Jaguar Statue

I guess you could say it was a larger (much larger) version of Jaguars original bonnet mascot.

This is a very poor attempt of what it looked like, hope someone can find the correct one

Yes. but wasnt it the other way round, sorry if I sound picky I dont mean to be.

Was it a bit like this ?

Yes but only about 6ft high

Anne, I think the cat was more or less at ground level rather than on a tall pillar like your photo portrays. Maybe if you were to take the top plinth off your photo (the layer above the "Jaguar Cars" block) then that would be very similar to the original version we are looking for.

A Google search of 'ansty rd + jaguar' gives a response on 'the free library dot com' with a Coventry Evening Telegraph question from 1999. Q. An old well-worn direction sign from Jaguar Cars can still be seen on the roof of a building in Swan Lane. How many other advertising sites did Jaguar have directing visitors to its factories? The answer from Michael Hancock of Sewall Highway was, A. Until a few years ago Jaguar had an advertising site at the junction of Wyken Croft and Ansty Rd. It was in the form of a larger than life jaguar animal in white, aimed in the direction of Dane Rd. On the hoarding behind, the name 'Jaguar' appeared in large lettering with an arrow pointing west. After it was removed two small houses were built on the site. The model of the jaguar survived and was taken back to the Browns Lane factory where it was used to promote the firm's cars. My own thoughts are that I saw this statue in the museum which used to be at Browns Lane - this was at least 15 years ago. The smaller jaguar models like the one in Balsall Common were seen Jaguar showrooms in the 1960's, I used to see one on my way to school in Leamington at Jaguar dealers George Kidd.

Yes, it's in the museum, saw it about 15 years ago when my youngest sat in the Jag F1 car

The only problem with the Jaguar museum is that it is not there any more. Some of the cars are now displayed in the Coventry Transport Museum in Hales St, and some at the Gaydon museum.

Well done 20A! Where on earth did you find that?

We were in Wetherspoons in Blackpool and they had a bit of history about the Jaguar Car company on the wall as they do it looks a like it may have started life here up north at Blackpool After the Second World War, due to the unfavourable connotations of the SS initials, the company was renamed Jaguar Cars Ltd in 1945. The original company here.

I certainly remember this particular 'Jaguar' very well. It's main purpose was to give directions to the Browns Lane site. Additional directions were given on ordinary hoardings along the way. There used to be one on the Holyhead Road, immediately before the railway bridge heading out of town towards Allesley. These were from a period of time well before the days of the M6 and the M69 - and sat-navs!. The A46 was one of the many roads that headed THROUGH the city, unlike today where the city can be by-passed, consequently the Ansty Road was a busy route bringing traffic from the east and north-east.

Ron is right. In 1962 I went to an interview for an apprenticeship at Browns Lane and was given written instructions on how to get there. I remember the instructions used Jaguar statues and hoardings as waypoints. I did not live in Coventry at that time and my route brought me into the city along Ansty Road. I remember the statue was on Ansty Road but I could not have said with any certainty exactly where. I found Browns Lane with no problem. I did not get the apprenticeship at Jaguar but I did with another motor company in the city, which is what brought me to Coventry to live 53 years ago.