FIFTY YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION FOR THE 420!

[Aceman]

I'm hoping to organise a fifty year anniversary celebration for owners of Jaguar 420 and Daimler 420 Sovereign cars. As the first cars appeared in October 1966, October 2016 would seem to be the most suitable time. A central location, just south of Solihull in the West Midlands is projected, with the possibility of hotel accommodation for those requiring it. I realise that the numbers of our cars still surviving, whether as wrecks or concours, are fairly limited, maybe fewer than a hundred, but to ignore the existence of one of Jaguar's best would be a crime!
So far, I've had just five replies showing interest in such an event. I'm hoping that we can do much better than that over the next month or so!
If you would like to be involved, please don't delay - email me on patrick.moynihan@jec.org.uk . Information is fairly limited at the moment with regard to the exact format of the event, so, any suggestions, ideas and expressions of interest will be most welcome!
Looking forward to a great day and meeting lots of 420 owners!

[XJ_Driver]

I realise that the numbers of our cars still surviving, whether as wrecks or concours, are fairly limited, maybe fewer than a hundred

Wow - I hadn't realized there are so few 420 / Sovereign models remaining...

I regularly used to pass by a house on the Worcester road out of Hereford with a dark blue 420 seemingly abandonned on the driveway. It had been there for years, but when I drove by again recently the 420 had gone - and there is now an XJ-S in its place. Often other Jags parked there too - the owner is clearly an enthusiast! I hope that 420 has been preserved somehow?

[J44EAG]

Nice one, Patrick.

You are just the guy for the job. I`m sure a nice little event will be possible.

Cheers, old pal.

Mike K

[Aceman]

Mike, what a super guy you are! Instead of going with all this modern stuff, you would have made a brilliant 420 owner! Looking at the Club lists, it looks like we've got maybe 30 to 35 owners of 420s on the books. Not really enough to have a blitz weekend but, if we can get the owners interested, it could make a brilliant occasion! I've got a paddock which could hold maybe 40 or so cars, a decrepit old barbecue, a choice of local hotels that might be persuaded to do deals for rooms, a couple of loos - what more could a feller want?! I suppose I could invite the JDC 420 owners on the proviso that they joined the JEC if not already members - all worth looking into. It's all early days. Has anyone got any ideas re: a touch of sponsorship from our wonderful suppliers? They are the guys who keep our cars alive so even a packet of beefburgers or some raffle prizes would all go towards making an occasion of it!
Good to hear from you old chum!
Kind regards,

Patrick.

[Aceman]

Replying to XJ Driver, it's almost impossible to make sense of the DVLA figures on 420 cars surviving. They seem to lump them in with Daimler Sovereigns and maybe even XJ Series One cars. Going by the cars listed on the JEC site, there seem to be maybe 30 to 35 Jaguar and Daimler 420s still around. There could be many more in overseas areas, USA especially as that seemed to be a fairly active market in the sixties. In its day, it was given good write ups, but somehow never captured the general public's approval, a great pity as it is a very good car indeed. I know I'm biased, plus, I've made a number of mods that have turned it into the car it always should have been with suitable development. A few weeks ago, I took it to a Rotary Club charity day at Prescott - normally I take my AC Brooklands Ace but it was off the road for some suspension work. That meant that the Daimler was going to go instead, in spite of a great deal of nervousness! As it was, the old dear, all 47 years of her, went like the proverbial rocket. No records broken but she stuck to the track like a leech, no body roll and the old XK engine and XJ40 box seemed to be in the right gear and rev range all the way up the hill! I've still got the grin on my face! Hopefully we can turn up with a good bunch of 420s for the celebration - we're not going to break any records, but, anyone who has restored a 420 will be there because they have achieved a monumental milestone and they love the damned things!
Kind regards,

Patrick Moynihan.

[Aceman]

Since the initial post regarding the possibility of a Fifty Years Celebration of the 420, eight owners have contacted me to express an interest in attending. One excellent suggestion was to arrange it for the same weekend as the Jaguar Spares Day at Stoneleigh which makes very good sense as both events would then take place within a few miles of each other. Spares Day is Sunday 9th October so the 420 Day could be held the day before, Saturday 8th October. Hopefully this will mean that a few more 420 owners would be able to join us, the more the merrier!

If you'd like to be added to the list of possible attendees, just email me at patrick.moynihan@jec.org.uk

[Rictus]

Patrick, sorry I hadn't seen this post earlier but if the Stoneleigh date doesn't work out we already have the 20th anniversary of the XK8 going on at Gaydon on 1st October. You would be welcome to join in and make it a joint celebration with a special area reserved for your display.
Peter

[Aceman]

Hi Peter,

Apologies for the lateness of reply - I picked the message up on my phone and then forgot to reply from my computer when I got home - I blame it on old age.......
It's a good idea and thank you very much for the offer! Things are going rather slowly regards numbers; we're up to eight now and one idea was to make the celebration gathering coincide with the Stoneleigh Jaguar Spares Day. If the number of cars doesn't go much above 30, I was going to hold the event in our paddock which would keep any travelling between the two venues to a maximum of 30 minutes. The gathering at my place would be on the Saturday with a barbecue etc, then an overnight stay at a local hotel with the Spares Day on the Sunday after which everyone could make their own way home at a time to suit. I'll see how the response builds (or perhaps doesn't!) before committing, but many thanks for providing an option! I'll keep you informed as to progress and hopefully we shall be able to have a memorable 420 Day!
Kind regards,
Patrick Moynihan.

[Aceman]

The information for the 50th Anniversary Celebration for the 420 is now available! It's Saturday 8th October to fit in with Jaguar Spares Day at Stoneleigh on the Sunday. If you'd like full details of the weekend please email me asap at patrick.moynihan@jec.org.uk but don't delay as hotel rooms are going quickly! If you have already contacted me to register your interest, you should have received the relevant details via email.