by "Svend" (svend)
Published 06/15/2017 at 07:30
by "Svend" (svend)
Published 06/15/2017 at 07:30
No Tags
STARS: 3
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/jaguar-land-rover-opens-%C2%A37m-classic-hq
Jaguar Land Rover has opened a new £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 domination by the Jaguar D-type of the classic Le Mans 24-hour race, which scored first, second, third, fourth and sixth places in the 1957 running of the classic. In all, Jaguar has won Le Mans seven times, the first victory in 1951.
The new 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 new classic cars facility in Essen, Germany.
JLR launched its classic cars business a little over a year ago, initially using facilities inside 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 new owners under a Reborn Legends programme. Last year Hannig announced a plan to rebuild Land Rover Series 1 and two-door Range Rover models for sale, and expanded his offering this year to embrace an initial batch of 10 Series 1 E-type Jaguars.
Classic Works also accepts commissions for improving or completely restoring cars, and supports these activities by offering 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 10 years or longer; any car that arrives at Classic Works for the first time gets a 121-point plan. Guided tours of the new Coventry workshops will be offered from September.
“Classic Works is hugely important 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 plenty 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.
Land Rover Discovery 1 (1989-1998)
Based on the Range Rover of the ‘80s, the Disco combined relative modernity with unparalleled comfort and visibility, and classic styling. Often seen as better and more desirable than the Series 2, and getting rarer, especially 3dr models
Range Rover P38A (1995-2002)
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 offer great comfort and value, and problem fixes are now available. Its day will come.
Jaguar XJ -S (1976-1996)
The cheapest secondhand V12 car in history is already rising in value as classic car lovers focus on its enduring value for money. Looks don’t please everyone, but the refinement and performance are still surprising. Ignore the fuel consumption!
Jaguar XK 8 and XK-R (1996-2006)
Another top value option, plentiful and fast but not greatly valued at present. Looks, inside 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 new classic chief test driver
Le Mans winner Andy Wallace, leader of the three-man team that took XJR-9 to Jaguar’s sixth Le Mans 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 new owners. He will also offer expert driving tuition to the new owners.
Wallace has had a close relationship with Jaguar since he, Johnny Dumfries and Jan Lammers stood on the top step at Le Mans 29 years ago, in particular playing an important 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 1957 race cars) that will run from Classic Works’ new 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.
Now some awesome pictures.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Check out the video from the link above. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! pretty.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
06/15/2017 at 07:36, STARS: 0
nice one!
when are you going to check it out and have a look?
"Svend" (svend)
06/15/2017 at 07:42, STARS: 0
I still haven’t got out to the M-Sport place at Cockermouth and it’s only 25 miles away. But Jaguar and Land Rover have had a place in my heart since I was a child when I was given a model of a Range Rover from the Darien Gap.
So it’s something I’ve a strong interest in doing.
"SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media" (silentbutnotreallydeadly)
06/15/2017 at 07:47, STARS: 1
Holyfuckaducktome... there’s some sweet curved metal in those images. The coin involved in getting my 2 door Range Rover to them makes me think it’s still probably scrap metal....[sad]
"Svend" (svend)
06/15/2017 at 07:50, STARS: 0
Just found their tour page for their different sites.
https://experience.landrover.com/manufacturing-tours
https://experience.landrover.com/land-rover-classic
"Svend" (svend)
06/15/2017 at 07:53, STARS: 0
Are you in the U.S.?
There should be somewhere in the U.S. because didn’t the Land Rover University close over there, so there are some experienced mechanics over there wanting to do what they’ve spend so long learning about.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
06/15/2017 at 07:55, STARS: 1
jeez, if i lived in the UK i’d be all over those.
"SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media" (silentbutnotreallydeadly)
06/15/2017 at 07:57, STARS: 0
Nope. USA is nowhere near me. Thank the deities. Equally grateful for similar distance from the UK. Still a little sad for the old Rangie though..?
"Svend" (svend)
06/15/2017 at 07:59, STARS: 0
The classic works tour at Oxford Road for £49 then a our of the Range Rover story for £49 sounds interesting.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
06/15/2017 at 08:02, STARS: 1
i’d do them all over time.
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
06/15/2017 at 08:26, STARS: 1
Jaguar’s heritage support is amazing, even for basic cars like my plain old XJ8L.
A connector for a washer jet on my car broke, so I ordered a new one from Jaguar, along with a new hose and another plastic bit. The hose and the plastic bit were both made in 2015, the connector was manufactured new at the time of order. Total cost was about $30. Mind, this was for non-essential parts on a car that has been out of production for 15 years.
"Svend" (svend)
06/15/2017 at 08:36, STARS: 0
It’s good that they are restoring them
It’s the making a limited number of the old cars new, that’s going to upset the price of some of the old cars a little. Goodwood has banned some of the new-old cars from it’s classic races. The classic car owners throw those cars about and feel that someone who just has lots of money and buys a new old car would be more carefree about throwing their cars about further than the classic owners are prepared to and that it wouldn’t be an equal race.
"RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht" (ramblininexile)
06/15/2017 at 09:31, STARS: 1
Practical or not, I certainly would like one of those custom-fit fender blankets.