14 October 2025 | Event News
The Jaguar Drivers’ Club (JDC) is set to make a memorable appearance at this year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, taking place at Birmingham’s NEC from 7th to 9th November. Embracing the event’s theme, the Club promises to deliver the ‘best of both worlds’ by displaying a selection of Jaguar’s most celebrated competition and road cars, each with a unique story to tell.
Leading the line-up is the legendary 1956 Jaguar D-type ‘Long Nose’ (393 RW), one of only eleven ever produced. Allocated to the Jaguar Works racing team, its pedigree was cemented at the Reims 12-hour race on 30th June 1956, where it claimed victory with drivers Duncan Hamilton and Ivor Bueb at the helm. The D-type covered 1,332 miles (2,143.735 km), finishing an impressive five miles ahead of its closest rival—another D-type piloted by Mike Hawthorn and Paul Frere.
At the 24-hour race at Le Mans, which was held later than normal, at the end of July, Mike Hawthorn and Ivor Bueb drove the car, wearing race number 1 (and on trade plates 393 RW) to sixth place, completing 280 laps and setting fastest lap.
Continuing the racing theme, the JDC will also feature the renowned modified Mark I saloon, BUY 1, created for the 1959 production saloon car season. Conceived under the guidance of Sir William Lyons and William Heynes, this car was engineered with a 3.4-litre 10:1 compression engine, straight-port cylinder heads, and triple 2-inch carburettors on a custom manifold. Lightweight aluminium doors and bonnet, upgraded suspension, and a long-range fuel tank were complemented by competition bucket seats.
Delivered new in March 1959, BUY 1 was campaigned at Goodwood by Roy Salvadori, securing a second-place finish. Under John Coombs’ ownership, the car enjoyed a successful racing career, later passing to AC le Fort and then Peter Sargent. After years of club-level racing and a period in storage, Tony Williams undertook a major restoration, returning BUY 1 to the track and finishing fourth at Goodwood. Today, Tony’s son Grant Williams—an accomplished Mark II racer—continues the legacy, with recent appearances at the Goodwood Revival.
Grant will also present his freshly restored Jaguar Mark II ‘JAG 400’, an ex-competition car from the early 1960s. Driven in period by Jack Sears and even tested at Silverstone by the legendary Stirling Moss, ‘JAG 400’ is sure to be a highlight for racing saloon enthusiasts.
Turning to bespoke road cars, visitors will be treated to the 1967 Jaguar Mark II Convertible, an extraordinary transformation by specialists Vicarage, commissioned by Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher.
Originally a four-door saloon, the car underwent a high-specification conversion in the 1990s, featuring extended front doors, a fully electric hood and windows, inertia-reel seatbelts, power steering, and an automatic gearbox. The two-year restoration provided Gallagher—who had yet to acquire his driving licence at the time—the perfect opportunity to learn to drive in style. Today, the Mark II Convertible stands as one of the rarest and most refined Mark IIs on British roads.
Completing the revealed line-up is Andy Brookes' 2006 Jaguar XJR X350 saloon, which recently claimed the prestigious Champion of Champions title in the JDC’s annual concours competition, judged at the British Motor Museum during the Jaguars at Gaydon celebration.
The Club is keeping the rest of its display a closely guarded secret, encouraging members to use their exclusive discount code to purchase tickets and join the festivities at Hall 1, stand 1-980, located in the bottom left-hand corner from the entrance. Alongside the stunning cars, the JDC team will be on hand to welcome members and enthusiasts with magazines, merchandise, and club membership opportunities.
Don’t miss the chance to experience Jaguar history and innovation up close at the NEC Classic Motor Show. Use the JDC's exclusive club discount code CCCNOV5175 online to save £4 off single-day adult tickets or £2 off family, child or multi-day tickets. Discount applied to advance ticket prices before midnight on Thurs 6 Nov. Book tickets here
