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Jaguar XKSS at Pebble Beach.
Author & Photographer: Ken Morrison.
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A Dozen Rare Jaguar XK-SS Classics Headline at 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
For over half a century, one of the premier classic car events worldwide has been held in California--the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. With great pageantry, owners from all over the world drive their classic cars onto the 18th green of the famed Pebble Beach golf course at 6 a.m. on the morning of the event, just as the first rays of sun break the horizon. Amid the dew-covered grass, the owners are greeted one by one by Sandra Button, Concours Director. Then they drive along a narrow grassy path flanked on both sides by the cheering crowd nominated the “Dawn Patrol” for their dedication to being out of bed and out on the course at 5 a.m. waiting in total darkness for the cars’ arrival. All would say it is very worth the wait. The breadth of makes, models, and years of cars, and their categorization in either the preservation or restoration class is a unique aspect of the Concours that means there really is something for everyone, above and beyond the particular marques chosen as the program’s focal point. This year, the marques were Jaguar, Ghia, and Bugatti, and there were plenty of each on hand, including the newly unveiled models that drew regular comparisons to their classic predecessors. But it was more often the old elegant classics that drew the most reverent attention, their place in history secured by their rarity.
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One of the truly great delights at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, held this year on Sunday, August 15, was the collection of an even dozen Jaguar XK-SS roadsters side by side, with the golf course and Pacific Ocean as their stunning backdrop. Given that only 16 of these Jaguars still exist, having 12 on hand at one venue is nothing short of astounding. Many of them had been shipped from Europe by their owners who wanted the thrill of seeing them lined up with their 1957 siblings. Describing the XK-SS is a bit like describing an alien spacecraft…it really has to be seen to be believed. The sleek simplicity and sensual curves on this car underscore its racing provenance and create an irresistible feeling that the car, even with its modifications, still ought to be out on the course. In the early morning, as the owners drove each of the dozen on to the dew-covered golf course, there was a collective gasp of pure pleasure from the crowd of automotive enthusiasts for each and every one.
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Their presence was especially celebrated by the throngs of Jaguar fans who regard the XK-SS as one of the most beautiful sports cars to ever grace the roadways. An excited crowd gathered around the cars and lingered, mesmerized by bold curves and graceful bodies with an obvious powerhouse under the hood. But perhaps what made the XK-SS even more of a masterpiece was not what it had, but rather what it did not have: No unnecessary ostentation, no extraneous trim, no glaring or gaudy protuberances. The car was a mixture of a simple, understated elegance and a racing potency that made it a pleasure to behold and an even greater pleasure to drive.
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Most of the XK-SS survivors that lined Pebble Beach had in fact been used for racing. For those who don't know the story, the XK-SS sprung from the D-Type sports car which Jaguar built in 1954. By the end of 1955, Jaguar stopped racing, and decided to convert the remaining D-Type chassis to cars that could be sold to the public. Changes were made which included the addition of a second seat and door, expansion of the windshield, and changes to the top, all to make the car more practical. The result was the XK-SS (which had been known as the SS back then, but wisely changed to XK-SS), one of the headiest rides in automotive history. A fire in the Browns Lane plant in 1957 destroyed many of the cars, leaving just the sweet 16 and making each of them as valuable as they are rare.
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The N2-05 1957 Jaguar XKSS 716, now owned by Neil Hadfield and Margaret Jackson of London, England, had been used for racing by various owners into the 1980s. The N2-01 1957 XKSS 701, now owned by Graham Love of London, England, was raced by Bob Stonedale who had the car fitted with a Chevy V8 engine. Still another of the Jaguar XK-SS group was shipped to Cuba in 1957 and took part in an infamous high-speed race against another XK-SS from Havana to Vera Dero Beach. The 722 was the only XK-SS that was originally sold to an owner in England. The car was raced by Bill Rigg until he sold it to another amateur racer Nigel Moores. It is currently owned by the Dutch National Motor Museum at The Hague.
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One of the most popular stops for this year’s Concours was the legendary XK-SS that had been owned by Steve McQueen. McQueen, legendary actor and Hollywood cool guy, coveted the XK-SS so much that he repurchased the one that he had previously sold to Bill Harrah, for the Harrah automobile collection in Reno, keeping it until he died in 1980. The car now belongs to the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Had he been present, McQueen would no doubt have been moved to reclaim the car back yet again.
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The ultimate effect of having the majority of survivors at the Concours was to thoroughly engage the audience as participants in this grand XK-SS reunion. Even those who did not follow the Jaguar heritage reported feeling very touched with the story--of the destruction of so many, but with gratitude for the survival of the few.
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This year, as the Pebble Beach Concours celebrated its 60th anniversary, over 200 cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and even motorhomes were on the roster. With Jaguar as one of the marques and even with a number of other memorable models in attendance, including a 1955 XKD Racer owned by Ralph Lauren, that won the award to the Most Elegant Sports Car, the XK-SS roadsters were still the newsmakers. This magnificent set of XK-SS roadsters underscored the stunning contribution that Jaguar has made to automotive history and especially to automotive design. Even Ratan Tata, current chairman of the Tata Motors, who was on hand for the event, seemed captivated by the statement made by the huge queue of XK-SS roadsters. Tata Motors bought Jaguar from Ford in 2008, adding a breath of luxurious air to its considerably more modest core offerings.
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But it is the historic Jaguars that beckon the image of luxury. So perfectly designed are they as race cars cum roadsters that it is hard to imagine even the most well conceived and well-executed design giving them any real competition for that position of honor.
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In expending the huge time and energy to bring together the XK-SS Jaguars, the Pebble Beach Concours organizers have demonstrated the commitment they have to bring automotive history to life with a splendor than ensures its permanence, and that goes a long way to make the Concours at Pebble Beach more than just another car show. It is a world-class event, but in a class all by itself.
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