The history of Jaguar

The name Jaguar back in the days was always associated with speed. The origins of Jaguar can be traced back to a company, the Swallow Sidecar Company that began by making motorcycle sidecars in 1922 under the stewardship of William Lyons (later Sir William Lyons) and William Walmsley. The Swallow Sidecar Company later started building automobiles and moved to Coventry, switching its name to Jaguar after the Second World War. It produced premium saloons and sports cars, including the legendary XK120.

Adding to Jaguar’s reputation was its motorsport success in the 1950s, winning the Le Mans 24 Hours race twice with a C-type – in 1951 and again in 1953 – and then with a D-type in 1955, 1956 and 1957. In 1961, the company launched what became perhaps the most iconic sports cars of all time, the E-type. In 1968 it merged with BMC (British Motor Corporation), which later became part of British Leyland and included Rover.

After splitting from British Leyland, Jaguar became independent again in the 1980s, before being purchased by Ford in 1989. In 2008, Jaguar and Land Rover were bought by Tata Motors, India’s biggest car maker, and officially joined together as one company in 2013. Sales and profits have risen year on year, with more exciting chapters in the histories of these two brands still to be written.

Jaguar Land Rover is a company that brings together two much loved, highly prestigious British car brands. After Tata Motors acquired Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford in 2008, it merged the two marques into a single company and its success has flourished, with memorable vehicles and innovative technologies that add to a long-lasting legacy.

Source: www.jaguarlandrover.com