Thursday 16th October 2014

Jaguar 'Heritage Driving Experience' launched

Pay money, drive a D-Type. Christmas just got a whole lot more exciting...

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Now this is good news. Following Jaguar's recent acquisition of additional cars for its heritage fleet, it is now giving Joe Public the opportunity to drive them. Really.

C-Type features on a glorious list of cars

There are three tiers of Jaguar Heritage Experience. The 'Jaguar Experience' ranges from £95 to £250 with opportunities to passenger in and drive some Jag icons. It includes a quarter of an hour driving a MkII for £135 or a 30-minute passenger ride in an XK150 at £95 for example. There's also the chance to drive selected pairings; 60 minutes driving split between six- and 12-cylinder E-Types costs £250. Jaguar promises its seasoned professionals include some 'recognisable faces from the world of motorsport' too.

The half-day 'Le Mans Experience' is £750. For that you will drive a C-Type and D-Type with a Jag chaperone plus the XKSS road car and an F-Type. Because Jaguar can't launch anything without an F-Type drive.

Look at it. Must be worth the money

Unsatisfied? Perhaps the 'Grace and Pace Experience' would be more suitable. A full immersion in Jaguar's motorsport heritage, it features drives in a C-Type, D-Type, E-Type, XK150, MkII and the XKR-S GT. You will also get a posh lunch and the opportunity to try an F-Type. Obviously. It costs £2,000.

All of Jaguar's Heritage experiences take place at the Fen End test facility and start in November. Best hope you've been good and Father Christmas is feeling generous. If you want to be specific with the request, full details are on Jaguar's website here.

 

[anonymous-user]

Mmm so much car pr0n

[jamieduff1981]

Sounds good! Might do this

[ProBodge]

Interesting that this will be at the ex-Prodrive Fen End site (RAF Honiley).

Prodrive only very recently sold it to JLR. Assumed they'd use it as a car park!

I think I NEED to drive a D-Type....

[Dalto123]

Don't get to experience a D-Type every day! Better start saving up now

[SteveSteveson]

Must start looking down the back of the sofa. I have driven a replica D-Type based on an E-Type. I must drive the real thing.

I know it is marketing puff, but I take issue with this from the Grace and Pace Experience:

"Bringing things up to date is the mighty XKR-S GT, an extremely rare, very high-performance edition of Jaguar’s charismatic coupe. With its 542bhp V8 and muscular looks, it’s one of the most spectacular Jaguars ever produced"

Appart from the XJ220 and the XJR15, which are far more impressive than the XKR-S GT.

Edited by SteveSteveson on Thursday 16th October 13:33

[Jabosoc]

ProBodge said:

Interesting that this will be at the ex-Prodrive Fen End site (RAF Honiley).

Prodrive only very recently sold it to JLR. Assumed they'd use it as a car park!

I think I NEED to drive a D-Type....

I learnt to drive there. You can build some real pace down the back straights.

[IanCress]

No X-Type?

[oldtimer2]

This looks like a seriously good idea.

[rejn]

wow. Seems like an amazing idea. Driving a C-type, D-type and XKSS - wow.

[daytona365]

Talk about selling, well alright renting the family silver ! Exciting idea, but I'll bet there's a ton of restrictions, and directives before actually driving one of these.

[Mastiff]

rejn said:

wow. Seems like an amazing idea. Driving a C-type, D-type and XKSS - wow.

and I gather, an F Type.

[Mini 360]

IanCress said:

No X-Type?

Ford probably wouldn't allow Jag to use their car these days...

[daytona365]

''No X type''..........Heck no, far too valuable. A part of our national heritage in fact.

Edited by daytona365 on Thursday 16th October 13:56

[j90gta]

Whilst doing "the factory tour" several years ago managed to get a ride in the record-breaking XK120 fixed head which averaged 100.32 mph covering 16,851 miles in 168 hours (that's 7 day/nights non-stop!!!) Mechanically it was fabulous and the driver was quite enthusiastic flinging it sideways at a couple of roundabouts.

[soad]

daytona365 said:

Talk about selling, well alright renting the family silver ! Exciting idea, but I'll bet there's a ton of restrictions, and directives before actually driving one of these.

What, apart from the Height & Weight?

[jamespink]

j90gta said:

Whilst doing "the factory tour" several years ago managed to get a ride in the record-breaking XK120 fixed head which averaged 100.32 mph covering 16,851 miles in 168 hours (that's 7 day/nights non-stop!!!) Mechanically it was fabulous and the driver was quite enthusiastic flinging it sideways at a couple of roundabouts.

Given the cross ply tyres, I think that's the only way they go...

[akirk]

Having driven most of these (used to be a volunteer with the JDHT in the 90s) they have a fantastic set of cars...
my favourite: NUB120
Ian Appleyard's Alpine Rally (not - Mille Miglia - thanks for correction!) winning XK120 - he picked it up from the factory / cut some extra air vents in the wings to cool the brakes / drove it to the race / won the race / drove it home!

great opportunity

Edited by akirk on Thursday 16th October 18:58

[NGK210]

"Ooh, I'm sorry, I've just c.."

[AAGR]

Not so. NUB120 was not a race car, but a rally car, which Ian Appleyard used from 1950 to 1953. AFAIK it never competed in the Mille Miglia, or in any other major sports car race. Great machine, though.

[vrooom]

ohhh i want do this, i alway wanted to drive d type.