New JLR Classic Works opens
Coventry restoration HQ will spawn global satellite sites
Jaguar Land Rover expects to restore or build 100 cars a year in its new £7m Classic Works facility at Ryton-ondunsmore, Coventry. Said JLR Classic director Tim Hannig, ‘It’s possible because the process is industrially inspired with departmentalised work that allows many more people to work on each car at the same time.’ According to Hannig there’s a 12-month waiting list if you want to have work done.
Although Classic Works has a preference for originality, there are no plans for a certification scheme. ‘We try to be in keeping with what’s authentic, but if the customer wants upgrades we will only do what we consider safe, meaning that we engineered it, like fitting the better brakes from an E-type Series 2 to an earlier car, for example.’
As well as the 54-bay workshop area, which handles servicing and restoration, the 14,000m2 building also houses 470 cars from the heritage collection, from a 1930 Swallow-bodied Austin 7 to the C-X75 stunt cars from Bond film Spectre.
A satellite Classic Works facility for servicing and repairs will open in Essen, Germany, later this year as part of a world-wide programme.
‘The workshop will also take over production of recreation cars such as the Lightweight E-type and XKSS’