My Jaguars – Hamiltons Jaguar

Hamiltons Jaguar > My Jaguars

MY JAGUAR OWNERSHIP

At the age of 7 I fell in love with a neighbours Red Jaguar XJ6, a year later I saw Jaguar’s new XJS and that was it, I was totally hooked.February 24th 1987, at just 18 and very much against my parents wishes, I purchased my first Jaguar BTV185T, a 1979 XJ6 4.2 series 2, finished in Squadron Blue, which totally fulfilled my dream and since that day I’ve owned around 50 personally. Here’s most the great marque that I’ve owned over the past 30 years.

I owned the very rare Lister Le-mans 7.0 for almost 5 years before selling it to a Ferrari specialist back in 2003. These last few years nostalgia had me wondering if my once dream car would ever show up. Last month a friend sent me this link : Silverstone Auctions

1987. Aged 18 and very proud to own this 1979 XJ6 4.2 Series 2, finished in Squadron Blue with Navy hide.

1987. Aged 19 I buy my first V12. This 1981 Daimler Double-Six is my absolute favourite of all my Jaguars owned – This had fitted the very rare Autosport body styling, BBS alloys and Black chrome.

1988. Aged 20, I purchase my first XJ-S this 1976 example was finished in Black and had the latest TWR body styling.

1989. This 1985 Colbalt Blue XJS HE was the car I owned on the opening of Hamiltons

1990. Here’s my nanny with my Squadron Blue 1979 XJ12 5.3, a car I sat in aged 15 when it was for sale at London Road Motors – one of my favourite independent garages in Peterborough during the 70’s & 80’s & its owner Graham Musson calls in from time to time to share his memories of car sales during those great years.

1990. My 1978 XJ12 5.3 finished in Juniper. The Series 2 Saloon V12 is my favourite model of XJ – Due to this I actually owned two at the same time.

1991. This 1985 Regent Grey was my first XJS 3.6 manual. I swapped 7 cheap cars to own this one. Its still taxed & mot’d – I’d love to see it again.

1992. My 1987 Windsor Blue XJS H.E. Here I am leaning on my 3 door R.S Cosworth – a car I wish I still owned.

1992. A 1988 Grenadier Red XJ6 2.9, my first XJ40.

1992. This 1987 Jaguar racing Green (solid) XJ6 2.9 broke both front door handles in the same week. A new style of quality handle was introduced for the late 89 model year.

1992. This 87 Solent Blue 3.6 Sovereign offered opulence far superior to the XJ6 2.9 I had previously owned.

1992. My 1988 Cranberry Red XJS 3.6 manual. I much preferred the manual option with this engine for the XJS – albeit a rather heavy clutch.

1992. Nanny all dressed up for my cousins wedding. This 87 Westinster Blue XJ6 2.9 was not the best appointed as it had cloth seats and steel wheels!

1993. This 1986 4.2 Sovereign finished in Curlew (metallic brown) and had over 15k worth of service receipts – who said Jags were unreliable!

1993. This Glacier White 1989 XJ6 3.6. Loved this car but I ended up swapping it for a Guards Red 911.

1994. My father, David Stewart Snr with E857ACH my 1987 Sovereign V12. I insisted we use this for a tour around Scotland visiting family – not the best idea, rear wheel drive, 2 tonnes and auto! This was a 2 owner 40,000 mile 5.3 V12 beauty but after checking with hpi I discover its now a 2.8 diesel powered 15 owner tragedy.

1995. My car was this 1991 XJ40 Sovereign 4.0 – This Solent Blue beauty is my favourite of all my XJ40’s.

1996. This Diamond Blue 1990 XJ 4.0 Sovereign, I bought & sold twice.

1996. Outside my lock-up (it wasn’t just Arthur Daley who owned a big Jag and rented a lock up lol) with my 1992 Jaguar Sovereign V12 finished in Westminster Blue. I would love to keep a late, low mile, UK Sovereign V12 or Daimler Double-Six.

1996. This 1989 Arctic Blue 3.6 XJS wasn’t great in Arctic conditions – 1800kg, 221bhp, auto and before the days of traction control, it proved rather dicey.

1998 – My 1980 XJ-S – the model I dreamt of as a boy.

1999. My car was this XJR-S 6.0. I sold it in 1999 for 9k and again in 2009 for 3k – its probably worth more today than it was in 1999.

1999. My 1990 Lister Le-Mans 7.0 supercharged convertible. 6996cc, 604bhp, 200mph & single figure mpg

2001. I thought I’d try this 99 S-Type. It was the first time in my life that Jaguar had offered a compact saloon. I bought this 2 year old model to see if it was as good as the press had said – it was, and as we now know they proved a massive success for Jaguar.

2001. This 1999 XK8 4.0 was my first XJS replacement. In Phoenix Red it looks like a modern E-Type.

2003. This 2000 XKR 4.0 convertible finished in Pacific Blue was my first supercharged XK at 370bhp was the most powerful mass production Jaguar to date.

2003. This 2000 XKR 4.0 convertible finished in Pacific Blue was my first supercharged XK and at 370bhp was the most powerful mass production Jaguar to date.

2007. My car was this 2003, 40k mile XKR 4.2 convertible. Jaguar Racing Green with matching hood and Ivory leather. Perfect colours, I wish I had kept it.

2008. My car was this 2004 XKR 4.2 convertible. I sold this 40k miler for 25k. Today these models are extremely collectable for high spec, low mileage examples.

2009. This 2005 Bay Blue final edition XK8 convertible wore the reg of its predecessor.

2009. This 2005 final edition XKR 4.2 finished in Platinum Silver was sold to Tom Clarke who is lead singer with indie rock band “The Enemy”. Toms love of Jaguars came from his grandfather who worked at Jaguar. Tom used this car to race in the famous Gumball Rally. During the course of the great race he landed a $5,000 fine for wrecking a hotel room – I guess thats the life of a rockstar!

2010. This Salsa Red 2006 21k mile XK8 4.2 was my very first X150.

2011. This 2007 Platinum Silver 35k mile XK8 4.2 was my first X150 convertible.

2012. This 2007 Slate Grey XKR 4.2 was my first supercharged X150.

2013. Midnight Black 2007 XJ6 2.7 tdvi. What would Sir William have thought? Peugeot engine, 20 ” wheels etc!

2014. I really like these X358’s. This was a 2008 tdvi finished in Pearl Grey with Ivory leather.

2015. An 18 month search and I find this 2012 XK-R 5.0 Speed Black. After the disappointing news of Jan 2014 that the XK was to be dropped in favour of the F-Type, I felt I should find one of these great cars to keep.