Jaguar Heritage: Fit For a Queen, Yet Villainously Cool – Why These Charismatic Cats Endure

Visiting the prestigious Jaguar Heritage collection had us pondering the question: is Jaguar perhaps the only brand that can traverse the entire social spectrum? You may remember the iconic Jag ‘Good to be bad’ advert that aired around 2015. Within it, such thespian legends as Mark Strong, Tom Hiddleston and even Sir Ben Kingsley reminded us that, in most cinematic masterpieces, the bad guys usually drive a Jag. They weren’t wrong, of course, and you can doubtless think of a plethora of tyre-squealing TV showings as well. Ever since blaggards and bank-robbers discovered the motorway-pounding, cop-evading grunt and crisp handling of the MK2 Jaguar in the 1960s, the brand’s place within the annals of crime history has been assured. And it’s been a trope that writers, producers and directors have been turning to ever since when trying to accurately portray the naughtier characters within their latest creations.

But it got me thinking; it isn’t just the ne’er do wells that favour the glorious power and enigmatic style of a big cat, sometimes, they’re the favoured choice of transport of the great and the good, too. With that in mind, and following a kind invitation to visit the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust in Gaydon by my good friend Neil Campbell, I decided to try and balance just what it is that makes us ALL love old Jaguars so much. And the best bit? I was even allowed to drive some of the Trust’s priceless collection. With incredible care, I might add…

I started my exploration of the Jaguar Heritage collection with something very dear to my heart. Literally, the last Daimler X308 off the line, and one that belonged to none other than HM Queen Elizabeth herself! Built in 2002 and already committed to be in this attractive blue hue as the last car down the line, HRH decided that she quite fancied one as her personal transport, and the factory happily swapped it into a build for her instead.

This Super V8, with its supercharged engine was the finest specification available and came with the long wheel base body and the best picnic tables ever seen. A fine choice, your Majesty. Save for a few little upgrades like the lights and sirens, you’d never know that this wasn’t a ‘typical’ range topping Daimler, but what a name to have on the V5! It’s also interesting to know that our monarch didn’t ask for any bullet-proofing, additional security or even any element of additional protection. Now that was a class act, Ma’am…

So, fit for a ruler it seems, but also those that enforce the rule of law. The Trust also has a wonderful 1983, 3.6 litre Police version of the XJ-S Coupé which was a company demonstrator used by a number of police forces, including the Metropolitan Police and Warwickshire Constabulary. The latter using it for speed enforcement as part of their M6 Motorway patrol department. Can you imagine getting pulled by this?

Anecdotal evidence at the time tells us that every copper that drove it unsurprisingly loved it and didn’t want to hand it back , but ultimately, the XJ-S’s lack of rear seat and odd-shaped boot meant that neither a great deal of either crims or cones could fit easily, and those duties were handed to XJ models instead.

But then I couldn’t come all this way and not drive at least ONE baddies car, right? Thankfully the collection also has the ULTIMATE example here in the form of the 1998 XKR, driven by Zao, played by Rick Yune in the Bond film ‘Die Another Day’.

No less than eight of these were built for filming and you may remember the iconic ice-racing scene as he tries to catch and shoot Bond with the Gatling gun that you see pictured behind the driver. Sadly, this was only a prop, and has to be bagged up when driving on the road. A real shame, as it would hugely prevent any road rage incidents, I feel.

If you get the chance you really should go and visit the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust and see for yourself how fabulous these cars are, and what superb hosts the team are. Thank you, guys. And while you may not find a used, Royal example, you’ll definitely find a royally used one, and whether you fancy an XJ-S, XK or X300/308 of your own, we’ve got some smashers for you to pick from here.