Expert motoring fans including Brian Johnson of rock band AC/DC, Goodwood’s Lord March and Jaguar’s Director of Design Ian Callum have chosen their ‘perfect ten’ – the most important and iconic Jaguar cars of all time. The list came ahead of the worldwide reveal of Jaguar’s all-new sports saloon, the Jaguar XE.
The Perfect 10 includes:
1. SS100: Jaguar’s first 100mph production car.
2. XK120 – registration NUB 120: Perhaps the most famous XK120 in the world. Driven by Ian Appleyard and Pat Lyons (daughter of Sir William Lyons) to numerous rally wins in the 1950s, including the Alpine Rallye des Alpes in 1950 and 1951.
3. C-type, registration NDU 289: Original entry in the 1953 Mille Miglia, and one of just 54 cars built.
4. D-type, registration 393 RW: This penultimate D-type won the 12 hours race at Reims driven, by Hamilton and Bueb, and was sixth at Le Mans with the same driver pairing.
5. MK II: A great example of the legendary sporting saloon for which Jaguar has become globally renowned, and the genesis of the brand-new XE.
6. E-type, registration77 RW: The Jaguar ‘Works’ press car, famously driven overnight by Norman Dewis to Geneva for its Motor Show debut to great fanfare. This was the first production Jaguar to reach 150 mph, and is the earliest surviving E-type Roadster
7. XJ13: Only one example of this car was built, being the first Jaguar to use the V12 engine. The XJ13 was built for – but never raced at – Le Mans, and was designed by Malcolm Sayer.
8. XJ6 S1: Car of the Year when launched in 1968, this particular XJ6 was Sir William Lyons’ personal car.
9. TWR XJS: Tom Walkinshaw was very successful in motorsport for Jaguar in the 1980s and returned Jaguar to the podium with the racing version of the legendary XJS winning the European Touring Car Championship.
10. XJR-9. Tom Walkinshaw won Le Mans in 1988 with this very car, in one of Jaguar’s seven victories in the famous endurance race.
AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson has driven off with another series of Cars That Rock for Discovery.
The international factual broadcaster has recommissioned the Back2Back show for a second 6 x 60-minute series.
Cars That Rock With Brian Johnson follows the rock star as he drives some of the most iconic cars in history. The series will put him behind the wheels of Jaguar, McLaren, Mercedes and Alfa Romeo cars.
The first series launched on free-to-air network Quest in the UK in May, averaging 220,000 (0.9%) across its six episodes, above the channel’s slot average of 143,000 (0.7%).
The show, which will return in 2015, was commissioned by Elizabeth McIntyre, vice president of production and development, factual, Discovery Networks International. It is exec produced by Back2Back’s David Nottman-Watt and Benedetta Pinnelli and Discovery’s Catherine Ball.
“We look for real experts in all our shows and as notorious speed freak, competing in vintage car races all over the globe, Brian is the perfect man for the job,” said McIntyre.