OWNER

Mk1 Jaguar Hawthorn / Andrew Badham

Ifirst met Andrew who owns this car on Instagram. I meet a lot of people on Instagram. Some are across the other side of the world, and some like Andrew are just 45 minutes drive away from where I live.

And so it was a on an unusually warm and calm early autumn day that I invited Andrew to join me with his Mk1 Jaguar Hawthorn, for some lunch and a few photos of his car at Whatley Manor - the new home-from-home of b500.

After a few exchanges on ‘the gram’, Andrew agreed what a nice idea it would

be and that he didn’t need much of an excuse to drive across country from his home in the North Cotswolds, to Whatley in the South.

I arrived earlier than the time I had suggested to Andrew, just so I could scope Whatley for parking spaces to photograph and check the light etc - which was that beautiful September light we sometimes get in early autumn and the trees at Whatley were just starting to turn from green to orange.

Being a typical photographer I was watching the light as it changed minute by minute and decided to catch Andrew as he pulled in through the open gates at the top of the drive and started the half mile drive towards the main house. I stopped him like a police officer half way up the drive and introduced myself. I then proceeded to ask if he minded if we start photographing and then had lunch, as the light, the light, the light! (Like the often mad man I can be about ‘the light’). I don’t think its just me, but maybe it is?

And so after his 45 minute drive, a quick elbow bump ‘hello’ and I was asking Andrew to drive the car here, move it there, face it this way, turn it that way. (Not much has changed since my fashion

shoot days), this way darling, that looks great, pout, chin up, chin down, eyes left…and Andrew very kindly obliged so I could photograph his prized classic literally in the best possible light.

Having used the light to my advantage I felt less pressured than if we had parked the car, gone in for lunch and then found it to be cloudy and dull, (which of course in England, it might of even been snowing such is the range of weather options often available to us in just one day). And so we enjoyed a leisurely afternoon on the terrace and chatted about the car Andrew had purchased just a few months ago at the start of the lockdown.

First off it was easy for me to see how much pride Andrew has in being the new custodian of this fabulous heritage classic Jaguar. He brought with him files and files of images and information and original books and stories about the car and its history.

The car is a 1959 Jaguar Mk1 supplied by Henlys of London and with a rare factory sunroof and disc brakes. This particular car with the 3.4L engine, of which 17,405 were built, finishing in 1959. Since then it has had just four previous owners from new and has received a ten year restoration which finished in 2013. Further work was later carried out by M&C Wilkinson adding a T5 gearbox, power lock diff, PAS, new and upgraded lights, a new fuel tank, a stainless exhaust and my favourite - a louvred bonnet.

The ‘Hawthorn’ is a tribute car, of which several have been built over the years in memory of World champion Mike Hawthorn who died in 1959 in his Mk1 Jaguar which was on loan to him from Jaguar at the time. Andrew’s left the factory in April 1959, just three months after the untimely death of Mike Hawthorn. Painted in classic British Racing Green and complete with Suede Green leather, the registration WXX

890 is the original London plate as designated by Henlys.

This particular Mk1 has had a very good life and without doubt will continue to have in the hands of Andrew, which is wonderful to know as there are thought to be only around 200 in roadworthy condition of the 17,405 originally produced. WXX 890 spent the 1970’s in Hampshire and then Dorset and then in 1988 it joined a new custodian in Wiltshire, (and by coincidence the county we are in for this photo-editorial at Whatley Manor).

This particular Wiltshire based custodian owned the car for nineteen years, and

it was this owner who was responsible for the decade long rebuild to such high standards. Now several years on and I can say the car remains exceptional in every respect. The as original Suede Green leather interior looks almost new with just a tiny hint of patina, which it deserves to have. The paintwork was gleaming in the wonderful light of the day, and the body coloured wire wheels really set the car off, as does Andrews addition of the louvred bonnet, making the car look almost menacing as if a true prowling cat!

Andrew confirms the car is an absolute delight to drive and on ‘days like these’ is an absolute must to take out on the roads

around the Cotswolds and really enjoy it as it was meant to be. A little bit fast and a little bit furious…and then a very stately arrival into Whatley. Andrew then had the enjoyable 45 minute drive home, with the factory fitted sliding steel sunroof open, what could be better - and we both enjoyed our afternoon and the delights of such a fabulous location to enjoy some good food and drinks and conversation about cars.

My sincere thanks to Andrew for meeting me at Whatley Manor with his MK1 Jaguar and my thanks to Whatley Manor for hosting b500, and my thanks to the weather…and that light!