The car in which to be mistaken for a celebrity!
I promised to look into the Jaguar brand with the objective of finding out how many models have been manufactured down through the years because the problem is that, while some people grow tired of their cars and consign them to the undergrowth, others come behind them and rebuild the cars to their former glory. Consequently, trying to keep up with the Jaguar line is hard work because there is probably a representative from all the models still functioning today.
As best I can tell, there have been sixty-six models created, and these are spread between saloons, company executive types, concept models, and racing and the competition range. Jaguar loves to use an alphabet soup of car descriptions, so trying to keep track of what is what becomes a full time occupation.
For instance, the first Jag that I owned was the car shown above, which is the XK 120. For the longest time I thought it was an XJ 120. There is no such thing. This car was manufactured during 1948 to 1954, and is a classic in today's market. Updated models appeared during 1954 to 1957 as the XK 140, then from 1957 to 1960 there was the XK 150. These were concept sports models.
There were a number of saloons with the insignia of Mark V to Mark X over the period 1948 to 1966, but this line was competition with Rolls Royce, and beyond the grasp of ordinary plebes like myself. Then the XJ6 models appeared, which for the ordinary person was the definitive Jaguar of its time. It regularly made an appearance with royals in the back seat, or at film premieres.
Jaguar recognized that it had a winner on its hands and has stayed with the XJ series from their introduction in 1968 to the present. However, being Jaguar, there have been many variations on this theme including the 6, 8, and 12 cylinder engines. My six-cylinder swallows more than enough fuel, so I wouldn't even like to start up the 12-cylinder.
As a concept car, perhaps the most successful model of all time was, and remains the E-Type. This is a two-seater car that women found made their panties inexplicably roll down. I have to admit that it is a lovely car, but it just doesn't do a thing for me. In spite of its stylish lines and sporty motif it has often been used for racing. I don't think I would place mine in the scrum with all those others where it might get scratched.
Finally, leave it to James Bond to recognize a top of the line car in "Skyfall" as they use the latest model XF saloon. Again, this is one super car, both to look at, and I'm sure also to drive, although I have not had that pleasure. As I am 73 years of age,if I had the money this is the Jag that I am supposed to want. I would not have this car if you gave it to me, because to begin with it should come complete with its own driver. I must admit that I do not enjoy driving as I once did, but I am not ready to give up the controls just yet. Even if I were behind the wheel, the car just feels as though it were made for someone older than I am, but that's probably because I only feel aged 55.
It feels nice to have a Jag parked in my garage that I take out once in a long while. It has to be sunny and I have to be in the mood. There are two of us who own Jaguars in my little town. He has an S-type that he purchased as new, because he can actually afford to own a Jag, and I have my XJ6 Sovereign that I bought from someone at NATO who said it had been used to transport VIPs, and that no-one, not even the mechanic had got into that car with dirty shoes.
What else can I say?
Copyright (c) 2012 Eugene Carmichael
