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Fine Art Limited Edition, Signed Prints & Etchings
It has been said that Jaguar is Coventry and Coventry is Jaguar.
Jaguar started out on 4 September, 1922 as the Swallow Sidecar Company, producing sidecars for motorcycles, in Blackpool, England. Set up by William Lyons and William Walmsley. Both of these men were motor cycle enthusiasts and their company produced motor cycle sidecars until the onset of World War Two.
The small Austin Seven was built in 1926 and at this time the Company's name was changed to Swallow Sidecar and Coachbuilding Co. It also relocated to larger premises. From these new premises it produced custom bodies for the Standard, Swift Fiat and Wolseley cars. Their first car, the SS1, was unveiled at a 1931 London exhibition, and was based on a Standard six-cylinder engine with a modified Standard chassis. A four-cylinder engine was incorporated in the smaller SS2.
The name of the Company was again changed in 1933, to SS Cars Limited, and William Lyons became its Managing Director. In 1936 he bought out his friend and partner William Walmsley.
The following year, Harry Weslake joined SS Cars Limited. He was one of the industry's top engine experts and his new cylinder head with OHV valve arrangement was reasonably reliable.
In 1935 the Jaguar name was used for the first time. Also, in this year, the Chief Engineer, William Heynes joined the Company and it went on to produce limousines, sports cars and convertibles. The most notable car of this time was the SS 100 3.5 litre model. Of the pre-war Jaguars, this was the most well known and fastest, able to reach speeds of 100mph and with an acceleration from stop to 60 mph in approximately 10.5 seconds. Racing Successes in the Marne Grand Prix of Reims, the Villa Real International event, the Alpine Rally, The Monte Carlo Rally and the RAC Rally made this one of the most famous Jaguars.
After World War Two, in which the factory was supporting the war effort, the company name was changed to Jaguar Cars Limited and the production of cars was resumed.
As well as updating their older models, in 1946, William Lyons developed the XK120, a new sports car which was fitted with a six cylinder by 2 OHC engine with a capacity of 3442cc.
At the Earls Court Motor Show 2 years later, Jaguar unveiled the fastest motor car so far, the XK120 Roadster, which was said to reach a top speed of 120 mph, had superb styling and marvellous road holding ability, together with a very smooth ride.
After another three years, the touring car XK 120 Fixed Head Coupe was shown for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show. Then, in the following year, 1953, the XK120 Drophead Coupe was brought out. The XK 120 turned out to be a superb competition car.
1954 saw the introduction of the XK 140, then in 1957 came the Jaguar XK 150. Although the design was starting to look slightly dated, this car continued to be produced until 1961.
At this time a lot of Jaguars cars were produced for the foreign markets and Jaguar needed to produce a car for the home market. So the Jaguar MK 1 was introduced at the 1955 Motor Show. This was a car designed to appeal to the home market and place the company in a stronger position by filling the gap in their production.
From this evolved the MK 11, which was an immediate success, with a redesigned dash and larger glass area. Until 1967, leather seats were fitted as standard when, to keep costs down, they became an optional extra. At this time, spot/fog lights also became optional.
In 1960 Jaguar acquired Daimler.
Sir William Lyons gave up his Managing Directorship of the Jaguar Group, however he stayed on as Chairman and Chief Executive, and Grice and England became the Joint Managing Directors. On 11 July of that year, Jaguar Cars Limited and the British Motor Corporation Limited merged.
A merger with Leyland in 1968 formed the largest British Car conglomerate. Four years later Sir William Lyons retired. This was a time of some confusion and many changes at Jaguar.
In 1975, the partly published, Ryder Report, indicated that Jaguar was unable to continue on its own. Leyland Cars was created and Jaguar's new XJ-S was unveiled amongst British Leyland's other models at the Earls Court Motor Show.
For a while there was no real Head at Jaguar and during the winter of 1979 - 1980 Percy Plant became Chairman. However, he was viewed with some trepidation as his previous form indicated that he appeared to be mainly interested in closing factories down. The workers morale, already low, reached a new low in April 1980 when the workforce called a strike over pay and grading
During these turbulent times Jaguar's new full-time Chief Executive, John Egan arrived at the factory in April of 1980, from Massey Ferguson's Construction and Machinery Division, where he had been a Parts Director. Upon his arrival, optimism at Jaguar rose and soon morale and production were increased. In 1985 it was apparent that Jaguar was now on solid ground again.
Sir William Lyons died in 1985.
On 8 September 2001 a statue was unveiled in Coventry in honour of Sir William Lyons, the founding father of the Jaguar. The Striking bronze statue was unveiled at Coventry's Museum of British Road Transport and marked the end of a week of celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late genius who had the vision to create Jaguar. The celebrations were the finale of a rally of classic Jaguars, which set of from Blackpool, Sir William Lyons birthplace, the previous week. They all gathered for the final phase of their around-Britain run at Coventry's Canal Basin on Saturday 8 September 2001, and they all paraded through Coventry City's streets and city centre, before finishing in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Michael Owen, England's football striker, donated some prizes for an auction at a charity ball at the Brown's Lane Jaguar Plant, which was also attended by the pop star Gabrielle. The largest bid in the auction was for Eddie Irvine's Jaguar racing car, which fetched an incredible £75,000 - with no engine.
Sir William Lyons' daughters, Mary Rimell aged 64, Pat Quinn, who lives in Pershore, Worcestershire, granddaughter Jane Quinn and grandson Michael Quinn had gathered in Coventry for the unveiling and agreed that it was a great honour and Sir William Lyons would have been thrilled that he was remembered.
Mary Rimell said, "It's a wonderful statue and a very good likeness."
Sir William Lyons statue will form the centrepiece of Coventry's new Millennium Square.
Lord Mayor, Dave Chater, who received the statue for Coventry City, at the British Museum of Road Transport, said it was a terrific honour for the city. He said, "It has been a tremendous week, celebrating the centenary of Sir William Lyons. It was great to welcome the Jaguar drivers down from Blackpool and especially to welcome Sir William's family to the city.
Jaguar have done the city proud in this celebration of Sir William's life."
Jaguar's Director of communications said, "It has all gone very well. It is a tribute to Sir William Lyons and to the businesses in Coventry for the wonderful work they are doing to support the children in the city. Jaguar is expanding and we are creating jobs, which keeps the pride in the city."
Classic Car Fine Art Prints & Etchings
Jaguars, Triumphs and Austin Healeys
(250 Limited Editions)
From original paintings and line drawings by Coventry Artist I. F. Clark BA (Honours) Fine Art
Each Limited Edition print is sent unframed and individually signed by the Artist
with the Number of the Print on the reverse and the Etchings are sent framed.
Order any of the above prints at the astonishingly low price of £29.99p each
+ Postage and Packing £1.50p UK and £4.00 Overseas for the unframed prints
or a Framed Etching for £49.99 each
+ Postage and Packing charge of £8.00p UK and £14 overseas.
All prints are approximately 17.5 inches by 12.5 inches and the Etchings are 16 inches by 12 inches
All prints will be dispatched to you within 14 days of your order and etchings will be dispatched to you within 21 days .
To Order
Should you require further information or wish to place an order ,
please feel free to contact us
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)24 462513 - Mobile: 07974 074261
Email: Artefekz
or by letter to:-
Artefekz Limited
1 Tanyard Cottages, Tile Hill Village, Coventry, West Midlands, CV4 9HX England
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