The legendary Jaguar E-Type proved its pedigree on Welsh roads, and in July a fleet of the classic sports cars will retrace a route that made motoring history.
On Saturday, July 15, a fleet of 24 historic Jaguars will be driving through Carmarthenshire to celebrate the 60th anniversary of a legendary Welsh journey.
In 1957 the prototype of the Jaguar E-Type raced along winding Welsh roads to prove that it was one of the fastest and 60 years on a group of Jaguar enthusiasts will recreate the original test route between Brecon and Carmarthen.
The E-Type project was top secret, but in 1957 Jaguar lent the prototype to the High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire, Lt Col Christopher Jennings, who also happened to be editor of The Motor magazine. Jennings tested cars on his favourite route between Brecon and Carmarthen; his quickest run had been in an Aston Martin powered by a Le Mans race engine. Jaguar was curious to discover how their new model would fare and its performance was astonishing
After setting off from the Castle Hotel in Brecon at 11am, the convoy will head along the A40 to Llandovery, take the A4069 down the Tywi Valley to Llangadog, and the A40 to Llandeilo (they’ll pass through the town at around 11.30am). From here, they’ll take the B4300 to Carmarthen, where the Jaguars will be on display in St Catherine’s Walk and Guildhall Square from around 12pm to 1.30pm.
After a visit to Kidwelly, the former home of Jennings, the cars will make their way to Pendine for 3.30pm, where they will be on display near the sands on which all the early land speed records were set. The cars set off on their return trip to Brecon in the late afternoon.
Cllr Peter Hughes-Griffiths, executive board member for Culture, Sport & Tourism, said: “It’s fantastic that these magnificent cars are travelling through the county and that they can be seen at so many towns. Such an exclusive line-up of sporting Jaguars on view at Carmarthen, Kidwelly and Pendine has probably never been seen in any Welsh town centre before.”
In Carmarthen, the town so much associated with Christopher Jennings, the cars will be greeted by the mayor and a small reception will be held.
Around 24 rare Jaguar sports cars are taking part, including iconic models like the XK120, XK150, C-Type, D-Type and (of course) several E-Types.
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