection is the first ever production 1935 S.S. 90 to leave the factory, a 1937 S.S. 100 2.2 litre, 1938 S.S. 100 3.5 litre, 1950 XK120 Alloy, 1950 XK120 Roadster, 1955 XK140 Roadster, 1960 XK150 3.8S Roadster, 1961 E-Type and a 1972 V12 Roadster. Each car in the collection, currently located in Switzerland, has been meticulously maintained and stored in a dedicated subterranean garage.

Interested parties should contact James Mitchell at Pendine Historic Cars directly at james@pendine.com or on +44 1869 357126, with sale prices available on request only.

To see the full ‘Jaguar Sports Car Collection’ for sale on the Pendine Historic Cars website, please visit https://www.pendine.com/jaguar-collection/.

1952 Jaguar XKC023 Zumbrunn-Schmid

50 YEARS OF JAGUAR XJ: HISTORIC CONVOY HEADS TO PARIS MOTOR SHOW

50 YEARS OF JAGUAR XJ: HISTORIC CONVOY HEADS TO PARIS MOTOR SHOW

• Eight generations of XJ will drive from Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich Assembly Plant to the Paris Motor Show, to celebrate 50 years of the luxury saloon
• The XJ had its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in 1968
• The celebratory fleet includes every generation of XJ, including latest XJ50
• The unique convoy will visit important locations such as Jaguar Classic, a facility that is dedicated to preserving and restoring motoring heritage
• The convoy will also visit Goodwood motor circuit and Le Mans, locations that have played an important part in the history of Jaguar and the XJ
• Watch the Jaguar XJ evolve from the 1968 Series I to the XJ50 here: https://bit.ly/2CF0Bnn

 A unique convoy representing the past and present of the Jaguar XJ will journey from the Jaguar Castle Bromwich plant in the UK to the Paris Motor Show to celebrate 50 years of the flagship luxury saloon.

The line-up will feature all eight generations of XJ produced since 1968. The special collection will be led by the car that started it all, the Series I, and finish with the most recent XJ50 special edition, which was revealed earlier this year. The convoy will also include significant models such as the Series II Coupé and X350 XJR.

Starting at Castle Bromwich, where the luxury saloon is produced, the 839km (521-mile) drive will take in a series of important locations, including Jaguar Classic, Bicester Heritage Centre and the Goodwood and Le Mans race circuits, which have played a significant role in the life of Jaguar and the XJ. Journey’s end for the convoy is the Paris Motor Show, where the Jaguar XJ Series I made its debut in 1968.

Ian Callum, Jaguar Director of Design, said “The Jaguar XJ story is one of design, desirability and performance and over the past 50 years it has become a true giant in the automotive world and it’s only right that we pay homage to it in this special way. When I started at Jaguar, the XJ was already an icon of car design, so to have been part of this story that has been told over half a century has been an absolute privilege.” 

The cars taking part in this one-off journey:

• Jaguar XJ Series I: 1968
• Jaguar XJ Series II: 1973
• Jaguar XJ Series II Coupé: 1973
• Jaguar XJ Series III: 1979
• Jaguar XJ XJ40: 1986
• Jaguar XJ X300: 1994
• Jaguar XJ X308: 1997
• Jaguar XJ X350: 2003
• Jaguar XJ X351: 2009
• Jaguar XJR575: 2017
• Jaguar XJ XJ50: 2018

Paris has a special significance to the Jaguar XJ. In 1968 the XJ made its debut at the show, with Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons revealing his vision for a saloon car with the handling of an E-type. The luxury model was a revelation with its compelling combination of beauty, poise and performance. Since then, the presentation halls of Paris have played a regular role in the life of the XJ – the XJ ‘X300’ was unveiled at the event in 1994 and the revolutionary XJ ‘X350’, with its lightweight aluminium monocoque, made its debut there in 2002.

Returning to the Paris Motor Show 50 years after its first appearance on the show stand caps a series of celebrations for one of the world’s great saloon cars, which has been the choice of business leaders, celebrities, politicians and royalty for five decades.

The celebrations began with the introduction of the XJ50 earlier in 2018. The special edition model includes Autobiography-style front and rear bumpers, purposeful new 20-inch Venom wheels, black front grille and unique badging to the rear and side vents. Inside, the luxury cabin features an embossed leaper on the headrests, an XJ50 logo on the centre armrest, unique intaglio branding and XJ50-badged illuminated treadplates.

For more information on the XJ, visit www.jaguar.co.uk

Source: Jaguar UK

JAGUAR LAND ROVER CLASSIC BRINGS MODERN INFOTAINMENT TO CLASSIC CARS

CLASSIC TORQUE

FROM CLASSIC CHATTER

JAGUAR LAND ROVER CLASSIC BRINGS MODERN INFOTAINMENT TO CLASSIC CARS

• A new range of Classic Infotainment Systems provides modern audio, navigation and infotainment functionality for most classic cars, with discreet and harmonious styling
• Compatible with negative earth vehicles, Classic Infotainment System range is available in five designs including two Jaguar and two Land Rover branded units
• Touchscreen Classic Infotainment System features include DAB, FM, AM radio, customisable satellite navigation and Bluetooth
• Premium sound quality from a single DIN head unit with built-in 4 x 45-watt output
• For details about the Classic Infotainment System range, which is on display at Goodwood Revival Meeting this weekend, visit jaguarclassicparts.com

Jaguar Land Rover Classic has introduced a new infotainment system to its growing range of genuine parts and accessories, bringing modern functionality to classic vehicles in an authentic-looking, classically-styled, head unit.

Designed to suit most classic vehicles running on negative earth electrics, single DIN-sized Classic Infotainment System units incorporate customisable satellite navigation in up to 32 languages, smartphone integration, Bluetooth connectivity and dual DAB/DAB+ digital radio, as well as FM and AM analogue reception.

Additionally, four distinct branded versions of the Classic Infotainment System will be offered specifically for Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, with a choice of black or chrome faceplate finishes to suit Jaguars, and a choice of black or silver brushed aluminium for Land Rovers.

Controlled by a 3.5-inch high-resolution touchscreen integrated between traditional rotary controls and buttons, the navigation system’s Europe-wide route guidance can be displayed as 2D or 3D maps, or as turn arrow instructions, and includes TMC traffic alerts.

Other key features of the Classic Infotainment System include:

• Telephone functionality, including phonebook transfer via Bluetooth, supports up to four devices, with 1250 contacts per device
• Internal microphone
• System languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian
• Up to 32 languages available for a navigation function

All versions of the Jaguar Land Rover Classic Infotainment System are available to purchase from 7 September 2018 at www.jaguarclassicparts.com, priced from £1,200 (including VAT). A fitting service is offered at Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works in Warwickshire as well as select Authorised Jaguar and Land Rover Retailers.