About

Collection Foreword

Ever since William Lyons adopted the name ‘Jaguar’ for his cars in 1935, it has been synonymous with grace, speed, luxury and refinement. And although Sir William died in 1984, the company he made famous continues to produce some of the fastest and most stylish automobiles in the world.

The beauty of the Jaguar motor car is far from being skin deep. Profound thought by a small but gifted group of engineers has always resulted in technically brilliant cars. Yet by world standards Jaguar Cars Ltd has always been a small company without the limitless resources of major manufacturers. Ingenuity and skill have more than made up for this deficit, and the Jaguar motor car of any given generation has usually been faster, better handling and better braked than most of its competitors.

Above all, though, Sir William Lyons (he was knighted in 1956) possessed an artist’s eye for line and balance, with the result that nearly all Jaguars have been superbly sculptured shapes, never unfashionable yet never following fashion. This uniqueness has continued throughout the whole line of Jaguar cars, the principal models of which are recreated in this series. Each has played a vital part in the story of the glorious evolution of the Jaguar motor car.