Jaguar Land Rover opens £7m Classic HQ
Jaguar Land Rover has opened a fresh £7million Classic Works headquarters in Coventry, which it describes as “the heart and soul” of its fast-growing global business restoring, maintaining and selling older vehicles.
The opening marks the 60th anniversary of a history-making predominance by the Jaguar D-type of the classic Le Boy’s 24-hour race, which scored very first, 2nd, third, fourth and sixth places in the one thousand nine hundred fifty seven running of the classic. In all, Jaguar has won Le Boy’s seven times, the very first victory in 1951.
The fresh Classic Works facility, the largest of its type in the world at 150,000 sq ft, is situated close to JLR’s recently opened SVO base, which upgrades latest models to customers’ requirements. Classic Works will be supported later this summer by the opening of another fresh classic cars facility in Essen, Germany.
JLR launched its classic cars business a little over a year ago, originally using facilities inwards the old Browns Lane factory, from which it has already produced a limited run of “continuation” Lightweight E-Types. It is now beginning a similar run of nine XKSS models.
Director Tim Hannig describes Classic Works’ core mission as being to improve, restore and support older Jaguars and Land Rovers, and to find and restore vehicles it subsequently sells to fresh owners under a Reborn Legends programme. Last year Hannig announced a plan to rebuild Land Rover Series one and two-door Range Rover models for sale, and expanded his suggesting this year to embrace an initial batch of ten Series one E-type Jaguars.
Classic Works also accepts commissions for improving or totally restoring cars, and supports these activities by suggesting a range of spares (more than 30,000 items so far) and services. It also offers repair and maintenance of models out of production for ten years or longer; any car that arrives at Classic Works for the very first time gets a 121-point plan. Guided tours of the fresh Coventry workshops will be suggested from September.
“Classic Works is hugely significant to Jaguar Land Rover,” says Special Operations MD John Edwards. “It’s much more than a building. It is the heart and soul of Jaguar Land Rover Classic for our clients worldwide.
Jaguar Land Rover’s top five restoration targets
Jaguar Land Rover’s back catalogue contains slew of enticing restoration targets. Here’s a quintet…
Land Rover Series II and IIA (1958-1971)
Far more common, but far more capable than the Series I, the II and IIA maintain and even enhance the vintage looks of the original. But they suffered badly from chassis rot, so it’s hard to find an unmolested example.
Based on the Range Rover of the ’80s, the Disco combined relative modernity with unparalleled convenience and visibility, and classic styling. Often seen as better and more desirable than the Series Two, and getting rarer, especially 3dr models
Fair to say this bargain-priced RR won’t attract Classic Works just yet, not least because of complexity and a reputation for unreliability. But good examples suggest good convenience and value, and problem fixes are now available. Its day will come.
The cheapest secondhand V12 car in history is already rising in value as classic car paramours concentrate on its bearing value for money. Looks don’t please everyone, but the refinement and spectacle are still surprising. Overlook the fuel consumption!
Another top value option, plentiful and quick but not greatly valued at present. Looks, inwards and out, improve with age and modern-era mechanicals mean the car copes with modern roads and conditions very well. Another sleeper.
Andy Wallace is fresh classic chief test driver
Le Boy’s winner Andy Wallace, leader of the three-man team that took XJR-9 to Jaguar’s sixth Le Guy’s win in 1988, is joining Classic Works as chief test driver, tasked with signing off every one of Classic Works’ Legends Reborn and Legends Continued cars before they’re delivered to their fresh owners. He will also suggest pro driving tuition to the fresh owners.
Wallace has had a close relationship with Jaguar since he, Johnny Dumfries and Jan Lammers stood on the top step at Le Boy’s twenty nine years ago, in particular playing an significant part of the XJ220 supercar, a model in which Classic Works will specialize.
Later this month, Wallace will feature in a convoy of five D-types (including several one thousand nine hundred fifty seven race cars) that will run from Classic Works’ fresh Coventry HQ to Hampton Court Palace, site of this year’s Concourse of Elegance, taking in the Silverstone HQ of the Panasonic Jaguar Racing Formula E team.
Jaguar Land Rover opens £7m Classic HQ, Autocar
Jaguar Land Rover opens £7m Classic HQ
Jaguar Land Rover has opened a fresh £7million Classic Works headquarters in Coventry, which it describes as “the heart and soul” of its fast-growing global business restoring, maintaining and selling older vehicles.
The opening marks the 60th anniversary of a history-making supremacy by the Jaguar D-type of the classic Le Guy’s 24-hour race, which scored very first, 2nd, third, fourth and sixth places in the one thousand nine hundred fifty seven running of the classic. In all, Jaguar has won Le Boy’s seven times, the very first victory in 1951.
The fresh Classic Works facility, the largest of its type in the world at 150,000 sq ft, is situated close to JLR’s recently opened SVO base, which upgrades latest models to customers’ requirements. Classic Works will be supported later this summer by the opening of another fresh classic cars facility in Essen, Germany.
JLR launched its classic cars business a little over a year ago, originally using facilities inwards the old Browns Lane factory, from which it has already produced a limited run of “continuation” Lightweight E-Types. It is now beginning a similar run of nine XKSS models.
Director Tim Hannig describes Classic Works’ core mission as being to improve, restore and support older Jaguars and Land Rovers, and to find and restore vehicles it subsequently sells to fresh owners under a Reborn Legends programme. Last year Hannig announced a plan to rebuild Land Rover Series one and two-door Range Rover models for sale, and expanded his suggesting this year to embrace an initial batch of ten Series one E-type Jaguars.
Classic Works also accepts commissions for improving or totally restoring cars, and supports these activities by suggesting a range of spares (more than 30,000 items so far) and services. It also offers repair and maintenance of models out of production for ten years or longer; any car that arrives at Classic Works for the very first time gets a 121-point plan. Guided tours of the fresh Coventry workshops will be suggested from September.
“Classic Works is hugely significant to Jaguar Land Rover,” says Special Operations MD John Edwards. “It’s much more than a building. It is the heart and soul of Jaguar Land Rover Classic for our clients worldwide.
Jaguar Land Rover’s top five restoration targets
Jaguar Land Rover’s back catalogue contains slew of enticing restoration targets. Here’s a quintet…
Land Rover Series II and IIA (1958-1971)
Far more common, but far more capable than the Series I, the II and IIA maintain and even enhance the vintage looks of the original. But they suffered badly from chassis rot, so it’s hard to find an unmolested example.
Based on the Range Rover of the ’80s, the Disco combined relative modernity with unparalleled convenience and visibility, and classic styling. Often seen as better and more desirable than the Series Two, and getting rarer, especially 3dr models
Fair to say this bargain-priced RR won’t attract Classic Works just yet, not least because of complexity and a reputation for unreliability. But good examples suggest superb convenience and value, and problem fixes are now available. Its day will come.
The cheapest secondhand V12 car in history is already rising in value as classic car paramours concentrate on its bearing value for money. Looks don’t please everyone, but the refinement and spectacle are still surprising. Overlook the fuel consumption!
Another top value option, plentiful and rapid but not greatly valued at present. Looks, inwards and out, improve with age and modern-era mechanicals mean the car copes with modern roads and conditions very well. Another sleeper.
Andy Wallace is fresh classic chief test driver
Le Boy’s winner Andy Wallace, leader of the three-man team that took XJR-9 to Jaguar’s sixth Le Guy’s win in 1988, is joining Classic Works as chief test driver, tasked with signing off every one of Classic Works’ Legends Reborn and Legends Continued cars before they’re delivered to their fresh owners. He will also suggest accomplished driving tuition to the fresh owners.
Wallace has had a close relationship with Jaguar since he, Johnny Dumfries and Jan Lammers stood on the top step at Le Stud’s twenty nine years ago, in particular playing an significant part of the XJ220 supercar, a model in which Classic Works will specialize.
Later this month, Wallace will feature in a convoy of five D-types (including several one thousand nine hundred fifty seven race cars) that will run from Classic Works’ fresh Coventry HQ to Hampton Court Palace, site of this year’s Concourse of Elegance, taking in the Silverstone HQ of the Panasonic Jaguar Racing Formula E team.