The Jaguar Centenary
Book One: 1922-1955
Eric’s lifetime of experience with and research into Jaguars has led to the publication of The Jaguar Centenary. This edition is an up-to-date expansion of The Jaguar File, a make overview so comprehensive that Jaguar confidently distributed copies to journalists at press launches. Head of Design Ian Callum recommended its research; Jaguar used it to prime new staff.
Jaguar transformed itself from manufacturing sidecars as a welcome back for WW1 soldiers, to a maker of small stylish cars to suit their developing taste. The stuffy 1930s Brooklands set, who thought Jaguars infra dig with a feeble engine under an imposing bonnet, found by the 1940s a classic marque with grace, pace, and space. Jaguar was a symbol of speed and style, fulfilled by the C-type, which won Le Mans and became prized by collectors.
The Jaguar story was barely forty years old when Eric drove an E-type for his first regular motoring column in The Hamilton Advertiser. A 1960s road-tester on the staff of The Motor, he wrote about Jaguars also in The Autocar, The Times, The Observer, The Daily Telegraph and syndicated articles throughout Europe. Jaguars featured throughout Eric’s 13 years as Motoring Correspondent of The Sunday Times, before he turned author with The Jaguar File under his Dove Publishing Ltd imprint in 1999.