Jaguar's immaculate collection | Six of the Best
The Type 01 kicks off an entirely new era next week for Jaguar - it's been some journey thus far
E-Type V12, 1974, 55k, POA
While all weeks feel pretty momentous for the British motor industry right now, the one that’s coming is bigger than most - because after an interminable build-up, the Jaguar Type 01 will be shown to the world. The completed, production-grade car, in New York City for the great and the good of automotive to pore over. If the Type 01 is received (and sells) well, an entire generation of super-luxury Jaguars will follow. For now, though, the future can wait a bit longer. It’s Jaguar’s glorious (mostly recent) past, the heritage that fans are so fiercely protective of, that we’re here to celebrate now. Because that’s partly why next week is such a big deal. And no Jaguar looms over a new one quite like the E-Type, the defining British sports car of a generation and the classic against which so many others are judged. This one ain’t no ordinary E, either - the restoration included a 6.0-litre TWR V12…
XJR Portfolio, 2006, 75k, £19,995
But Jaguar has been about so much more than two-door, two-seat sports cars. The Type 01 will continue a lineage of superb saloons, all the way back to the XK-engined Mk1s of the '50s. An assortment of four-doors over the decades has encapsulated Grace, Pace and Space almost perfectly; maybe with a bit more of the former two than the latter one, but the point stands - who hasn’t lusted after a fast Jag saloon at some point? Or more specifically, who hasn’t imagined their life being made significantly better by having an XJR in it? They drive beautifully, go really well (especially when a straight six or V8 is supercharged), and offer up tremendous value for money: this low-mileage, lovingly cared for special edition X350 is £20k.
XKR-S, 2011, 60k, £39,950
In many ways, the XK was the E-Type of the late 20th and early 21st century - no, really. It’ll never be remembered quite as fondly, of course, but here was another Jaguar sports car that was just as good to drive, just as fast and just as attractive as those offered by the likes of Aston Martin and Maserati - but a good deal more affordable. The X150 of the mid-'00s was a real high point, with its cool, crisp design inside and out really elevating the XK offering. It evolved and improved with time, too, culminating in monsters like this: the 550hp XKR-S. These last of the line specials have become quite desirable in recent years, combining that old school Jag swag with towering performance - an F-Type isn’t the only way…
XFR, 2015, 21k, £27,500
The XFR had to be here as a real turning point for the Jaguar super-saloon. Lovely though they were up to this point, there was always a caveat when it came to comparisons. They weren’t quite as quick, or as cool, or ultimately as capable as the best German ‘bahnstormers. No such excuses were required for the supercharged XF flagship: it looked as modern as a PS3 Slim in 2009, went harder than an M5 and would oversteer with the best of them. Then the XFR bowed out with the wild 550hp R-S saloon and Sportbrake - cult hero status guaranteed. Especially without a replacement. This must be one of the lowest mileage, and with a 2015 reg most certainly one of the last, which is probably how it can qualify for approved used status. Yours for the price of a Yaris Cross…
F-Pace Edition 1988, 2023, 76k, £44,995
There wasn’t a second XFR because Jaguar diverted its attention and resources towards the F-Pace SVR instead. Which upset some, but it was the right decision. Not only did more of these sell than XFs would have, but it demonstrated that Jaguar was just as capable of building almighty SUVs as it was saloons. The greatest compliment that could be paid to the F-Pace SVR was that it felt every inch the supercharged V8 thoroughbred we’d come to expect from Jaguar: suave, sophisticated, crushingly fast and a real pleasure to drive. While looking and sounding the absolute business, too. The remit of the Edition 1988 might have been odd - with 394 made because the Le Mans winning XJR9 completed 394 laps - but the execution was wonderful: hopefully the Type01 comes in purple with gold wheels, too…
F-Type 75+, 2024, 21k, £59,995
Forty years after the E-Type, the F-Type finally arrived. Speculation had swirled for years about another six-cylinder Jaguar sports car, but it wasn’t until 2013 that the F was launched. No car following the E-Type could be worth that sort of wait, though it was very good: charismatic, capable and entertaining, as all the best Jaguars have been. It really was a stunning thing to look at, too, from any angle and in any configuration - there aren’t many cars you can say that about. A vast range meant an F-Type for all tastes, too - from frisky four-cylinder to 200mph hellraisers - and sustained popularity over a decade of sales. The 2020 facelift introduced the P450, the best F-Type of the bunch: V8 thunder without quite so much of the supercharged silliness. This 75th anniversary machine (marking 75 years of Jaguar sports cars) is £60k - let’s hope whatever comes for the 80th looks just as good.
People who want Jag to go backwards should look at the XE and XF then look at the S and X pastichefests. Thus they were mad not to make the C-X75. But perhaps lost their nerve looking back on the XJ220.
Personal favourite, the F Type, never understood the E Type was subject to so much fuss except that the body flows nicely.
Close behind, the gangsters jam jar, the XJR.
.Do a search and you'll see they all sit like that.
Do a search and you'll see they all sit like that.
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