Virtual Concours D’ Elegance
WELCOME to our Virtual Jaguar Festival Concours D’Elegance. There were prizes for first , second and third place kindly donated to us by Meguiars, but really this was just for fun.
The winner was decided by public vote and you chose Alan Bowman’s stunning Jaguar Mark 2. You can see Alan’s entry below.
Also below, in second place, Brian Riley with his 1984 Jaguar XJS and in third place Adrian Sewell with his 1963 MKX.
A massive thank you to everyone who took part, entered cars and took the time to vote - we loved every single Jaguar , they were all simply gorgeous!
Entry #1 - Daniel Guillien - MK7 (1955)
My Jaguar is a MK7 M from 1955 in battleship grey colour sold on February 9, 1955 by the garage Delecroix in Paris.
This car will remain in France until 1967 where the owner transferred to Canada where he had his new job. it will remain in this country until 1992.The MK7 finds France again. the owner's death and his collection of cars is sold to a famous seller of classic cars. I bought this car at the time 2004.
I have restored myself the bodywork the mechanics and the interior leather and woodwork. And since I drive with pleasure, it is one of my favourite Jaguar. I have
space to carry family and friends.
Entry #2 - Gareth Livesley - 2002 S Type R
Since owning the vehicle we have had to completely renew the sills as they were rotten. We have been fortunate enough to have been asked to show the vehicle at Coventry Motor Museum as well as being picked as one of ten cars for the 20th S Type anniversary line up outside Ryton, which also led it to having an article in the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club Magazine.
Entry #3 - Joel Berg - 1952 C Type
Axle ratio:3.54
Colour:Birch Grey
Date of dispatch:18 December 1952
Distributor:Charles Delecroix, Paris, France
Sold to: Axel Glans via Henri Peignaux, Lyon
Registration mark: Originally 2731 AC 69 (Lyon, France); after restoration 452 JSP 75 (Paris, France);
UK registered 367 GMO (age-related, 5 May 1983) re-registered under a registration mark ending in JAG 75 in Paris in 1993
The car went to the Lyon Jaguar dealer, Henri Peignaux. Peignaux sold the car to a Lyon industrialist and textile magnate, Axel Glans, for Luc Descollonges to race (letter dated 3 March 1953 from FRW England to Mr Descollonges, 005/003). It had a short active career, as follows:
29 March-2 April 1953, Rallye Soleil-Cannes, Peignaux and Descollonges, rally number 558, but the car crashed when a trailing arm broke (photo in Viart Jaguar XK la compétition … p.129).
12 April, Montlhéry, Coupe des Vitesse sports car race, race number 11, fastest lap, fourth.
26 April, Mille Miglia, Descollonges and Pierre Gilbert Ugnon, race number 601, crashed by Ugnon who was killed
The remains of the car lay on the premises of a M. Chemin, until re-discovered in 1972 by Dr Philippe Renault, France. He had the car restored between 1985 and 1991 by John Harper in the UK. This involved re-building the front end of the chassis with new sections.
Dr Renault used the car in many historic events between 1992 and 2001, sometimes with John Harper, including the Targa Florio retro and the Le Mans classic, and it was exhibited at Retromobile in Paris in 1993 and 2002.
was sold privately later to Tony Allen. It was reported to be entered in the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Trophy series in 2012, driven by the Rev Simon Butler with co-driver Jonathan Crouch (Jake Lingeman in Autoweek, 27 April 2012, cited on www.coventryracers.com). The car was prepared by CKL Engineering. Butler drove the car again in 2013 and 2014, and won his class in the series in the last year. The car did the Mille Miglia in 2017, 2018 and 2019
Entry #4. - Steve Opacic - 1972 E Type
Matching numbers UK car which was taken to New Zealand by its 2nd owner in 1976. Passed through various Kiwi owners and was restored in 1989. I bought it in 2017 from the dealer who brought it back to the UK in 2016. In great condition and very original. I have been gradually cleaning, tidying and detailing the car. This takes time as I love to drive it regularly, including some track days. Had a great surprise last year when it won the JEC Pride and Joy (E Type Class) at Blenheim. Some pictures show the non-original registration assigned to it on return to the UK, which I have now replaced with something more fitting (ESV12 - couldn't get its original reg back from DVLA). Hope you like it.
Entry #5 - Claude Delannoy - 1964 Mark 2 (3.4)
I purchased this car in London in 1979 in a rather poor state. It took five full years to restore, as the car body was lame. All mechanic parts were either repaired or changed (engine, exhaust system, brakes, steering wheel, gearbox, ignition, shock absorbers, cooling system, headlamps, etc). Interior was restored according to the original design (carpets, dashboard). The car still as its original toolkit and driver's manual. The car's appearance is now close to perfect and it is a pleasure to drive.
Entry #6 - John Barrett - 1998 XK8 (4 litre)
My Jaguar has had 1previous owner who bought the car from Stratstone’s of Mayfair on 4/12/98. It has main dealer and independent jaguar service history ,I have the original receipt of sale £56,995 paid in full,. I have every m.o.t certificate and all receipts from 98to 2012. Since in my ownership, I have had stone chips on the bonnet repaired ,gearbox service ,v mounts on front suspension, new brake pads to the rear, water pump & belt changed, wheel rims refurbished , leather on drivers seat bolster renewed, this winter I have changed the thermostat &housing to the alloy type with new water hoses. The bodywork is all original the paint work was very flat when I bought the car ,it had I think more washes than polish, after many hours of t cut polishing & waxing I am pleased how the car looks now.It drives very smooth with no annoying rattles a great car to drive.
2ND PLACE RUNNER UP: Entry #7 - Brian Riley- 1984 XJS (V12)
This car has been owned by myself for the last 26 years it was first registered in 1984 to Norman Hartley signs Ltd reg no NHS 1
After that the ownership is difficult to trace, with the last owner before myself a Mr Ian Dudley acquiring the vehicle on 27/01/1991.
The car was used as every day transport for 2 1/2 years, then used only in summer with the winter months spent restoring the car to its present standard.
All the work has been carried out by myself, which includes:-
Full under body cleaning and painting
SS full bore exhaust system fitted
Full braking system restored
Full engine bay cleaning and preparation
AJ6 Enhanced ECU fitted
AJ6 Large throttle conversion fitted
AJ6 Exhaust extractor system fitted
Rear axle stripped and reconditioned
Paint work is original
During this period the reg no was CSU 940 and was successful in numerous local concours awards the most notable award being:-
XJS 25th Anniversary Donington 2000 car of the day,
Evans Halshaw Trophy Winner JEC National rally chosen by John Bleasedale.
WINNER!! : Entry #8 - Alan Bowman- 1960 MK2 (3.8 litre)
OVG 142 was built on 25th March 1960 (Chassis No.200784 BW). I think it could be the oldest surviving RHD 3.8 Automatic. I became the second owner in 1965. I covered the car's history up to 2010 in two Mark 2 Forum articles (June and July of that year).
More recent restoration was based around Graham Whitehouse rebuilding the torque converter and gearbox; Hardy Engineering rebuilding the differential and me rebuilding the engine. I worked single-handed in my garage which, in itself, was an interesting challenge.
I have always tried to retain the car's authenticity. All the major structural components or other panels were replaced in the early years, when either factory parts or genuine unmarked second hand alternatives were available. All other items have been painstakingly refurbished whenever no truly "like for like" after market products existed.
Throughout, my aim has been to ensure that this Mark 2 matches as closely as possible its condition and specification when new.
An unusual feature of the car is the early 1960's Siebe Gorman safety harness for the front seats, which was a variation of the company's Civil Aviation products.
Entry #9 - John Holcroft - Mark 2 (1967)
I bought this car as a barn(garage)find after it has been laid up for 20 years.
The body was beyond repair so a rolling painted shell was purchased and a full Nuts & Bolt restoration was done.
Entry #10 - Stuart Kennedy - XK8 convertible (1998)
This is my 1998 XK8 Convertible in Sherwood Green with Oatmeal interior and a green hood. First registered on 1st April 1998, it is now 22 years old and I have owned it for 18 years. The original registration was R649 MGN and is now 5 VK.
The car is 'as original' save for the 19" Alloy Wheels and the front grille.
When I bought it in January 2002, it had 43k on the clock with the previous owner having done 32k in two years! I maintained the Jaguar Extended Warranty until the car was 10 years old and, fortunately, that covered changing the hood hydraulic fluid. It has also had the tensioners changed and some work to repair the gearbox.
It has been used as an everyday car and now has 148k so it had started to deteriorate. Over the past few months, I have embarked on its first renovation. This started with some welding to the chassis by Kevin at Hound Green Garage, Mattingley. The next step was repairing the rear wings, wheel arches and cills with parts from DCR Autoparts. The repairs and bodywork were done to a very high standard by Jason at Spraytech in Andwell, Hampshire. The excellent paintwork has been enhanced by hood cleaning and reproofing by Clean Wheels Detailing of Wokingham. The final touch will be renovation of the driver’s seat and door cards by Dave the Trimmer in Camberley. All highly recommended.
My wife, Rhonda, and I have been in various enjoyable trips around UK and we spent a wonderful week touring southern Ireland with the top down, staying in B&Bs and fishing. I have been planning a European Tour but that will have to wait for a while.
Incidentally, I bought the registration number 5 VK (my initials are SVK) at a DVLA Auction in Cambridge in 1996. It cost me £4,800 including fees and is now worth more than the car!
I intend to keep the car long term and my 9 year old grandson already has his eye on it!
3RD PLACE RUNNER UP !! : Entry #11 - Adrian Sewell - MKX (1963)
1963 Jaguar MkX 3.8 Automatic, bought new on 16 May 1963 by my grandfather for £2,517 and restored in the mid '90s to its former glory by my late father.
Entry #12 - Michael Thomas - X Type 2.5 AWD (2003)
Bought as my first Jaguar in mechanically clean shape but in need of some tlc cosmetically, after an initial deep clean and detail I have carried out the following work so far:
Restored and resprayed the wheels in Anthracite silver and added new red centre caps and new wheel nuts, upgraded Bosch aero wipers, cleaned the engine bay and painted the battery, fuse and air box in Hyacinth Red and engine cover in Anthracite Silver, smoked the rear lights and side repeaters, black stainless mesh upper and lower grills, removed the front license plate holder for a cleaner look, R sport leather and chrome shift knob and upgraded all interior lights to white LED.
Entry #13 - Phillip Irwin - Mark 2 (1961)
This 3.8 mark 2 was bought by me in 2014 to replace less comfortable Classic sports cars that were, apparently, too uncomfortable for my wife. She enjoys the comfort of this Mark 2 as it is fitted with XJ40 seats that have the added safety advantage of head restraints. As it is used extensively for touring; Ireland tour a number of times plus Holland plus all the JEC events the up-rated brakes, electronic ignition, alternator etc make it a very usable car.
Entry #14 - Stuart McNally - E Type S 1.5 FHC (1968)
1968 Series 1.5 FHC matching numbers Black on Black original and rare specification 2 seat car confirmed with heritage certificate.
Body totally original with all spotwelds in place. Interior cabin 100% original paint and mainly original trim with only seats and carpets renovated. Bare metal exterior only helping to retain amazing shut lines combined with ultra flat paint surface to make the body the best there is.
Original engine covering only 52500 miles paired to Patriot black ceramic manifold and 2” stainless big bore exhaust.
Previous concours winning car.
Entry #15 - Gary Mitchell - 420G (1970)
Restored the G 16 years a go, gets admired at all the car shows and is a dream to drive.
Entry #16 - Gary Mitchell - MarkIV (1948)
Purchased the car in August and arrive in November from Melbourne Australia. Went new from Coventry to Adelaide in 1948 to Brylaws, only 3 previous owners and restored 16 years a go.
Entry #17 - Edward Byrnes- XJ Sovereign TDVi (2007)
Second owner Bought with 21000 on clock
Purchased originally for Hatfield of Liverpool
Immaculate condition and pure luxury to drive .
Could not resist a 600 mile round trip to Dorset coast for a wedding .
Image on the drive at Blenheim Palace on way back .
Also on drive at home and at Loughborough University for reunion where I studied Aeronautical Engineering and Design .
All my contemporaries love Jaguars and Daimlers.
Entry #18 - Ray Brooks - F type V8 S (2014)
I only went to my dealership to buy a replacement battery for my XKR remote......but spent a little more as I could not resist this gorgeous F type ! Not a colour combination I would have chosen if specify on line but in the flesh it works really well I think. The first owner was in his late '70's and had fully spaced the car but found it very difficult to get in and out of due to a back condition. After very little use he decided an F Pace would fit the bill better ! When I first saw it the car had only arrived that morning and was literally as new with no preparation required and the first service / software updates had been completed. Needless to say it never even made it into the showroom as it was love at first sight ! As it turns out over time, with 495 BHP being fed to the rear wheels only this is turning out to be the wildest F type variant of all....simply love it !
Entry #19 - Ian Noble- Series 3 E Type (1971)
I guess this car should be in a ‘Pride and Joy’ category but then this competition is just for the fun. There are many variations on the original ex factory car. I bought the car in order to enjoy restoring her. When I stripped off the paint I found she needed many new panels, especially new rear wings. She was originally a white 2+2 Auto. Needing so much work I decided to rebuild her as the car I really wanted and that is what you see in the photos.
