USA - Volvo celebrates 60 years of selling and marketing cars in the US, both on screen and TV and to the public.

Swedish automaker Volvo celebrated 60 years in North America with a special gathering of celebrities and vintage cars at Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood last Saturday night.

Comedian and vintage Volvo owner Jay Leno entertained a crowd of more than 300 Volvo owners, executives, retailers, and media amongst an unprecedented collection of new and historic Volvo cars, live music, and Scandinavian fare.

Notable cars on display included a 1928 PV4, Volvo’s first covered car; a 1955 PV444, the first Volvo exported to the U.S.; the 1967 P1800S driven by Roger Moore in the hit sixties’ television series, “The Saint”; and the all-new, award-winning XC90 sport utility vehicle. 

Guests explored Volvo’s rich past and bright future by visiting a series of Volvo branded shops created in the facades on Paramount’s City Streets back lot.

In the Volvo Cars Art Gallery, for example, was a collection of Julius Shulman-inspired photos starring Volvos past and present taken recently by Ann Street Studios at iconic locations around Los Angeles, where the very first Volvo was imported in 1955. Shulman was an American architectural photographer whose work spread California mid-century modern around the world.

Guests perused the collection of vintage Volvo advertisements in the Volvo Cars History Museum, and in the Bowers & Wilkins Listening Room, audiophiles appreciated the high technology powering the 19-speaker, 1,400 watt entertainment system available in the all-new XC90 sport utility.

“Volvo has had a special place in many Americans’ hearts for generations,” said Lex Kerssemakers, President and CEO, Volvo Cars of North America. “Maybe they grew up riding in a Volvo, or were saved by one, or perhaps they learned to drive in one. Whatever the case, we are celebrating those experiences and now our version of luxury for generations to come.”

Volvo Cars is benefitting from a recent investment of $11B that is being used to develop an entirely new lineup of luxury vehicles. The company has experienced nine months of consecutive year-over-year growth and is aiming to increase sales to 800,000 cars globally in the medium term.

Iconic Volvos displayed at 60^th Anniversary Event

• 1928 PV4 Special - Volvo's first saloon car appeared in the summer of 1927, not long after the company was founded. There are believed to be just four PV4s remaining out of 694 built.
• 1955 PV444 - The first Volvo to roll on American roads made its entry in 1955. In September of that same year a stunning maroon coupe with whitewall tires was unveiled to the public in the Swedish pavilion at the California State Fair & Exposition in Sacramento. Many more would follow, including this one.
• 1957 Volvo Sport (P1900) – This sporty, chic convertible paved the way for the more popular and now very collectible P1800. Volvo Founder Assar Gabrielsson commissioned the California-based company Glasspar to make prototypes of the Sport’s fiberglass body. Only 67 units were made with just 20 sold in the U.S.
• 1967 P1800S - In 1961 Volvo introduced this new sports car and made an indelible mark on the auto world. With Italian-influenced styling and a peppy 100 horsepower engine, the U.S. quickly became the car’s biggest market. No prior Volvo created a greater impression, and perhaps none has since. The P1800 got an extra boost because of its role in the sixties’ TV series "The Saint" starring Roger Moore, who played hero Simon Templar. The exact car he drove in the series was on display.

Jaguar celebrates the 80th Anniversary of the Mille Miglia with a field of Seven classic Jags'.

• Jaguar Heritage to field nine of the marque’s most famous 1950s models in the 2015 Mille Miglia
• Event runs from 14-17 May with drivers piloting three C-types, three D-types, an XK120, an XK140 and a MK VII
• Star line-up of drivers come from motorsport, music and entertainment to drive historic Jaguars on the Mille Miglia
• Live updates from event will be available through Jaguar’s official social media channels, as well as Twitter profiles of drivers using hashtag: #JaguarMille

Jaguar is celebrating its 80^th anniversary by once again taking on the legendary challenge that is the Mille Miglia. Held from 14-17 May in Italy, Jaguar Heritage Racing will be fielding a team of drivers who will cover more than 1,000 miles from Brescia-Rome-Brescia in nine of the marque’s most celebrated models.

Famous faces from the world of motorsport, TV and music will put their historic Jaguars through their paces on the gruelling route which takes place over four punishing but unforgettable days starting in Brescia, heading to Rimini, Rome, Parma and then back to Brescia. 

Crowds lining the route will get to see examples of historically-significant Jaguar XKs, C-types and D-types hurtling past them with famous faces in the cockpits.

Five-time winner of the Le Mans 24hr, three-time Daytona 24hr winner and world sportscar veteran, Derek Bell, will make his Mille Miglia debut driving a Jaguar C-type.  Derek is driving as a guest of art collector and classic car enthusiast Adam Lindemann.

Piloting the second C-type, ‘NDU 289’, will be Jaguar Vehicle Integrity Chief Engineer Mike Cross, while the final C-type, ‘PUG 676’, will be driven by Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee Chairman, Ben Cussons.

Driving ‘RSF 303’, a priceless Jaguar D-type ‘Long Nose’ Ecurie Ecosse racer, which finished second at Le Mans in 1957, will be Jaguar Design Director, Ian Callum. A veteran of the Mille Miglia, Ian drove with US chat show host Jay Leno in the 2014 event - this year he will be partnering up with businessman and classic car enthusiast, Clive Beecham.

At the wheel of a Jaguar MK VII will be a man who’s no stranger to speed and sleep deprivation – Charley Boorman. More used to two wheels than four thanks to his many motorbike adventures, Charley will be partnered by Bremont co-founder Giles English. The fastest saloon car of its day, a Jaguar MK VII was famously piloted to victory in the 1956 Monte Carlo Rally by Ronnie Adams with co-drivers Frank Biggar and Derek Johnstone.

Making for a very glamorous cockpit is ‘OOF 748’ - the XK120 roadster of model, TV presenter and current host of Channel 5’s The Classic Car Show, Jodie Kidd, whose co-driver will be male supermodel, GQ columnist and classic car enthusiast, David Gandy.

Host of the hugely popular BBC One show, Saturday Kitchen and well-known TV chef, James Martin, will be partnered by Bremont co-founder Nick English, brother of Giles. They will share the penultimate ‘Long Nose’ Jaguar D-type ever built, registered ‘393 RW’. Completing the trio of D-types will be one of the classic car world’s most respected experts, Simon Kidston.

Completing the Jaguar Heritage team line-up is successful British singer/song-writer Elliot Gleave, otherwise known as Example. Elliot will be driving a XK140 with his father, Michael, as co-pilot. The XK140, registered ‘TAC 743’, was once owned by successful British racing driver David Hobbs.

On the Mille Miglia, a number of new Jaguar XEs will also support the Jaguar Heritage Racing team, following the full route through Italy with broadcast crews and VIP guests.

Host of stars take part in 2014 Mille Miglia for Jaguar Heritage Racing.

• Jaguar Heritage Racing gets ready for the off with Martin Brundle and Bruno Senna leading the charge in a ‘Long Nose’ D-type 
• Famous 1956 car was the penultimate example built and is the only D-type taking part in the Italian event  
• Jaguar Heritage Racing is fielding ten 1950s models in the 2014 Mille Miglia, including XKs and C-types
• Top racers plus household names from stage and screen as well as fashion, motor sport and music celebrities driving with Jaguar Heritage Racing

With the flag about to drop on the 2014 Mille Miglia, Jaguar Heritage Racing is revving up for 1,000 miles of high-speed driving through Italy – led by Martin Brundle and Bruno Senna, who are piloting a genuine piece of Coventry history.

Ex-Jaguar Le Mans and World Sports Prototype Championship winner, Formula 1 driver and SKY F1 TV pundit Brundle along with ex-Formula 1 racer Bruno Senna are sharing the famous ‘Long Nose’ Jaguar D-type.  

Martin Brundle commented: “As some people know, I’m a fan and owner of the E-type – but this D-type is phenomenal car. I can only imagine how brave my racing driver predecessors were to pilot it at 190mph-plus down the Mulsanne Straight. 

“Bruno and I will make sure we do this legendary British racing car justice. We have discussed our strategy for the Mille Miglia and feel quietly confident. We haven’t raced together before but we share a huge amount of enthusiasm for this amazing rally.”

Bruno Senna added: “The D-type is one of the most beautiful racing cars ever made – and it’s a real privilege to drive it on the Mille Miglia in its 60^th anniversary year.

“This ‘Long Nose’ car has such an incredible history, you can feel that from every detail, from the competition-worn aero windscreen to the seats and of course that remarkable tail fin. Martin and I won’t be holding back. We’re heading the Jaguar Heritage Racing charge and will do so in style.”

The penultimate example built, the D-type carries the registration 393 RW and is a true racing thoroughbred. Produced in March 1956 for the works team, it won the Reims 12-hour race, driven by Duncan Hamilton and Ivor Bueb then went on to finish sixth in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Such is its originality, 393 RW carries the same wraparound aero windscreen, passenger seat, door and famous integrated tailfin as it did when it competed in 1956. After retiring from European competition, the car even had an extended career on American shores too, finishing third in the 1957 Sebring 12-hour race.

With D-type production beginning in 1954, the sight of this legendary Jaguar model in this year’s Mille Miglia is a fitting way to celebrate its 60^th anniversary in 2014.

Jaguar Heritage Racing will be tackling the legendary Mille Miglia classic car endurance event from 15-18 May with a line-up of top-name drivers, which will be traversed over 1,000 grueling miles from Brescia-Rome-Brescia in ten of the most revered and sought-after historic Jaguar cars ever produced. As with all of the Jaguar Heritage Racing cars competing in the Mille Miglia, support will come from classic car technical experts, JD Classics.

A number of new Jaguar F-TYPE Coupés will support the Jaguar Heritage Racing team, following the full Mille Miglia route through Italy with broadcast crews and VIP guests.

The drivers making up the Jaguar Heritage Racing team will be tweeting live throughout the event, which was famously once proclaimed as: ‘The most beautiful race in the world’.

Live updates will be available through Jaguar official social media channels, as well as Twitter profiles of drivers using hashtag: #JaguarMille

Twitter profiles to watch for the latest personal updates on the event include:

Jaguar Heritage Racing Driver	Twitter profile name
Jay Leno	@LenosGarage
Martin Brundle	@MBrundleF1
Bruno Senna	@BSenna
Jodie Kidd	@RealJodieKidd
David Blakeley	@daveblakeley
Milow	@milow
Elliot Gleave (Example)	@example
Erin Gleave	@Erin_McNaught
Brian Johnson	@BrianJohnson

In addition Jaguar will be publishing live updates from 14-18 May at: www.facebook.com/Jaguar andwww.twitter.com/jaguar

Jay Leno joins Ian Callum for 2014 Mille Miglia

• Jaguar Design Director will partner US TV chat show host in unique 1951 XK 120 roadster
• Ex-Sir James Scott-Douglas race-winning car features full Ecurie Ecosse period livery and is only surviving example
• Jaguar Heritage Racing to field ten 1950s models in the 2014 Mille Miglia including XKs, C-types and one D-type
• Top racers plus household names from stage and screen as well as fashion, motor sport and music celebrities will drive

This year’s Mille Miglia is packed full of famous cars and equally famous drivers – but when it comes to prodigious competition histories paired with A-list names, the combination of Jaguar Heritage Racing’s 1951 Ecurie Ecosse XK 120 roadster with Jay Leno and Ian Callum is hard to beat.

US TV chat show host, Jaguar collector and classic car enthusiast, Jay Leno, and Jaguar Design Director, Ian Callum, are legends of the automotive industry – and at the Mille Miglia this year their presence is complemented by that of the 1951 XK 120 Ecurie Ecosse roadster.

 

One of the most valuable and important XK 120s in the world, ‘LXO 126’ is the only surviving example of three original cars built to launch the Scottish racing team in 1952. A race winner in its period, it is most famously associated with raffish Anglo-Scottish aristocrat Sir James Scott-Douglas.

Scott-Douglas competed in a number of endurance races across Europe with Ecurie Ecosse and even went on to keep ‘LXO 126’ as a road car in 1953. In the same year, the car returned to the race track at the infamous Nurburgring; Ecurie Ecosse mechanics hastily converting it back into a competition car when one of the team’s C-type’s met with an accident.

Since then the car has been the subject of a meticulous restoration. Resplendent in the classic Flag Metallic Blue of the Ecurie Ecosse racing team, it was recently sold by Bonhams Auctions for £707,100 at the end of 2013 and has been loaned to Jaguar Heritage Racing for the Mille Miglia.

It won’t be the only Ecurie Ecosse car in Italy for this event – the Ecurie Ecosse C-type and D-type the original Ecurie Ecosse racing transporter will also be present at the start of the Mille Miglia in Brescia. 

Ian Callum, Jaguar Design Director, said: “As a Scotsman, Ecurie Ecosse is incredibly close to my heart – so the chance to drive this incredible XK 120 through Italy is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Factor in a co-driver who’s almost as much of a Jaguar man as me – and there’s no doubt I’m going to love every minute!”

Jay Leno commented: “I’m fortunate to have an XK 120 in my garage – not to mention a few other incredible cars from Coventry - but this Ecurie Ecosse XK 120 is one of the most beautiful Jaguars ever built. I absolutely adore it. It’s a real honour to be asked to drive it on the Mille Miglia and to be able to revel in its history with someone like Ian is a true privilege.”

Jaguar Heritage Racing will be tackling the legendary Mille Miglia classic car endurance event from 15-18 May with a line-up of top-name drivers, which will be traversed over 1,000 gruelling miles from Brescia-Rome-Brescia in ten of the most revered and sought-after historic Jaguar cars ever produced.

Live updates will be available from 15-18 May through Jaguar official social media channels (www.facebook.com/Jaguar and www.twitter.com/jaguar), as well as Twitter profiles of drivers using hashtag: #JaguarMille

Monaco win for C-Type and then straight off to the Mille Miglia.

• Historic Jaguar C-types race at the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, and then immediately head to Italy to participate in the 2014 Mille Miglia
• The ex-Juan Manuel Fangio Jaguar C-type takes a convincing Monaco victory in the hands of Alex Buncombe, ahead of moving directly on to the Mille Miglia
• Another C-type, raced at Monaco by Andrew Frankel, is then driven straight to Brescia for the start of the Mille Miglia by its owner Richard Frankel

Two of the Jaguar C-types set to compete in this week’s Mille Miglia – as part of an extensive line-up of Jaguar sports car entries by Jaguar Heritage Racing – have driven directly from their race at the Monaco Historique on Sunday 11 May, down to Brescia in Italy for the start of the gruelling 1,000 mile Mille Miglia endurance event.

The well-known ex-Juan Manuel Fangio Jaguar C-type, race prepared by JD Classics and driven by Alex Buncombe, won a decisive victory in the Series C race for sports racing cars raced from 1952 to 1955 at the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique on Sunday afternoon.  He won the same race in the same car at the last Monaco Historic in 2012.  Following victory, the winning C-type was quickly packed up and transported to Brescia, Italy, where it will be driven by successful Belgian singer and songwriter Milow, and Jaguar Land Rover Regional Director for Europe Bernard Kuhnt in this year’s Mille Miglia (15-18 May).

Another Jaguar C-type entrant from the same Monaco sports car race – Richard Frankel – also drove his 1952 C-type the 200 miles from Monte Carlo to Brescia on Sunday evening, after this brother Andrew safely brought the Jaguar home in Monaco from a crowded grid of 37 cars.  This C-type is famous for the journey it made in 1952 - from Coventry to the Monaco Grand Prix - where it finished 6^th and was the first non-Ferrari home. The car was driven by Tommy Wisdom in that race – and then driven back to the UK!  

Richard Frankel will share his C-type with the ex-Jaguar Le Mans 24 Hours race winner and talented racer Andy Wallace in the 2014 Mille Miglia.

Hot from their racing exploits in Monaco, these two C-types will be joined in Brescia by a line-up of other historic Jaguar sports cars from the 1950s, driven by top-name celebrities.

These will include American TV chat show host, Jaguar collector and classic car enthusiast – Jay Leno – sharing the famous ex-Sir James Scott-Douglas Ecurie Ecosse 1951 Jaguar XK 120 roadster with Jaguar’s Design Director, Ian Callum.

Husband and wife team Elliot and Erin Gleave will share another well-known 1951 XK 120, as will author David Blakeley and TV presenter and model Jodie Kidd.

Jaguar Heritage Racing also has a C-type being driven by AC/DC lead singer and car buff Brian Johnson, with two motor racing stars – Martin Brundle and Bruno Senna – sharing the famous ‘Long Nose’ Jaguar D-type as this legendary Jaguar model celebrates its 60^th anniversary in 2014.

A number of new Jaguar F-TYPE Coupés will support the Jaguar Heritage Racing team, following the full Mille Miglia route through Italy with broadcast crews and VIP guests.