Take an exhilarating ride through Jaguar production history, from the original SS to the I-PACE EV, with narratives, photos, and spec tables for each.
In 1935, a pair of motorcycle enthusiasts in Coventry, England—William Lyons and William Walmsley—established a firm called the Swallow Sidecar Company. Soon, they pivoted to automobiles, launching a sporting saloon (i.e., sedan) called the Jaguar SS. The decision set in motion the company that would create Britain’s most beloved line of high-performance automobiles.
The Complete Book of Jaguar, 2nd Edition, tells the whole story with:
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A thorough profile for every production model, presented in chronological order
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Spec tables highlighting key technical and performance specifications and their changes across each model
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Narratives by distinguished motoring historian Nigel Thorley discussing the innovations and technology featured in each model
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Color photography of new and restored examples
- Historical black-and-white imagery
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A new chapter covering Jaguar’s commitment to an alt-fuel future with extensive up-to-date coverage of the hybrid E-PACE and F-PACE SUVs and the I-PACE EV
As you turn the pages, follow Jaguar’s trajectory to becoming one of the world’s most celebrated automakers. In England’s bleak postwar years, the company was a shining star—first with its
XK120, followed by the
XK140 and
XK150. Sporting sedans like the
Mark 2 and
Mark X set the bar for luxury four-door transport in the ’50s and ’60s. Then Jaguar stunned the world in 1961 with the achingly beautiful
E-Type, a genuine 150 mph sports car. Though Jaguar lost its way periodically in the modern era, it has bounded back stronger than ever in the twenty-first century with a strong lineup that includes the new
F-Type sports car.
The Complete Book of Jaguar, 2nd Edition, is the essential and most current guide to one of the truly iconic marques in the history of sports and luxury automobiles.
Filled with photos and data-packed spec charts,
Motorbooks’ Complete Book series presents automotive and motorcycle enthusiasts with authoritative histories celebrating their favorite vehicles. Some other subjects in the series include Corvette, Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, Ducati, BMW Motorcycles, Dodge and Plymouth Muscle Cars, and Volkswagen GTI.
Also available from the series:The Complete Book of Ford Mustang,
The Complete Book of BMW Motorcycles,
The Complete Book of Corvette,
The Complete Book of Porsche 911,
The Complete Book of Dodge and Plymouth Muscle Cars,
The Complete Book of Chevrolet Camaro,
The Complete Book of Classic Ford Tractors,
The Complete Book of Classic John Deere Tractors, and
The Complete Book of Classic Volkswagens.
Introduction by Karl Ludvigsen. No sports-car introduction in history has had the impact of Jaguar's XK120 in 1948. Thrust into a dreary post-war world was a stunningly gorgeous roadster, its styling inspired by the best pre-war Italian design, powered by a magnificent 3.5-liter in-line six developing 160 horsepower. Its twin-cam hemispherical-chamber head was a dramatic advance for British production cars.
Exotic cars all, the XK-series of sports Jaguars are among the world's most glamorous.
Rare photos from the Ludvigsen Library trace their history on road and track and give an intimate portrait of the sports cars that raised the bar for Jaguar's opposition and cemented the company's reputation for fast, stylish cars that were also remarkably affordable.
