The Midland Automobile Club’s Classic Nostalgia show , showcased 80 years of Jaguar road and race cars.

The Midland Automobile Club’s Classic Nostalgia thrilled the crowds with a very special display of road and race cars to celebrate 80 years of the Jaguar name and its Le Mans successes.

Classic Nostalgia was supported by Classic Motor Cars, Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, Stratstone, and Jaguar Cars all providing stunning machinery displayed in the Paddock and in action on the hill.

A last minute delight was the appearance of Project 7 which in the hands of Jaguar’s test driver took part in the hill display with several very spirited demonstration runs in glorious sunshine. This was the first time the car had been back in road going form since 2013 when the concept car was brought to Shelsley Walsh for final checks and publicity shots.

Mark Constanduros, Commercial Manager for the Midland Automobile Club said “It was a great delight to see Project 7 back here with us, the interest in the car was amazing and after all the last minute negotiations it was well worth the wait.”

“I really appreciate Jaguar agreeing to showcase Project 7 here again at Shelsley Walsh."

There were other highlights throughout the weekend, including the demonstration of the Callum Mark2 Jaguar. With the help of Classic Motor Cars and Ian Callum, Design Director of Jaguar, the car took a single run on the hill on Sunday. There was a lot of buzz around the car with people giving it a close inspection.

“I have to thank Ian Callum very much for agreeing to have his car here as part of the celebrations and to run it on the hill” said Mark Constanduros.

“I have only ever seen it static and was very keen to see the car running, for everyone to see and admire.”

Twice during each day the sound of the Jaguar V12 rang out as the 1987 championship winning XJR9 took to the hill in the hands of Kent Abrahamson, followed by the Group 44 E- type of Bob Tullius and the Jaguar XJ220s. On Sunday the same cars ran again except for the XJ220s, but this time with the XJ12C in the hands of 5 time Le Mans winner Derek Bell and the Callum Mark 2. All cars showcasing Jaguar’s heritage in both road and racing.

Displayed with Stratstone as a static display was the Ecurie Ecosse C-type and an XKSS from Classic Motor Cars. The Paddock also had two Daimlers one of which from Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust was the sister car to the one that ran at Shelsley Walsh in 1905, and ran at the Jubilee meeting with Rupert Instone.

Philip Porter, well renowned E-type specialist, brought the Italian Job E-type and the original

Geneva Motor Show car 9600HP. Philip was joined by Norman Dewis, Jaguar’s legendary test and development driver who carried out interview and autograph sessions throughout the day in front of Denis Jenkinson’s E-type.

The event also had the support of the Jaguar XK Enthusiasts Club (XKEC) and the Jaguar XJS Club with displays in the main display area with support from Jaguar Specialists SNG Barratt of Bridgenorth.

IMAGE CREDITS

1. Jaguar Project 7. Credit. Jeff Bloxham
2. Ian Callum Mk2. Credit Rob Macdonald
3. Jaguar XJR9 on the start line. Credit. Jeff Boxham
4. Derek Bell in the Jaguar XJ12C. Credit Jeff Bloxham
5. Group44 E Type. Credit Mark Constanduros
6. Jaguar XJ220s. Credit Mark Constanduros
7. Norman Dewis with Philip Porter. Credit Jeff Bloxham

Jaguar launches new Heritage driving experiences, get them now, they wont be around for long.

• For the first time, Jaguar fans from all over the world will have the opportunity to drive models from a unique collection of Jaguar heritage vehicles
• The programme launches in November at the Fen End test facility, near the home of Jaguar Land Rover in the West Midlands
• A variety of experiences will be available, from one-hour drives to half-day Le Mans 24 Hours race-themed specials and a full-hospitality ‘Grace and Pace’ driving programme

Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations today announces the launch of the Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience. This range of exciting driving experiences gives participants the unique opportunity to take the wheel of cars including Le Mans-racing legend Jaguar D-type, legendary E-type and Jaguar’s most potent sports car ever, the F-TYPE R Coupé. Details of the new Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience may be reviewed at: www.jaguarheritagedriving.com

From November 2014 the Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience opens at an established 200-acre testing facility, Fen End, in Warwickshire, where visitors will be offered the chance to drive some of these icons of Jaguar’s rich product history.

Many of the vehicles in the collection will be driven by members of the public for the very first time, having been prepared for high octane test action following Jaguar’s recent purchase of over 500 outstanding British heritage cars from a private collector.

Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations Managing Director, John Edwards, said:

“This is the first experiential offering from our new division and is the first time in Jaguar’s history that we have made a collection of vehicles of this calibre available for ‘arrive and drive’ experiences. It’s an extremely exciting new project that underscores the very essence of what Special Operations is all about – celebrating heritage with our eyes firmly on the future.”   

The collection includes many iconic Jaguars, charting over 100 years of beautiful, fast cars from pre- and post-war road racers and Le Mans champions, to later sporting saloons and grand tourers. A variety of drive packages will be available, allowing visitors to experience a particular era or to journey through Jaguar’s history right up to present day heroes such as the F-TYPE R Coupé .

Example packages include:

Jaguar Experience (ranging from £95 to £250):

From passenger rides to driving alongside a seasoned professional (including some recognisable faces from the world of motorsport), visitors can choose from individual models – including an XK150 or Mark 2 saloon – or selected pairings such as the Series 1 and Series 3 E-type. There’s also the option to drive heritage cars alongside their modern counterparts, such as an E-type with a factory-fresh F-TYPE.

Le Mans Experience (£750):

Re-live the experiences of legends such as Mike Hawthorn and Duncan Hamilton for half a day, with drives in the iconic C and D-types that dominated the world famous 24-hour endurance race in the 1950s.  This package will also feature drives in the XKSS and F-TYPE R Coupé, and includes lunch.     

Grace and Pace Experience (£2,000):

A full day of driving Jaguar Heritage legends, from post-war racers to sports saloons, coupés, roadsters and much more, including the new XFR and F-TYPE R Coupé models.  The Grace and Pace day will also feature opportunities to drive creations from the company’s Special Operations division, and includes chauffeur-driven transfers in classic Jaguar saloons to a lunch venue.

The first visitors to Jaguar’s Heritage Experience days will also be invited to exclusive guided viewings of the ‘Perfect Ten’ exhibition, installed at Fen End for a limited period following its recent launch at the Jaguar XE reveal at Earls Court, London. The ‘Perfect Ten’ is made up of iconic Jaguars selected by a distinguished panel including design director Ian Callum, Lord March of the Goodwood Estate and AC/DC front man Brian Johnson.  The selection includes the ultra-rare SS100 and the one-of-a-kind and priceless XJ13.

Double Jaguar XJ220 Photoshoot in Hampshire

With just 275 units produced throughout its two year production run, the Jaguar XJ220 is one of the rarest supercars even constructed. While its rarity is certainly notable, it is nothing compared to the fact that in 1992 it was the world’s fastest production car with a top speed of 213.1 mph.

Additionally, the Jaguar XJ220 held the production car lap record around the Nurburgring with a time of 7:46.36 from 1992 until 2000. As a result, it comes as no surprise that photographing a Jaguar XJ220 is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many. However, Hampshire Photography recently had the chance to photograph not one but two Jaguar XJ220s! If that wasn’t enough, the yellow car pictured is one of six 1993 Jaguar XJ220S Coupe’s ever produced.

Fitted with an uprated 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, the Jaguar XJ220S delivers a potent 700 hp. This power is sent through a five-speed manual transmission. Making this Jaguar XJ220S all the more unique is the fact that it has been painted in a bright shade of yellow making it a truly one-of-a-kind XJ220.

By comparison, the standard Jaguar XJ220 is fitted with the same engine but ‘only’ delivers 540 hp. As a result, it can hit 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds. However, there’s no telling just how fast the Jaguar XJ220S could be in the right conditions.

The following photoshoot took place at an unused Spitfire hanger in the U.K. with both vehicles being privately owned.

REPORT HERE

New F-TYPE and prototype C-X75 to be presented at exciting supercar event

• New F-TYPE and prototype C-X75 to be presented at exciting supercar event
• Privately-owned XJ220 and XJR-15 to complete Jaguar display at Wilton House

The award-winning Jaguar F-TYPE convertible will feature in a unique presentation of past, present and prototype Jaguar sports cars at the Wilton Classic Supercar** event on Sunday 04 August. The F-TYPE will be positioned prominently on site, alongside a prototype version of the innovative C-X75 hybrid sports car.

Experts from Jaguar and C-X75 programme partner Williams F1 will be on hand to provide information relating to F-TYPE and C-X75. Jaguar will also celebrate its sports car heritage with the presentation of privately owned examples of the rare XJ220 and XJR-15 sports cars.

Lord Pembroke, owner of Wilton House and founder of the Wilton Classic and Supercar event, said: “We will be celebrating the finest sports car ever built at this year’s event, and to have Jaguar present with this collection is very exciting. Jaguar has a rich history in producing sports cars that exude beautiful design, technical innovation and outstanding performance and I look forward to welcoming this great British brand to Wilton House.”

Although the decision was taken in 2012 that as a result of the global economic climate the C-X75 would not enter full production, it was clear that it was a powerful showcase for Jaguar's world-leading expertise in lightweight vehicle construction and the ideal test-bed for the company's innovative research into high-performance, low-emission powertrains.

The great achievements in the development of C-X75 prototypes - including cutting-edge hybrid technologies, carbon composite materials and advanced design solutions pioneered in association with Williams Advanced Engineering - will be utilised in other areas of research and development, innovative future products and next-generation engineering for the Jaguar and Land Rover brands.