Jaguar Land Rover purchased the largest privately owned collection of British cars, which was assembled over many years by British enthusiast James Hull. The Hull Collection includes 543 mostly British classic cars and features many significant Jaguar models including XK SS, C-, D- and E-types. The cars in the collection will be actively used to support Jaguar brand and experiential marketing to develop the brands and business in existing and emerging markets.
The collection which has been assembled and restored by James Hull, British car enthusiast, entrepreneur and philanthropist, has at its core over 130 Jaguars.These include early Swallow Sidecars and Swallow coachbuilt Austin Sevens, plus a full and diverse range of pre-war SS models, seven XK 120s – including a rare alloy-bodied example, C- and D-types, an XKSS, eight E-types, 30 classic Jaguar ‘Mark’ model saloons plus 19 XJS models and over 20 XJ saloons with interesting and famous previous owners. The majority of these cars are reportedly in outstanding condition, with many having fascinating histories behind them. The collection also features many other iconic and famous British cars and models.
Jaguar Land Rover said this acquisition is part of an increased commitment to protect and nurture the rich heritage possessed by both brands. It follows the recent creation of Special Operations, which has been established to develop and oversee heritage and the creation of special vehicles, such as the recently announced Jaguar Project 7. The Project 7 is a limited edition F-TYPE, which takes its inspiration from the legendary D-type. The Project 7 name refers to the seven outright Le Mans victories scored by Jaguar and is highly appropriate given this is the 60th Anniversary of the creation of the D-type.
The Jaguar Heritage business, part of Special Operations, recently announced the build of six recreations of the original, race-bred Lightweight E-type that was created in 1963. The new Lightweights will hand-built by Jaguar craftsmen in a new Jaguar heritage facility at Browns Lane, less than a hundred yards from where the original cars were assembled in 1963. This new facility will utilise those same skills to offer Jaguar warrantied servicing and restoration of the company’s classic models.
The cars in the collection will be actively used to support experiential marketing with customers and for global brand events. A good example of this will be the global launch of the Jaguar XE in early September together with many other events and activities in new and emerging markets. It is in these newly developing markets that heritage can play a key role in establishing and developing the brand.
John Edwards, Managing Director of Special Vehicle Operations, commented, “We are delighted that Jaguar Land Rover has come to an agreement with James Hull to secure the future of this very significant collection of Jaguar and British cars. We share the same objective as James to keep this unique collection in British hands and we are delighted this agreement secures their custody for the future. We look forward to continuing to work with James going forward as we develop our heritage activities.”
Edwards continued, “Heritage is becoming an ever more important differentiating factor when it comes to experiential customer marketing and in developing our brands in new and emerging markets. Jaguar and Land Rover have a combined “back catalogue” of over one hundred and forty years to draw upon and some of the most iconic vehicles in the industry. In addition with the explosive growth and interest in classic car events worldwide and the increase in the size and value of the market, there is a strong brand and business rationale underpinning this agreement.”
James Hull commented, “Travelling all over the world to build the collection over the years has been a labour of love and a life’s work, so my primary motivation was not to get the maximum price but rather to secure the future of the collection in this country with the right custodian. I have got to know Jaguar Land Rover well in recent years and they have borrowed cars from the collection for events such as the Mille Miglia and supporting Jaguar in China. They are the perfect custodians to take the collection forward and I know it is in safe hands.”
[Source: Jaguar]
It is nice that the collection will remain in British hands. However, if they have a spare Jag they no longer need I would be willing to take it off their hands.
I wish they had talked about the price and structure of the deal. It seems to me that this collection could easily be in a 9-figure range.
Where is the collection and can it be seen by the public?
In secure hands in UK, when JLR is owned by Indians ?
The owner had asked for 100 million Pounds when he decided to sell the whole lot, it seems that even for that price he sold them below real value
The Jag XK120 and XK140’s will soon become very valuable to serious collectors. These cars are the last of the late Art Deco designs plus had world changing design, such as the DOHC XK engine and its alloy C head and torsion bar suspension.