Jaguar's 75th Anniversary Celebrations

Jaguar entered at 2010 Mille Miglia revival event, for its 75th anniversary celebrations. In order to represent the company there were 27 vehicles from around the globe. Actually, the decision was made to celebrate the occasion in an extra special way. Therefore, Jaguar Cars and the Jaguar Heritage Trust sponsored the event; they included XK120, C-type and D-type models for 1,000 mile rally, started from Brescia in northern Italy. That was an amazing event which gave the Jaguar lovers a chance to see preserved Jaguars from the manufacturer’s own collection. You’ll surely surprise to know about some cars that participated in that rally, drove by the Jaguar ‘works team’.

The 1950 XK120 registered NUB 120, a model that is known with one of the best accomplishments of Jaguar in the motorsport world. That vehicle was privately owned and campaigned by Ian Appleyard, with his wife Patricia (Sir William Lyons' daughter). Let me mention here that Ian Appleyard also won the Alpine Rally in 1950-51, the 1951 RAC Rally and the Tulip Rally in 1951.

There was also the remarkable C-type (registered NDU 289), a model that helped Jaguar a lot enjoying its triumph in racing by providing it first victory in the Le Mans 24hour race in 1951. 

Another Jaguar was a 1956 D-type (long nose), registered 393 RW, the penultimate D-type manufactured by Jaguar in March 1956 for the works team. In the same year that car succeeded in winning the Reims 12hour race, driven by Duncan Hamilton & Ivor Bueb, and more interestingly its indicated by the Jaguar Heritage Trust that 393 RW is one of the most original D-types that exist.
  

767 E-types at Silverstone Classic

In July 2011 at Silverstone Classic; special lap was arranged for an amazing parade of classic E-type, but nobody knew that 767 E-types are going to establish a Guinness World Record. That special parade was actually for celebrating the golden anniversary of Britain’s most favourite sportscar. Everyone enjoyed the parade; especially drivers of classic E-types were so excited to see so many cars of same type. Broadly speaking, I never had seen that lovely scene before in my life. 

Veritably, E-type was designed for the racing circuits and by establishing the world record after decades, E-type proved to be a great sportscar of all times. I thought that if Sir William Lyons were alive to see the success of his masterpiece, his feelings were surely great too. Although, he were not to see that parade at Silverstone Classic, but the Jaguar lovers did really feel that why Sir William Lyons, founder of Jaguar, once said, "The car is the closest thing we will ever create to something that is alive." As all the drivers at parade demonstrated their liveliness and also the intimacy with Jaguar E-type; a vehicle which always stays in hearts.