17 December 2024 | General News
After a long absence, the JD Classics team is apparently “delighted to be back in the ancient Essex town, with its own rich and varied history”. The move also coincides with other updates as the firm plans its next phase of growth. A new management team is said to be forging ahead with ambitious plans for JD Classics to “expand and consolidate its reputation as a global powerhouse in the classic and historic car sector”.
The company’s previous big news of 2024 was the unveiling of the True Spirit of XJ13 project at Retromobile, Paris. Since then, the team has been working to get the car up and running, using what’s claimed to be the only remaining original XJ13 engine in the world, aside from the one in the ‘official’ XJ13 at the Jaguar Collections Centre, Gaydon. Finally, in December, the True Spirit of XJ13 roared into life, marking the highlight of a project that has been four and a half decades in the making.
The 1966 Jaguar-manufactured V12 racing engine, one of only six built and developed for the XJ13, was designed to conquer Le Mans – and with a 5.0-litre capacity and twin camshafts per bank, it generated headlines back then thanks to its 500bhp-plus output.
At the time of writing, JD Classics has an interesting range of Jaguars available for sale, including a 1962 ‘semi-lightweight’ E-Type wide-body coupe and a 1964 E-Type 3.8 Roadster that’s been the subject of a 3300-hour restoration by the company. Among the classic XKs on offer are a 1953 XK120 SE Roadster, a 1960 XK150 3.8 Drophead (previously restored by JD Classics), and an XK120 Competition Roadster that was raced by the legendary Duncan Hamilton.
For the latest JD Classics news or for details of its Jaguar stock, head to www.jdclassics.com.
