Jaguar Cars (inc. SS)

That ones a different shape and design to the one I have though, so maybe there's a whole range of them.

Without wanting to appear nosey - most people know that Sir William lived and ended his days at Wappenbury Hall (and indeed was buried at Wappenbury Cemetery) however many are not aware that prior to that he lived in Coventry on Gibbet Hill Road. The property was/is known as Woodside and was for sale five years ago - Woodside sale - I'd like to think snapped up by a Jaguar enthusiast! (for a mere £700k!)

You are correct Sir William did live on the Gibbet Hill Road and I made many visits as a television engineer when I worked for G R Marson Ltd (see Image). George and Sir William were good friends. I included the image as a reminder for anyone who might have also used this company and bought TV's from them.

How's about this for a piece of Coventry history - First production sports car ever sold by the factory

A section of the old Swallow Road entrance is still clinging on for life!

In 1970/71 I was working in a village garage out in the sticks in Oxfordshire, one of our customers had a E- Type and I drove it once but when coming to T junctions with high hedgerows you had to be careful as so much of the car stuck out so you couldn't see if it was clear to pull out.

A former boss of mine had one. He reckoned that it was problematical at night as it was so low that you were always being dazzled by other car lights, even on dipped beam. I'd still like one though

I'd still love one especially an early coupe. Many don't realise they built over 65,000 of them though!

I have put a few photos of the production assembly of Jaguar cars 1930 under members' gallery (moriarty).

The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust now has a website describing their current vehicles, which include the current Daimler bearing the registration mark DU1. Post copied from topic Coventry Vehicle Registrations on 4th Feb 2021 9:40 am

The temporary Coventry Station building, as seen here circa 1960-1962? (the Jag here standing in front of it is an absolute beauty!). Post copied from topic Railways around Coventry on 20th Feb 2021 8:29 pm

During our school holidays we would walk the length of the A45 Allesley to Fenside to be looked after by our grandmother (because we couldn't afford the bus fare) and see car transporters laden with new Jaguar cars being delivered straight off the assembly lines at Browns Lane to nationwide distributors. I said to myself then I would own a Jaguar one day, I loved them as I love them still. I'm still waiting.

Years ago there was a Welsh guy, a true mechanic, who had a garage near Manassas in Virginia. He worked on all kinds of car but specialized in restoring British cars. He always had several cars worth looking at - Morris Minors (sigh), MGs and one day a beautiful red E Type. This was about 1985 and he wanted $20,000 for it. I begged my husband to buy it - we were in good standing at the bank. I figured it would be a great investment as well as loads of fun but he didn't agree. I know I should have put my foot down, citing my Cov Kid heritage, cried, whatever. We didn't buy it. I wonder what it would be worth now?

Linda, You can expect to pay over £100,000 for a fully restored early spec model. I remember the first one I saw, it was in "The Motor Packing" in Torrington Avenue, being readied to go to the US. I was hypnotised, this was 1962. Manassas? Is that the civil war site, or bull run? A passion of mine, the American Civil War

At the other extreme I was offered an E Type for £250. It was the winter when we had petrol shortages, petrol coupons, and the price of fuel soared to nearly £1 a gallon. I think it was 1973/74. The car was a red 1964 Fixed Head Coupe. It looked OK from 100 yards away on a foggy day. It had obviously had a very hard life because the bonnet was both rusty and twisted, the doors were showing rust, and the rear wheel arches were quite rusty. The engine smoked like a destroyer going into battle and was very noisy. The gearbox was also a bit suspect from what I was told. The independent rear suspension clanked and banged over every bump. The exhaust looked rusty and the tyres were past their best. I saw it a few times in the vicinity of Lythalls Lane and it was somewhere round there that the owner extolled the virtues of owning such a car, although at the time I was not impressed. I recall that the remaining MOT was measured in weeks, maybe days. At the time I was newly married and driving round in a 1964 Morris 1100 which cost me just £20 so I did not have £250 even if I had been tempted, which I was not. I guess that the car went to the scrapyard and was broken for what few bits were still any good. Over the years I look back and think which cars I should have bought but did not. The E Type was not one of them although a 1956 2.4 Saloon was!