Jaguar Land Rover plant to give classics a glorious future
JAGUAR Land Rover has formally opened a new £7 million Classic Works factory to restore vintage cars from both brands – and create new versions of famous icons like the famed Lightweight E-Type.
The factory, in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, near Coventry, also offers servicing, parts and restoration of privately-owned Jaguars and Land Rovers.
The opening represents an important milestone in the development of the Jaguar Land Rover Classic brand, with the launch of another new facility in Essen in Germany happening later this summer.
Special operations managing director John Edwards said: “Classic Works is hugely important to Jaguar Land Rover.
“It’s much more than a building – it’s the heart, and soul, of Jaguar Land Rover Classic for our clients worldwide. Being able to support owners and enthusiasts of our two great brands with a full suite of services for classic vehicles is a fantastic opportunity.”
Classic Works has a dedicated showroom space and 54 workshop bays for servicing and restoring all Jaguar and Land Rover models out of production for a decade or more.
The workshop is organised into dedicated strip-down, remanufacturing and assembly zones for the Land Rover Series I, Range Rover Classic and Jaguar E-type.
There is also a Jaguar XKSS build line. The new facility is also home to a classic collection of more than 500 vehicles, a living assembly of British motoring history, which also serves as an invaluable guide for restorations.
More than 80 specialists are now employed at Classic Works, many with decades of experience working solely on the models catered for at the new facility. By the end of 2017, this number is expected to grow to more than 120.
Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works director, Tim Hannig, said: “Our people, their knowledge and their skills are the heart of Jaguar Land Rover Classic. There are more than 1.5 million classic Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles in existence worldwide, and we are investing in traditional manufacturing and restoration skills to ensure enthusiasts are able to give cars with a glorious past, a glorious future.”
Guided tours of Classic Works will be available for £49 per person from September.