Innehållsförteckning för Feb/March 2023 från Classic Jaguar

This issue is notably ‘XK8 heavy’. I could claim to have planned it, but in reality, that’s how the chips fell. Richard Gunn tells the story of the ‘Die Another Day’ James Bond XKR whilst Peter Simpson continues the spy theme by going on tour in the Austin Powers XK8 ‘Goldmember’ Shaguar, taking in a few laps of Goodwood enroute. Obviously influenced by the lure of circuit tarmac, he lends his Daughter, Emma, his rather less outlandishly liveried XK8 to experience track driving for the first time. My problem is, as the model approaches three decades old, I still think of it as modern and relatively new (it’s an age thing!). In reality with the escalation in XJS values, it has truly become the sporting entry level Jaguar. Do you…

It’s personally upsetting to me to view Mike Freeman’s superbly detailed 6.0 XJS coupe – I’m overcome with a sense of failure that my own 6.0 convertible resides at home in a rather less than complete state. All the more galling, because Mike has owned his car for less years and claims little mechanical knowledge prior to his restoration adventure - and I’m supposed to know about these things! MIKE’S BACK STORY Mike qualified as a sound engineer, but after a while he realised that working in a windowless box was not his thing (which seems to be the fate of the average sound technologist) and craved a more outdoor based pursuit. A career handbrake turn occurred as the role of ‘Length Inspector’ for the Canal and River Trust piqued…

Send an email to cj.ed@kelsey.co.uk or write to: The Editor, Classic Jaguar, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6AL ATTRACTING THE YOUNG I was interested to read Nichola Osborne’s letter about attracting younger members to our marque clubs. It is perhaps significant that although the plea is to do more to attract a youthful membership, there seems a dearth of detail about exactly what it is that would attract them. Assuming the wish is to get more twenties, thirties and forties to join, one needs first to examine what attracts members to groups. Indeed, why do people join or find themselves in groups? Surely, the key is common interest or interests. It’s not a wild assumption to assume that members join tennis clubs…

The Jaguar Drivers’ Club ended 2022 on a high with one of the best-ever stands at the NEC in November for the Lancaster Classic Motor Show. The Club moved up in the world, too, with a much bigger stand in Hall 1, with room for three extra cars in addition to our six finalists in the Champion of Champions concours. And although the winning XK120, belonging to father-and-son duo Mike and Matt Birtwistle, attracted a lot of attention – even from Richard Hammond (ex of Top Gear) – the real showstopper was Nigel Webb’s spectacular V12-powered XJ220. Other visitors included one of our newest members, Sir David Suchet, and our Club President Sir John Egan. It will be a hard act to follow at the NEC Restoration Show on 24-26…

Kermit, my emphatically green E-type was elevated to nobility during our recent tour of the Highlands and Islands, when a character named Lord Kermit appeared in a novel my daughter happened to be reading at the time. Evidently this was predestined or maybe the author had been inspired by my modest contributions to Classic Jaguar magazine and borrowed the name for his dashing hero. As if vitalised by this dignified status (Lord) Kermit has continued to perform flawlessly, although my definition of the word is qualified by a lifetime of mechanical misfortune where one hundred percent perfection is a myth. Nevertheless, the only minor issues to develop were a mild pulling to the left and a niggling vibration at speeds above 60mph. This was curious because the identical steering defect…

Thanks to friend of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, and Swallow guru, Gil Mond, we were alerted to a Swallow Sidecar appearing on eBay. This wasn’t one of the iconic early Model 4 sidecars resplendent in polished aluminium, but a much later one from 1937 – aModel 8D Kenilworth. Not as handsome a looking product as the early ones but a Swallow nonetheless and one that plugs a gap in our Collection. Swallow continued to build and sell sidecars even after they started making Swallow bodied cars, moved down to Coventry and morphed into SS Cars Ltd. Following the flotation of SS Cars, Swallow Sidecar Co (1935) Ltd was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary, under the management of Howard Davies with William Lyons designing the sidecars. The Company continued…

L etitia’s diary (p50) is a little less upbeat thannormal, recalling lost friends. Musings on bringing the young into our hobby rumble on via our letters page (50). Unfortunately, these thoughts are brought into stark reality by learning that we have lost three more Jaguar enthusiasts since the last issue was published -correspondent. Our paths crossed most frequently when she became a leading light in the short lived Jaguar Car Club. I recall her attending events in her black XK150, purchased brand new and only sold in 2006 when it became a little heavy for a 97 year old to pilot. Her Jaguar driving went on for a further three years courtesy of a somewhat more benign X-Type. An amazing, long life well led. GRAHAM SEARLE, 1951 I first encountered…

CKL DEVELOPMENTS Have been named ‘2022 Specialist of the Year’ against stiff multimarque opposition at the Octane magazine Historic Motoring Awards. The accolade was accepted by the eponymous founder, Chris Keith-Lucas, accompanied by Managing Directors Tim Mason and Mark Hews. The glittering event was held at The Londoner Hotel, and we trust that they will be fully recovered from the celebrations in time for the next season… JULIAN BARRATT Friend of the magazine and incidentally CEO of SNG Barratt, was the joint winner of the Classic Car Ambassador of the Year award. Also presented at the Octane Historic Motoring Awards 2022 (in association with Classic Insurance Services). There were five contenders in the category including Julian, the other joint winner being James Wood. The nominees were recognised as “individuals in…

Twenty years ago, the 20th official James Bond movie, Die Another Day, was at cinemas across the world. Pierce Brosnan’s fourth (and, as it turned out, final) adventure as 007 saw him in a brand new Aston Martin for the first time; his previous outings had only included the classic DB5 thanks to a deal with BMW that dictated its saloons and sports cars would be the main star cars. But for Die Another Day, the German firm had departed, possibly smarting that all most people talked about anyway was the revival of the DB5 for the first time since Sean Connery’s day. BMW’s replacement was Ford, and the new kid on the block was keen to showcase its diverse range on the big screen. As the Blue Oval owned…

The Jaguar drew up on the starting grid resembling a giant gift-wrapped birthday present. With effortless cool the driver broke into a toothy smile of sly invitation, dribbling slightly onto his lacy cravat and pimped out polyester suit as he breathed the words “Yeah Baby”. I was daydreaming again, visualising myself as stunt double to Tom Cruise on the set of “The Leaping Spy”, an imaginary Austin Powers movie with a Jaguar theme. Back to reality and it isn’t half bad, because the real world does actually see me on the track at Goodwood, in the Austin Powers XK8, thankfully minus the polyester and with Tom Cruise nowhere in sight. However, extraordinary good fortune has come my way as I have blagged a few minutes for a photoshoot in the…

Rust is the enemy of older steel bodied cars, it's a process that converts metallic iron to iron oxide which is the orange flakes so commonly seen on older cars. It can be a difficult process to stop in less-than-ideal conditions, such as high humidify or exposure to road de-icing salts in the winter. Once rust has gained a toehold on metal it is difficult to stop its spread, so it is vital for older cars to protect the body from rust before it starts. In this guide we will be assuming that the car is free from rust, and we will be protecting it from rust before it starts, rather than treating rust that is already present. RUSTPROOFING FLUIDS There are multiple fluids available for protecting and treating a…

MIKE HAWTHORN GOODWOOD TRACKDAY If you have been inspired by Peter Simpson’s features on pages 28 and 36, you are in luck! Michael Ballard, organiser of the Farnham Grand Prix and many other prestige events has arranged the ’Mike Hawthorn Memorial Track Day’, taking place on Wednesday 5th July 2023, at the prestigious Goodwood Circuit. This is to commemorate Mike's 1st GP win, exactly 70 years to the day after the event. He later went on to win the 1955 Le Mans 24hr race for Jaguar and became Britain’s first F1 World Champion in 1958. The event is open to any roadworthy or race eligible motorcar, be that modern, classic or replica, subject to a 98 decibel noise limit. Owners of all marques are welcome to participate. In order to…

Driving in a dynamic fashion on public roads is a foolhardy pursuit. There are other vehicles, pedestrians and animals to consider let alone speed limits. Few have access to a private airfield, so is there be a safe environment for those who yearn to let loose, craving the invigorating freedom of speed in which to develop skills and understanding for the handling capabilities of their Jaguar? You may have been aware of trackdays, assuming them to be the preserve of the seasoned track god, thus evoking feelings of inferiority sufficient to dissuade a potential participant through the risk of personal embarrassment. However, novicefriendly events do exist and this feature recounts the experience of not just a trackday novice but that of Emma, a 27-year-old female unaccustomed to most forms of…

Trevor Bowkett has some previous E-type ‘form’ with Classic Jaguar, back in the April/May 2019 edition we experienced a very low mileage Series 3 V12 coupe that he had owned between 2006 and 2017, adding just 3900 miles to its tally during his tenure. This seems positively astronomic when compared to the 2 miles he has covered since the rebuild of the E we see here. So, what is the story behind this hybrid model? THE BACKSTORY Trevor’s first E was a 1966 4.2 purchased in 1975 and used on a daily basis for commuting to work. Then in 1978 he bought a carmen red 3.8 flat floor fixed head for his wife. They were used as a ‘his and hers’ daily drivers, but in honesty, the aging recalcitrant Moss…

The Goodwood Revival meeting, held over the weekend of 16th-18th September, offered an unrivalled opportunity to view Jaguars (and lesser marques) in a period environment. Not only in action ‘on track’, but also in the paddocks and car parks. Just the lucky few have the chance to actually race at Goodwood – but if you would like to experience the hallowed tarmac first hand, turn to ‘Products’ starting on page 8 to find out how you can make that dream come true… To view more stunning images, you can access the Gage’s websites via: https://nickgage22.myportfolio.com/jaguar-at-goodwood https://adobe.ly/3r7qtOZ https://rogergage.myportfolio.com/goodwood-revival-jaguars…

William Lyons categorised himself as a belowaverage golfer. He always said to himself that given time he would improve. Being out on the greens and fairways was something he truly relished in the company of friends, both old and new. A round with Bertie Henly, either at the Coventry Club or at Hendon when he visited London was always a pleasure. The two men were both about the same standard, and with very much a common interest in the promotion and selling of SS cars. The SS relationship with Hawker Siddeley began during a round of golf at Hendon Golf Club when Frank Hough of Henlys introduced Lyons to Frank Spriggs, its managing director. The ill-fated construction of AVRO Manchester bombers, the refurbishment of Armstrong Whitworth AW38 ‘Whitley’ bombers and…