DAVID GANDY · 306 RALLYE · TIMELINE
An exclusive meeting with Mr Gandy and his immaculately restored Jaguar XK120
It turns out that Blue Steel himself has a genuine passion for metal. Meet David Gandy’s beautifully restored XK120, and our rusty 306
There’s a law against this sort of thing! surely? I’d like to propose people that look like David Gandy " the world’s best#known male model and underpants enthusiast "should be banned from driving anything other than a battered Nissan Micra! or a Perodua Nippa at a push$ It’s just not fair on the rest of us$ Problem is! I’m finding it difficult to stay mad at him for long " he’s one of the very nicest people I’ve met$ And this whole petrolhead thing isn’t for show " his obsession runs deep$
He’s an Essex boy! so fast cars are woven into his DNA! and at one point car journalism! not flogging Y#fronts! could have been his calling$ As a younger man! he completed work experience at a weekly car magazine where TG’s motoring editor! then Auto Express road test editor! took him for a few hot laps in a Audi TT " an experience he refers to as “that time Ollie Marriage tried to kill me$” Still! our loss is male modelling’s gain! and as we stand around discussing his immaculately restored and enhanced Jaguar XK&'( in the JLR Classic Works workshop in Warwickshire… it’s quite obvious he made the right career choice$
“I’ve driven a lot of old Jags) E#types at the Le Mans classic! an original XKSS at Millbrook! but nothing made me want one quite like the XK&'( when I drove one in the Mille Miglia in '(&* and '(&+… maybe because I actually fit it$ When you think of a classic Jag! you automatically think of an E#type! but I’m not actually a big E#type fan " I appreciate them! it’s a beautiful car! but just doesn’t do it for me$”
The &,-+ donor car was tracked down by Jaguar Classic in California before being shipped back to the Midlands for its makeover$ Gandy’s brief was to pay tribute to the XK&'( Lightweight! and make it road#race ready! but still comfortable enough to be used properly and often$ So the original *$+#litre straight#six was reinforced and uprated to ''-bhp! the four#speed manual given a shorter shift! new
“HE’S AN ESSEX BOY, SO FAST CARS ARE WOVEN INTO HIS DNA”
four!piston disc brakes were added at the front "with the refurbished drums on the rear# and a new twin!pipe exhaust system was added$ Then% colour and trim…
“I had this car in my head for a while$ I think design & whether it’s cars% clothing% housing & it’s about quality$ That leather weave on the seats you could have on a bag' in fact% I’ve asked Aspinal of London to make a sample$ I don’t know how many samples were sent to my house
& I could have upholstered a new sofa in those alone$ The seat backs were supposed to be leather% but I saw them in bare metal and asked if they could just lacquer that%” he explains% enthusiasm starting to really bubble now$
“The wood and the chrome% those details just evolved% but I knew I wanted black$ Don’t know why% perhaps because British Racing Green is too obvious% and then getting the interior right was crucial$ The challenge is getting the blend of personalisation without destroying the car’s true character$”
“IF YOU LAMENT THE LOSS OF ANALOGUE DRIVING, HERE’S THE WAY BACK TO IT”
Up close it’s a beautiful shape ! full of organic curves" not a crease to be found# Like the sheet metal was draped over the chassis" sprinkled with yeast and left to rise# I’m not normally seduced by classics" but when faced with something this attractive" where the details have been sweated and the mechanicals modernised" I’m starting to be swayed#
We head out onto the road" noting the bruised sky and high chance of ruining Gandy’s prized lattice leather" but he’s cool as anything# “Look" it’s made to be driven"” he yells as the engine clears its throat# “If it rains" we’ll have a good excuse to hammer it back#” And then proceeds to tell me a story about the time J$Lo called" asking him to ride a motorbike in her new video" to which he replied" “No problem"” despite having never ridden a bike in his life# “Well" you don’t say no to J$Lo" do you?” Sorry" David" I’ll never know the answer to that#
First surprise… it’s comfy ! like really comfy ! and feels substantial on the road# Surprise two…
###the little flyscreen thing actually works" the wind whips my barnet into a bird’s nest" but my teeth remain insect$free# It sounds fantastic" too" properly guttural# If you’re one who laments the loss of analogue driving" here’s the way back to it# The whole things feels" smells and looks special" but doesn’t feel old# This isn’t a car" it’s a time machine" and it’s his from top to bottom#
“On my social media" from showing the first picture of what we wanted to achieve" to driving it around for the first time in Monaco the other week" there’s been about nine million people who have followed the process in one form or another# Just the picture of the seats alone had a reach of %&&"&&& people# These are seats# In a classic car#”
Just goes to show" if it’s pleasant to look at there’ll be interest ! much like male modelling# But this is more than just a pretty car ! it’s something a lifelong Jag enthusiast has always wanted" and now he’s earned# But even chiselled features" fame and wealth come with problems# “I’ve got a Merc '(&SL" Porsche )*+ and the Jag… but that’s got to be it# I need a place to put them all# Just don’t let me anywhere near the classifieds at 'am" if I’m three or four gin and tonics down" in a lovely mood ! that’s when I start dreaming again#”