Jaguar dealers in the UK take delivery of the first cars.

• Jaguar UK dealers are first in the world to take delivery of F-TYPE demonstrators
• 59 new F-TYPEs depart Ricoh arena in Coventry amassing a total of 7,141 miles before reaching respective Jaguar UK dealerships
• The 1.5-mile long F-TYPE procession, worth a total of £4.7m, circled the Coventry ring road before dissipating
• Event reminiscent of “Drive Away” event conducted with the E-type in Coventry in 1961.

IN DETAIL


On April 19th 2013 The first Jaguar F-TYPE sports cars arrived in dealerships having been presented to an enthusiastic dealer network following a ceremonial handover at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. The Jaguar UK dealers are the first in the world to take delivery of their F-TYPE demonstrators and to mark the occasion 59 of their vehicles were arranged in a giant “F” in the car park of the Coventry landmark before embarking on a 1.5-mile long procession around the Coventry ring road. The F-TYPE convoy was lead by the spiritual predecessor to Jaguar’s new sports car − the last example of the iconic E-type ever produced.

THE STATISTICS

The £4.7m procession comprised 60 cars and produced a combined total of 23,560 PS. By the time the F-TYPE demonstrators reach their respective dealerships they will have amassed a total of 7,141 miles. The nearest dealer, Guy Salmon Jaguar, Coventry, had a mere 3.5 miles to travel, while Peter Vardy Jaguar, based in Aberdeen, had 440 miles to cover.

The event is not without precedent – in 1961 Jaguar staged a similar dealer delivery event at Browns Lane in Coventry, with 60 Jaguar E-type sports cars. Robin Sturgess, whose son Chris is now dealer principal at Sturgess Jaguar of Leicester (recently named Motor Codes Franchise Dealer of the Year), was present at the 1961 event and took his place in the Jaguar E-type at the head of today’s historic convoy. The grandson of Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons, Michael Quinn, was also in attendance on behalf of RA Creamer Jaguar, Kensington.