November 2024 | Issue 772 | Page(s) 3 | Gaynor Cauter
I hope you like our stunning front cover this month. We have seasoned motoring journalist and photographer Paul Walton to thank for this very evocative shot of an F-Type P450. As Paul says, it is probably the last time he will ever drive a brand-new version of this most beautiful of Jaguars. And it seems to be a bit of a theme recently, saying goodbye to things… and people… because – as many of you will have heard – Ratan Tata died just days before the magazine went to press.
I don’t think we can underestimate the role this great industrialist played in rescuing Jaguar from the clutches of a cash-strapped Ford. He is not only credited with having insisted that Jaguar retained its identity within JLR, but that the company produced an E-Type replacement… the F-Type.
Jaguar has seen some rough times in its history, yet it has always risen to the challenge, even if it sometimes came up gasping for air. We not only have Sir William Lyons to thank for creating what is for most of us, the greatest make of car ever, but Sir John Egan for rescuing it first time around, and Ratan Tata for having the foresight to do so again.
This all begs the question, where to now? Is there a knight (literally) in shining aluminium armour waiting in the wings to carry on the work of these great men, or is Jaguar to become a niche and exclusive plaything for the super-rich? We shouldn’t have long to wait because the most recent of an admittedly sparse number of press releases indicated that we would see a concept car, at the very least, before Christmas. Will it be greeted with delight… or will it look like the one on our September cover? I anticipate a few letters in the pipeline!
And on that cheery note, let’s move on to the more pressing issue of Christmas shopping and finding presents for the man/woman who has everything (often, in triplicate). We don’t have JDC-branded socks (yet) but we do have lots of other quality clothing and gifts just waiting to be snapped up. So, turn to our special festive merchandise pull-out in the centre of the magazine for some Christmas stocking-fillers – and if you can’t fit a lovely padded jacket into a stocking, try a pillow-case instead… that’s what Santa used when we were kids. And please note that our events calendar has moved this month to accommodate the merchandise pages.
Finally, we are all geared up for the Classic Motor Show at the NEC on 8th- 10th of this month and there is still time for you to book a ticket online using the Club’s exclusive discount code – turn to our NEC preview spread for full details. We will all be there, in Hall 1, with a welcoming cup of tea or coffee, and you can’t miss us because in addition to our usual feather flags, we will have a huge banner dangling above the stand to mark the spot!
Gaynor
