Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust - On this Day (February)

After a period of great expectation, the X-TYPE was unveiled to an international audience at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2001. The X-TYPE was the youngest member of the expanding Jaguar family. It was Jaguar’s first entry into the compact sports saloon market. The X-TYPE was the smallestengined Jaguar for thirty years, since the classic 2.4 litre and Mark 2 models of the 1950s and 1960s.

The X-TYPE featured an innovative technical specification. There were five different versions available including the all-wheel drive model which offered agile handling and sure-footed road holding. The car was built in Jaguar’s totally refurbished Halewood plant, located on Merseyside in the north-west of England, the result of an investment of £300 million.

With the X-TYPE, Jaguar connected with a new and different type of customer. .

The idea of making a two-door pillarless version of the XJ saloon had surfaced very early in the car’s development as Jaguar became aware of the growing American market for hardtop cars in the 1960s. Indeed, early XJ6 styling models were all two-door cars.

Built on the short wheelbase floorpan from the original Series 1 saloon, the distinguishing feature of the two-door coupé was the pillarless window style with no doorframe or B-post. The doors were four inches longer than the standard saloon front doors. Further changes included folding front seats to allow access to the rear. All production coupés featured a black vinyl roof covering, and the XJC badging on the boot lid.

XJ12 2-door XJ Coupé to be built. This car is now part of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust.

This SS Airline is one of the best-known and most well-preserved remaining examples. It was delivered new in March 1935 to a Captain S Clough. After passing to a second owner in 1948, the car was bought in 1984 by the History of Jaguar Museum who had the car fully restored. The car was subsequently purchased by Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. Like many other cars of the period, the Airline paid lip service to the then current fashion of streamlining and also reflected the Art Deco style.

It has been said that William Lyons did not personally like the model, and the Airline has been attributed to the influence of William Walmsley, Lyons’s original partner, who would soon leave the Company.

Whatever, it is without doubt the most striking of all the different SS1 body styles, with many unique features, such as the twin wing mounted spare wheels. .

At that time the Jaguar XJ 5.3C cost £11,755, with an extra £321 for the Kent light alloy wheels. .